Leslieville nature photographer Colin Mcconnell has posted these shots of a swan family on Ashbridge’s Bay. Lovely. FB
You may find yourself giggling a little hysterically as the CBC lists all the things you must not do — and there are a lot — if you hope to wear a non-medical mask correctly. Best of luck.
Premier Ford indicated Friday that Ontario will join a nationwide smartphone app program designed to help trace contacts of those who fall victim to COVID-19. The app makes a digital handshake with other phones carrying the app as their owners go about their business when away from home. If anyone on the digital list of contacts falls victim to the virus, health authorities have a quick way to warn all those who came in contact. Ford said all premiers agree there should be a common app and officials are now working on that. One app already in use is AB (Alberta) Trace Together. Here’s how it works.
The Ministry of Health has reported a disturbing upturn in COVID-19 infections Friday as the overnight count of new cases hit 441. The province has now seen its rolling five-day average of new cases steadily increase for close to a week. It was 326 on Monday but since then it has gone up to 360, 370, 375 and now 395. Premier Ford has said he will order a reversal of the retail reopening program if public health is jeopardized. Ministry
China Friday imposed new rules on Hong Kong, effectively allowing the autocratic Communist government of Xi Jinping greater control over the semi-autonomous region. The rules will permit China to crack down on pro-democracy protests, setting the government up for a showdown with the US. At the close of markets Friday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down 5.7%, while in morning trade in Europe, all major indexes fell. The central government in China said China’s ceremonial parliament is exploring a bill that could suppress opposition in Hong Kong and ban “treason, secession, sedition and subversion” in the former British colony. CBC
The Ministry of Health reports 413 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday. This overnight number reveals a continuing slow increase in cases seen in Ontario in recent days. CP24 says that a rolling five-day average of new cases has gone from 326 on Monday to 375 Thursday.
Where is transmission occurring?
Amid concern about the need for more aggressive testing, including checks of people at large who have no symptoms, attention has also turned to places where community spread seems worse. Numbers in the linked CBC story suggest that such transmission is quite serious in Peel Region. It has ten percent of the provincial population but has seen 20 percent of infections. Ministry Peel MOH expresses concern
Family, colleagues, friends and citizens of Halifax paid a sombre tribute to Captain Jennifer Casey Wednesday. She was a hometown girl who had made many people proud. Halifax artist Peter Robichaud created the painting at the left as a gift to the Casey family. It’s titled Ad Astra (to the stars) recalling the RCAF motto Per Ardua Ad Astra (Through Adversity to the Stars). Statement on behalf of Captain Jennifer Casey’s Family
Road closures were established on Soudan Ave between Yonge St. and Holly St. Wednesday afternoon because of what was called a “struck gas line.” Traffic was advised to avoid the area.
The Neighourhood Organization (TNO) has collaborated with residents and friends of Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park to raise as much as $12,300 (to date) for emergency food for area families unemployed because of COVID-19. The principal source is a community GoFundMe page started by the Leaside Toy Drive (also known as Guys Night Out). CBC
The City will again close roads this coming weekend as an opportunity for outdoor activity. Among the closures will be parts of the Bayview Ave. Extension. A related excerpt from the news release is below.
The following three major road closures are planned this weekend from Saturday, May 23 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, May 24 at 11 p.m.:
• Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road. The eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard West (exit #146) will also be closed
• Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only) from Coxwell Avenue to just south of Woodbine Avenue (Kew Beach Avenue)
• Bayview Avenue from Mill Street to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue.The City will actively manage traffic during these closures through signal timing adjustments on adjacent routes, as well as roadway signage to alert drivers. Motorists who normally travel these roads on weekends should plan alternate routes. Those expecting to use the major road closures to cycle, run or walk should access them by bike or as a pedestrian, since nearby parking is limited and site parking is not provided
The Ministry of Health reported 390 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, a slight decline over the 427 cases reported Tuesday. The past ten days has seen overnight results of the virus spread continue in the 400 range. The promise of a downward break similar to that seen May 9 (294 cases) has faded. Authorities can only guess at when and if such a break is likely to come. And as noted here Tuesday, there remains no explanation for the dramatic fall in the number of tests being done daily. The current Ministry report shows slightly less than 7,400 tests compared to a high of more than 19,000 in recent weeks.
