Public Health Ontario is reporting 119 new COVID-19 cases in the province today, a decrease from yesterday's 137 cases.
Nearly 74 per cent of the cases announced today came from three health units. Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported 40 new cases, Toronto Public Health reported 20, and Ottawa Public Health reported 28
Locally, all cases in the Algoma region are now resolved.
Here's the latest local, provincial, and federal news regarding COVID-19 cases and funding that you need to know:
Canada makes exception for U.S. students planning to study north of border
The federal government appears to have relaxed restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border that would have made it impossible for first-year university students from the United States to enter the country.
An update to the government's guidance for international students, quietly posted Friday, now says students coming from the U.S. may no longer need a study permit that was issued on or before March 18 — the day the border restrictions were first announced.
Read more about the update here.
Child-care centres across the province permitted to expand capacity today
The number of kids in child-care centres is allowed to increase across Ontario today as the province continues its gradual reopening.
The Ministry of Education had previously limited the number of people per room in a daycare to 10 in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
As of today, a maximum of 15 children — plus staff members — will be allowed in each "cohort."
The groups of children must stay together throughout the program for at least seven days, and cannot mix with kids in different cohorts.
Read more here.
No new cases in Algoma region today
Currently, there are no active case in the Algoma region.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 8:30 a.m. on Monday:
- 19,325 tested
- 27 positive
- 18,293 negative
- 1,005 pending
- 0 deceased
- 27 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 22 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 2 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
Provincial, federal governments to invest up to $4B in Ontario's municipalities, transit systems
The provincial and federal governments are providing up to $4 billion in funding to Ontario's 444 municipalities, Premier Ford said in a press conference this afternoon.
The funding is meant to help municipal governments maintain critical services, such as transit, as they recover from COVID-19.
Watch the full press conference here.
Family of long-term care resident disputes announced terms of re-started visiting
Like many other Ontario jurisdictions, last week the North Shore Health Network announced that as of Wednesday it had re-started visiting at its long-term care facilities.
For a woman whose father resides in a long-term care facility in Sault Ste. Marie, the announcement did not jive with her understanding of new adjusted visitor regulations in the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Becky Campbell, whose father resides at Extendicare Maple View in the Soo, told Village Media that in her experience the story that came from the policy announcement in the adjoining jurisdiction was "misleading."
Read more here.
Michigan resident back on payroll at Algoma Steel
A young Michigan father forced to choose between his children and his job at Algoma Steel is now back on the payroll SooToday has learned.
But so far, no date has been set for his return to the workplace.
The apprentice machinist won an abitration award this week defending his right to cross the International Bridge to work at Algoma Steel without the usual mandatory two weeks of self-isolation.
Read more about the case here.
CHL looks into government aid in response to COVID-19
With the possibility of a delayed start to the 2020-21 regular seasons in its three member leagues – the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League – the CHL has hired an Ottawa-based lobbyist to discuss the potential of financial aid for its 60.
According to the federal lobbyists’ registry, the firm of Bluesky Strategy Group discussed the possibility of “accessing funding for CHL teams impacted by COVID-19” with federal officials.
Read more here.
Universities survey public about food access during COVID-19
An inter-provincial research project already focused on sustainable food systems is turning its attention to COVID’s impact on food access.
The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) is asking for help in its research into food access, concerns, and food system perceptions during the pandemic.
Read more about the survey here.
New study shows most Canadians are still 'vulnerable' to virus
Initial results released this week from Canadian research into immunity against COVID-19 show a very low number of people have the antibodies that make them immune to COVID-19.
Canadian Blood Services and the Canadian COVID-19 Immunity Task Force released early results Thursday of 10,000 blood samples tested for the antibody to SARS-CoV-2.
Fewer than one per cent of the samples of blood tested so far are showing antibodies.
Read more about the results here.
