The South Bayview Bulldog

Ontarians who rely on prescription medication will hopefully see an onerous COVID-19 precaution lifted by the end of June. A 30-day limit on prescriptions was brought in by Ontario on March 20th in an effort to prevent drug shortages during the pandemic. Spokespeople for Ontario’s seniors community and the province’s pharmacy industry say they expect the limitation will be lifted within the month. That means a return to the usual 90-day maximum allotment for prescriptions by July 1st. That policy includes a subsidy for people on the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, which is also scheduled to expire on July 1st — Canadian Press

The Ministry of Health has counted 323 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, a slight decline from 344 cases Friday. This report says provincial health units performed 20,640 tests in the preceding 24 hours, a record high

Early warning system/CBC

Science has revealed that humans excrete evidence of the coronavirus many days before they show symptoms of the disease. Some say it’s a good idea to test the water and get a jump on a second-wave of the virus. Then, Canada has decided to ban huge cruise ships from its ports until at least October 31. Makes sense. Finally, the appalling human cost of rampant COVID-19 is seen in Brazil’s largest City, Sao Paulo, where mass graves are being dug to bury victims.

Masks on and thumbs up to accept food donations at Valu-Mart parking lot on Bayview Ave.

Donations to the Thorncliffe Food Drive can be made Saturday between noon and 4 p.m at the Valu-Mary parking lot at Bayview and Davisville Aves. Food drive drop off, horn-honk pickup offered on weekend

On the same day a black bear roamed a Barrie neighborhood, comes this report from the Ottawa Sun about a moose found splashing about in a family swimming pool.

The Ministry of Health reports 344 new cases of COVID-19 infection Friday, down from 383 Thursday. List of daily summaries dating back to March 27 here.

Up close and personal with a bear in Barrie's south end this morning. #Barrie #barrieontario @BarriePolice pic.twitter.com/82kEK2W3Ve

— Barrie 360 (@Barrie360) May 29, 2020

Police and natural resources personnel have combined to capture a black bear that was roaming a Barrie neighbourhood. The animal was hit with a tranquillizer gun injection about 10 a.m.and subsequently placed in a mobile bear cage for delivery to a more remote location.  The bear was first seen in an industrial area near Victoria and John streets early Friday morning but it kept moving and a short time later police said that they had it contained in a residential neighbourhood near Brock and Bradford Sts and were awaiting the arrival of Ministry of Natural Resources staff. Twitter posts are arriving fast and furious.

Police in Barrie are looking for a big bear. Seen all over the the city this morning. pic.twitter.com/jGgReiRiwi

— Rob Cooper (@robcooperctv) May 29, 2020

Toronto City Council has voted 23 to 2 Thursday to approve a large expansion of bicycle lanes downtown evidently related to COVID-19. Some 40 kilometres of new separate lanes will be installed. The program is called ActiveTO. Much impetus has come on the argument that people can’t be active enough during the pandemic without new bike lanes. There is also hope in some quarters that after the virus threat bike lanes might lead to fewer cars on the road.

Network described

The cycling network will be expanded quickly through temporary installations by repurposing curb lanes along several key corridors. Bloor Street East, University Avenue/Queen’s Park Crescent and Dundas Street East would be among the first installations. The approved work also addresses other gaps in the network including locations in North York and Scarborough and includes acceleration of the Bloor West Bikeway Extension, as well as streetscape improvements and temporary bike lanes on Danforth Avenue.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is at work on creating a full-face substitute to the scarce N95 masks used hitherto only by doctors. But a whole world of close-contact care professionals from dentists to hairdressers might like to have one of these. Quick trim, please.

The Ministry of Health has counted 383 new cases of COVID-19 infection overnight Thursday. This ends a two-day stretch in which the count was below 300. Ontario reported 292 new cases of the virus Wednesday and 287 Tuesday marking the lowest number of new cases seen in the province in nearly two months. Authorities read the overnight number as part of the long-term downward trend.

York Regional Police have posted this interesting video of calls from the public about a drunk driver. The video follows a police unit tailing the suspect pickup truck. We hear the driver apprehended and answer “Uhhh” when asked how much he has had to drink. An especially sad aspect is the discovery of the man’s young daughter in the truck.  She is frightened, of course, by the police stop. YRP release

The reasons may be varied, but landlords are shunning the new government rent subsidy scheme. Comments in this report and from readers suggest a fear of red tape or government snooping into their business. It’s said some landlords would prefer to be tough with tenants in the hope there is cash being hidden.