Chinese medical authorities have claimed a drug used in Japan to treat new strains of influenza appears to be effective for those infected with the coronavirus, Japan’s state broadcaster NHK reported. Zhang Xinmin, director of China’s National Center for Biotechnology Development, said the favipiravir drug had produced positive outcomes during clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzen. The report on Tuesday said 340 patients had taken part in the clinical trials. “It has a high degree of safety and is clearly effective in treatment,” Zhang told reporters. Patients treated with the drug, which was developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm, in Shenzen were found to turn negative for COVID-19 after a median of four days, rather than 11 days for those who were not treated with favipiravir, NHK reported.

Ontario reported 23 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday bringing the total of active patients to 206. The cases count three in Toronto, including a man in his 30s who recently returned from Brazil, a woman in her 50s who recently returned from the United States and had contact with a previously confirmed case and a man in his 50s who recently travelled to Japan, the UK and Germany. Four of the cases are from Halton Region, one is from Waterloo, two are from Peel, one is from York Region, two are from Hamilton and one is from Ottawa. There is also one case from Brant County, one case from Simcoe-Muskoka, another case from Grey-Bruce public health unit, one from London-Middlesex and three where no information was disclosed.

Can Canada flatten the curve by the beginning of April?

The start of April is a critical period in the battle to flatten the curve of new cases of COVID-19. We can reasonably expect to know by then if the more stringent efforts put in place within the past few days have had any effect on slowing the spread. The science of declining infection when the bug is unable to spread is indisputable.  But have we done enough? The incubation period is about two weeks. Watch for the numbers as April begins and hope for the best.

Man apparently on fire near Church and Dundas Sts. (Twitter: @Kamakacci_Juice)

Video has been posted of an apparently disturbed man who set fire to himself Tuesday near the Esso service station at Church and Gerrard Sts. The man was chased by police to a Rabba market on nearby Jarvis St. In order to make an arrest, police used a so-called taser to subdue the man. Shortly after that, the man died. In the video, the man is seen walking with what appears to be a collar of fire burning in a controlled fashion. There’s no information on just how this was done. The matter is now with the police review agency called the Special Investigation Unit or SIU.

The Canada-U.S. border will be closed to non-essential traffic in both directions “by mutual consent,” the leaders of both countries confirmed Wednesday as efforts across the continent to contain the widening COVID-19 pandemic continued to upend daily life. Trump disclosed the news on Twitter shortly after stock markets opened, following media reports in both countries that the White House and the federal Liberal government were in talks to limit the cross-border spread of the virus without choking off vital lines of commerce. “We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic,” Trump tweeted. “Trade will not be affected.” CBC

Seniors shopping hour at some stores like Loblaws, 301 Moore

Many grocery stores, including Loblaws and Pusateri’s, have instigated a seniors shopping hour between 7 and 8 a.m. for the older but abled-bodied shopper who wants to avoid crowds. A sign appeared Tuesday at Loblaws on Redway Rd. where a customer took this picture.

Man said to have poured gas on himself, set it alight/Google

The police review body has taken over the investigation of an incident Tuesday in which a man reportedly poured gasoline over himself and set it alight, according to police and witness information on Twitter. A number of tweets say the man was chased to a nearby Rabba. The closest Rabba to the call site is 256 Jarvis St. near Gerrard St. The police are no longer commenting as the matter is now in the hands of the review body known as the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). The first call came at 8.43 a.m. from the Esso station at Dundas and Church Sts.

Part of the scene at captured by witness Christine Young

Columnist Chris Selley ponders the prime minister’s brief journey from declaring that other countries were engaged in “knee jerk” reactions to COVID-19 (March 5) to slamming the border shut to all foreigners except US citizens (March 16). Canadians will have to reflect individually on how they felt about the knee-jerk stand. Did it make anyone uneasy at the time? Here is what Mr. Selley muses.  “All those anti-crisis measures other countries are pursuing, but we aren’t? They are overreacting. And when we wind up pursuing those same measures a few days later, and it’s very difficult to understand why it wouldn’t have been better to pursue them earlier? Ah, well, this is what the experts have advised. We are taking things “step by step,” as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday. Canadians do not take more than one step at once. That is for the hotter-blooded nations.” National Post

Ontario has confirmed eight new novel coronavirus cases in the province, bringing the total to 185. The newest cases are all from either Hamilton or London. All of the patients are in self-isolation. The province continues to investigate 1,500 possible cases. Five cases in total are considered resolved. The current challenge for medical and civil authorities is to keep the spread of the virus manageable and ultimately have it die off. Ontario special website containing case numbers

“State of Emergency” in Ontario

Premier Ford declared a state of emergency for Ontario, banning public events of over 50 people, including parades, events and services within places of worship until March 31. The province also ordered the closure of all facilities providing indoor recreation programs, all public libraries, all private schools, all licensed childcare centres, all theatres, cinemas and concert venues, and all bars and restaurants except to provide takeout food and delivery. Grocery stores, pharmacies and public transit continue to operate as do the LCBO and Beer Store.

Chart of new cases at Ontario site

Work north of Manor/Fleming on Tuesday

Bayview Ave. north of Manor and Fleming is heavily narrowed Tuesday by the work seen above. The street is quiet during these extraordinary times of COVID-19 concerns

Area residents dealing with being at home during the coronavirus disruption are keeping a sense of humor. A Facebook post Tuesday asks: “So how many days is it okay to stay in pyjamas. Not asking for a friend.” There are a number of excellent responses to the post including “All of them.” Scrolling down we find the video below of piglets circling a sow. Parents and kids, you know. FB

pyjamas