The South Bayview Bulldog

The Ministry of Health reports an uptick of new COVID-19 cases in the context of a whopping test sample of 30,033 in the 24-hour period ending at midnight. It’s a hint of how mega-testing will find stuff that’s otherwise missed. Wednesday and Thursday saw a count of fewer than 100 each. But all indicators seem to show that this round of virus-fighting will be won by the good guys. The world awaits a vaccine.

Summerhill Floral Boutique to close until further notice

Mount Pleasant Village BIA flower poles

Sunflowers in bloom at Longo’s

Wildcats deliver goalie pads to arena

Going, going, gone

The Summerhill Floral Boutique at 1057 Mt. Pleasant Rd. (upper left) will be mothballed at least until the end of the pandemic, says Brad McMullen, head of the grocery chain. The location may re-open as a flower shop depending on where the pandemic goes. At upper right, we see one of the 38 flower poles along the Mount Pleasant Village BIA. The BIA has received a public art grant in the amount of $33,500 to give the poles a painted vignette by 38 different Toronto artists, all according to a theme. More to come as plans get finalized. Further down we see magnificent sunflowers in bloom at Longo’s. Bottom left, those gritty Leaside Wildcats are gearing up with newly-cleaned and repaired goalie pads for a 2021 season, fingers crossed. Finally at the bottom right is the forlorn Sunnybrook Plaza as captured by Rudy Limeback.

Patrick Cardinal/Canadian International Air Show

Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18, United States Air Force F-16 and KC-135 pilots practiced response procedures in high-density airspace over the GTA Wednesday. Many heard their presence. The exercises ensure NORAD forces remain ready to respond to aerospace threats 24/7 anywhere in Canada and the United States. Photo: Patrick Cardinal/CIAS

Education Minister Stephen Lecce addresses media at live event

Ministers of the Ontario government are outlining details of the 2020 return-to-school online Thursday. Among the information so far is a plan to have children in Grade Four and up wear masks and high school kids in the GTA attend class on alternating days. The news conference continued at 1.30 p.m. and may be seen at the CBC.

Businesses in Toronto are finally permitted to re-open this weekend. For many, this means allowing patrons inside the premises. But that’s still likely to require entry by appointment only in order to ensure distancing.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says the Ministry has counted just 76 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24-hour period ending at midnight. That’s down from 111 reported Tuesday. This is the lowest day-over-day increase since March 22, Elliott said.

Happy days as Toronto moves to Stage 3/Jetstream Photograhy/@jetstreamphotog

The Ontario government has announced that the City of Toronto and Peel Region will move into Stage 3 of Ontario’s COVID-19 recovery plan effective Friday. Windsor-Essex, the only other area of the province that is still in Stage 2, will not be permitted to proceed to the next phase at this point. Stage 3 allows for activities such as indoor dining in restaurants, live performing arts shows and the reopening of movie theatres and playgrounds. It also permits larger gatherings of people, though social distancing requirements remain in place. Government  news release

A curious little boy of two has died after falling from a 14th-floor apartment on Driftwood Ave in the City’s northwest area. Carl Hantske of 680 News reports that it not clear if the lad fell from the balcony or an apartment window.

Fire Tuesday behind strip mall on Millwood Rd. at Sutherland Drive.

What appears to have been a rubbish fire has damaged the fence behind the Millwood Rd. strip mall at Sutherland Drive Tuesday. The photo above was published at Leaside Community Facebook. Many readers were concerned for the safety of residents of the seniors home at the corner of Millwood and Randolph Rd. but there are no reports of injuries. The friendly little mall is home to many popular businesses such as Fix It Again Sam, Lena’s Barber Shop and the Sleuth of Baker Street.

Shout it out. The fastest-growing City in North America — Toronto to you — counts merely six new cases of COVID-19 in the 24-hour period ended midnight. And no, the pandemic is not over. But we can all be proud behind the mask. David Baskin

• Will Toronto and Peel be permitted to move to Stage 3?