The Ministry of Health has announced 514 new cases of COVID-19, the second day that the number crept up. Wednesday the count was 494. The highest daily count was 550 recorded last week on April 8.  Government website

Durham Regional Police say they’re looking for Jordan Bertrand, 33, after he bamboozled staff at a Whitby bank to withdraw $82,000 from someone else’s account. They say a falsified driver’s license was used. There’s no mention of a bank card. That was in January and it appears police have spent the time since identifying Mr. Bertrand. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has ties to Edmonton. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police service. Call Detective Carriere of the DRPS fraud unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5279.

Canada has not seen the predicted surge of COVID-19 cases in hospitals that many feared would overwhelm the health-care system and lead to a spike in deaths, but experts say relaxing physical distancing measures anytime soon could put that in jeopardy. There are almost 30,000 presumptive and confirmed cases in Canada, but Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledged “cautious optimism” Wednesday as the rate of new cases went from roughly doubling every three days to every 10 days. CBC

• Trudeau says COVID-19 shutdown to last weeks longer, won’t be drawn into WHO row
• Home sales fell 14% in March as COVID-19 settled in, CREA says

Dr. Paul Morgan

Howard Drive home where deceased was found/ Chris Doucette Toronto Sun

A man identified as retired oral surgeon Dr. Paul Morgan, 79, has been found dead at a home on Howard Drive in North York.  Reports are vague on the circumstances except that the kind-hearted Dr. Morgan apparently was prepared to assist all sorts of people who were down on their luck. An excerpt from a Toronto Sun story by Sam Pazzano says:

In a March 2019 article in the Sault Star, Morgan is identified “as a benefactor for Indigenous youth in the arts.” Morgan was adopted, raised  and educated by an Indigenous family. Dr. Morgan was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General in 2012 for his support of breakfast programs, arts activities,  and sporting events for First Nations communities and youths at risk.

An oral surgeon (known formally as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon) is a dental specialist as opposed to a medical doctor.

Crusty joy looks yummy

Angela Lam Perieteanu of Stainton Murray and Lam

Sour dough starter jars are available

South Bayview lawyer Angela Lam Perieteanu of Stainton Murray and Lam has found a pleasant occupation during her home isolation as a sourdough bread baker. Her posts to Leaside Community Facebook have drawn more than 50 responses. Angela says she has lots of starter jars available for area cooks.

Nice way to spend time at home

7 Taylor Drive fire scene/Dan Curran – Global News

A body has been found in the aftermath of a fire at number seven Taylor Drive on Wednesday. The site is north of the O’Connor Drive and Coxwell Ave intersection in the pleasant residential neighbourhood overlooking Cullen Bryant Park. Toronto fire service arrived at a bungalow that was fully involved in flames shortly before 7:30 a.m. It was only after the fire was out that the body was b found. Neighbours told firefighters they did not believe that anyone was home at the time of the fire. City News video

The International Monetary Fund is predicting the world’s economy will slump to the worst growth since the 1929 stock market crash. It is a sobering prediction but it has to be taken in the context of a world economy that is much more buttressed by governments. In addition, individuals are far wealthier in 2020 than they were 90 years ago.

Stanfield’s hilarious salute to COVID-19 isolation

The new byword for beating the COVID-19 virus in the Maritimes is Stay the Blazes Home. It was a typical bit of fatherly down-east scolding from Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil. The Stanfields have now written and recorded a happy — some may say hilarious — anthem to staying put.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 483 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday. The number is up from Monday and Sunday’s count of 421 and 401. Government website

Nursing home death toll a national tragedy

Canada’s elderly have become the helpless victims of COVID-19 in numbers that would shock the most hardened front-line health worker. The terrible way in which the virus casually found its way into the close quarters of nursing homes and seniors residences is a story told right across the country. But nowhere has it been more deadly than Ontario. Six more deaths have now been reported at the Seven Oaks long-term care home in Scarborough. That makes a total of 22. Elsewhere, 29 residents have died at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon and at least 13 have died at Anson Place Care Centre in Hagersville.

Premier Ford said Monday that Ontario will extend the province’s state of emergency by 28 days when the Legislature resumes on Tuesday. Members of Provincial Parliament will return to Queen’s Park for a single day to pass the emergency act and to discuss a bill that will cover various topics such as education, childcare and municipal housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I just want to thank members of the opposition for their cooperation on getting these passed right away,” Ford said while speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon.