The South Bayview Bulldog

The Ministry of Health has reported an increase of 401 new COVID-19 cases to bring the provincial total of active cases to 2,793. Wednesday’s increase was reported as 426 cases. Government information site

Five in a car

The uncharted waters of social distancing both voluntary and obligatory have left a lot of people at sea. Toronto police Wednesday issued a release reminding people that travel or parking in a car with five or fewer people is not against the law. It may not be recommended, but it won’t result in arrest. This remains true even if you hardly know the other parties in the car. Recent public directives intended to combat COVID-19 make a distinction between such informal groupings and “organized public events and social gatherings.” As well, say police, enforced closures apply as follows:

– All facilities providing indoor recreational programs
– All public libraries
– All private schools as defined in the Education Act
– All licensed child care centres
– All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery
– All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies
– Concert venues
– All City-owned playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor exercise equipment and other parks amenities, as well as parking lots attached to its parks system

Questions about organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people or open businesses that should be closed can be addressed by calling 311. The police are probably quite happy that City of Toronto bylaw officers have the job of monitoring and providing information and education to non-compliant individuals and businesses. In some cases, the Toronto police will be contacted to conduct enforcement actions under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. In the end, the TPS release says officers will use their discretion to determine the proper action. Amen to that.

Excess of caution as face of baby formula man is safely covered in CTV story/CTV video capture

A man has taken a vitally important shipment of special baby formula in yet another Internet-age case of a package removed from a porch by someone other than the owner. This case occurred in west-end Toronto and the product in question was a specialized baby formula meant for a child with a rare kidney disease. For reasons unexplained, the CTV story showing this video has the face of the man who took the formula shaded apparently to prevent identification. It’s not mentioned why this might have been done or by whom. The child, Emily, was born with bilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney disease, a rare illness in which the kidneys don’t work properly and produce no urine. Emily is fed through a gastric tube and is given a special medical formula called Nephea Kid that helps balance the electrolytes in her body. Without it, her mother Rita said, Emily’s electrolytes become imbalanced – a problem that could lead to hospitalization. The baby formula in question follows a lengthy route of delivery from Germany to a BC retailer and is said to take about two weeks to deliver.

Away goes the baby forumla

Emily

The Ministry of Health has released another one-day high of new COVID-19 infections Wednesday. The daily number is set at 426 cases. It is a large increase on the previous high of 351 cases announced Monday. Total infections now stand at 2,392.

MOH warns isolation period may last three more months

Toronto Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa said Wednesday that residents will likely have to remain at home and only venture outside “for the most essential of needs” for the next 12 weeks. Her warning reflected the surging number of cases of COVID-19 here and across Ontario. But said Dr. de Villa, the matter remains in the hands of citizens at large if they wish to take control.

Entirely in our hands

“It is my belief that these measures need to be in place for up to 12 weeks. But I would tell you that how long these measures need to be in place and how successful we are in terms of controlling the virus spread is entirely in our hands,” she said. “The more we are able to put these measures into place and the more we are able as a community to adhere to these recommendations the shorter will be the duration of these measures and the more effective we will be at reducing the loss of lives in our community,” the MOH.

St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church at Bayview Ave. and St. Cuthbert’s Rd.

For decades volunteer members of St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church affectionately known as Nightriders have been charged with the responsibility of making sure the church was safely locked up each night. That duty continues but in the present health emergency, the St. Cuthbert’s Nightriders will also acknowledge the brave doctors, nurses and other professionals who are helping to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Each evening around 7.30 the St. Cuthbert’s bell will ring in salute to tireless health care workers. Sadly, the normally busy church must remain quiet most evenings as members self-isolate.

Neighbours may wish to join bell ringers

Lorna Krawchuk of the St. Cuthbert’s congregation has suggested that nearby neighbours of the Bayview Ave. church may wish to come outside and make some noise in support of doctors and nurses as well. St. Cuthbert’s is conducting church services by way of Zoom and Facebook. Information is on the website at stcuthbertsleaside.com.

With the continued closure of all schools until at least the end of May, the government has authorized a program of online learning. It was learned Tuesday that will include classes that are teleconferenced in some cases.

Ontario public schools will remain closed until at least the end of April as authorities try to contain the COVID-19 epidemic. The decision was announced by Education Minister Stephen Lecce Tuesday. An earlier decision had closed schools until April 6. The insidious nature of the infection is revealed in the role of children as carriers of the virus to older, more vulnerable family members.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 260 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number province-wide to 1,966. The number is a decline from the record number of 351 new cases announced Monday. As interpreted by CP24, Ontario appears to be reducing the backlog of tests that had grown in recent weeks. It was more than 10,000 on March 25 but is now said to be 4,280.

Amid the thundering impact of COVID-19 on people and the economy, a heartbreaking nursing home tragedy has come to light in Bobcaygeon in the Kawartha Lakes northeast of Lake Simcoe. Thirteen people have died and 34 residents have tested positive. How the virus got into the home is not known but the awful result is easily understood. Elderly people close together in a confined area created a predictable disaster.

Fatal crash and fire Monday at Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place/as seen on CTV Twitter

A person has died in what is said to be a single-car crash at the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place Monday afternoon. Police are investigating the speed of the vehicle just before the crash along with other factors.

Crash at Princes’ Gates Monday

Reverend Emily heard at home via Zoom

Old church still there

Twitter posts tell of the innovative teleconferencing of Sunday’s Leaside United Church service by an application known as Zoom. One reads: “Thank you to everyone in this morning’s service on Zoom. There were approximately 60 screens, some with more than one person singing, chatting and listening to Rev Emily (Gordon) talk about these forced days of ‘staying in Lent’ for the time being and being asked to be coworkers bringing hope.”

The Ministry of Health has reported 351 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. This the highest daily figure of new cases so far reported. The number follows the announcement Sunday of 211 new cases. There are said to be a total of 1706 confirmed cases in Ontario as of March 29. Global News says the government has, for unstated reasons, stopped showing how many cases are awaiting test results. More than 7,200 people had been listed as under investigation as of Sunday.