Police and Fire services were called to an address on Mt Pleasant Rd. between Keewatin and Sherwood Aves. Wednesday morning for an apparent bomb call. There was no explosion and crews were cleared by 1 p.m.

Historic lab sold in 1980s

The Canadian and Ontario governments are giving $470 million to a French vaccine maker to ensure we aren’t stuck depending on distant foreign suppliers for vaccines whenever the next global pandemic arises. Between now and 2026, Sanofi Pasteur will build a new influenza manufacturing plant on the site of the former Connaught Laboratories in North York. Sanofi is the successor to the French firm that purchased Connaught from the government in the 1980s. Officials said that when completed, the new plant will be able to produce enough “vaccine doses to support the entire Canadian population within approximately six months of the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying a pandemic influenza strain.”Handwringing over

Famous for the discovery of insulin in 1921

Since the Covid pandemic struck, there has been much handwringing over Canada’s inability to make vaccines. It has been particularly galling against Connaught’s distinguished history in the early years of the 20th Century. It is where Frederick Banting, Charles Best and J.J.R. Macleod discovered insulin in 1921.

“Lisa” has a lucky escape/OPP

A woman driver identified as Lisa has been interviewed by the OPP at the scene of her miraculous escape from death or serious injury on Highway 401. See it here.

Wheel into windshield/OPP

The so-called Science Table — a body of 25 doctors established to advise the Ontario government — has published a report which states that the B117 C-19 variant is vastly more dangerous than reported earlier. Contrary to information from previous research, which suggested B117 might increase the prospect of death by one or two percent, the Science Table states that the variant is in fact 56 percent more likely to kill. It is a stunning statement and an easily imagined cause for alarm. The most recent Science Table report also says B117 is likely to cause a 63 percent increased risk of hospitalization, a 103 percent increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and a 56 percent increased risk of death.

Who are the Science Table physicians?

Ashleigh R. Tuite, David N. Fisman, Ayodele Odutayo, Pavlos Bobos, Vanessa Allen, Isaac I. Bogoch, Adalsteinn D. Brown, Gerald A. Evans, Anna Greenberg, Jessica Hopkins, Antonina Maltsev, Douglas G. Manuel, Allison McGeer, Andrew M. Morris, Samira Mubareka, Laveena Munshi, V. Kumar Murty, Samir N. Patel, Fahad Razak, Robert J. Reid, Beate Sander, Michael Schull, Brian Schwartz, Arthur S. Slutsky, Nathan M. Stall, Peter Jüni

• COVID-19 antibodies appear to ward off B117 better than B1351

Escalation at Laird Station at Eglinton and Laird/Jessica Smith

A quick “grab shot” out the passenger window of a vehicle leaving Leaside Centre Monday has captured what seems to be the escalator installation at the LRT Laird Station. FB

Toronto has issued a news release Tuesday saying that 493,867 C-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the community. It is urging residents to make appointments and get protected against the virus. Currently, the City is vaccinating people born in 1951 and earlier at five of the City-operated mass immunization clinics: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Congress Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, Malvern Community Recreation Centre and Mitchell Field Arena. On April 5, a City-operated clinic at The Hangar in Downsview Park will open.

Hair salons, barbershops may not open April 12

Mayor Tory has said that if C-19 case numbers continue to surge in the City, it’s possible the province will change its decision to let hair salons, barbershops and nail salons open on April 12 as previously announced. Cases of the infection continue to increase and on the weekend the province reported more than 2,400 new cases each day. The government is in a race to achieve a level of vaccination high enough to slow the virus. The goal of so-called herd immunity requires the vaccination of at least 40 percent of the population — a goal that is quite a distance away.

Rare blood clot makes Feds restrict use of AZ vaccine to over 55s

And out of nowhere Tuesday comes word that the AstraZeneca vaccine will now be restricted in Canada to over 55-year olds because of a very rare blood clot occurring mostly in women. A look at the rare blood clot condition known as VIPIT

The 132nd Leaside Scouts are on the job again as Spring, 2021 arrives. Their sale of soil, mulch and manure is underway until April 17. Pickup date Saturday, April 24. Check it out here.

Opens office in Toronto

Reddit has opened an office on University Ave. in Toronto. The popular social news aggregator is expanding north of the border, establishing a Canadian presence to tap online advertising dollars in one of its most popular user bases. Nonetheless, the economics of Reddit has been known to make some users struggle. Monday’s announcement calls the new office a “long-term investment” it plans to make in Canada. “Canada is already home to a deeply engaged Reddit audience that is growing steadily by the day and it is a top priority for us and our internationalization strategy,” Jen Wong, the company’s chief operating officer, said in a news release.

Cargo ship partly refloated

Engineers have ‘partially refloated’ the Ever Given, the colossal container ship that continues to block traffic through the Suez Canal. The vessel’s stern has been swung away from the bank while its bow remains lodged. The Ever Given is owned by Evergreen Marine.

Couple married 72 years hugs for first time in a year

A long thread at Leaside Community Facebook Saturday describes a teen party at Trace Manes Park tennis courts on Friday night. FB

The government has officially authorized the vaccination of residents 70 and over in a news release late Friday. Many municipalities and clinics have already begun the process. CTV

The provincial government says it will allow barber shops, hair and nail salons in Grey-Lockdown regions to reopen starting April 12 as part of a series of proposed modifications to its COVID-19 framework. The government is also going to permit outdoor fitness classes, outdoor training for team and individual sports and outdoor personal training, with a limit of 10 people, starting Monday. Marinas and boating clubs are also going to be able to operate clubhouses or any restaurant, bar and other food or drink establishment for outdoor dining, also starting March 29.

Cases again increase sharply

The news comes amid warnings of a third-wave C-19 disaster which health officials have been issuing for weeks. Ontario reported 2,169 new cases of C-19 Friday, almost the same as that reported on Thursday. The count of active cases and ICU admissions hit new multi-month highs. Toronto reported 613 new cases, Peel Region reported 397 cases, York Region reported 254 cases and Durham Region reported 123 new cases.

Anwar Knight, whose dismissal with many others from CTV stations across Canada has upset many people, has started a weekly Facebook Live show called “Here n’ There”. It streams every Friday at noon. Above is episode 5, on location at the Evergreen Brick Works on Bayview Avenue. Anwar also hosts The Big Blue Marble podcast where he “presents a front-line view of what’s happening right now on our changing planet and the efforts to help save it”.