Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Friday, November 5, 2021:
- There have been 601,524 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 438 cases from the previous day (VAX: 227 unvaccinated, 15 partially vaccinated, 159 fully vaccinated, 37 unknown). There have been 588,444 people recovered from the virus while 9,891 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 19,066,809 of which 13,726 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total is 1,725,151. The country has 29,115 deaths from the virus – 10 in the Yukon, 11 in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,200 in British Columbia, 3,137 in Alberta, 862 in Saskatchewan, 1,253 in Manitoba, 9,891 in Ontario, 11,510 in Quebec, 120 in New Brunswick, 16 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 101 in Nova Scotia.
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added two cases Thursday to bring the regional total to 1,945 confirmed cases, of which 11 are active (two more than Wednesday) and 1,871 are recovered (no change from Wednesday). The number of deaths to date is 63. There is one person in hospital (no change from Wednesday). There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 433 cases (three active), Lanark County West 435 cases (two active), Leeds-Grenville Central 240 cases (one active), Leeds-Grenville East 392 cases (two active), Leeds-Grenville West 215 cases (two active) and Unknown/Out of Region 23 cases (one active).
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added seven cases Thursday – two in Prescott-Russell, four in SD&G and one in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 5,841 confirmed cases, of which 54 are active (three fewer than Wednesday) and 5,659 are resolved (10 more than Wednesday). The number of deaths to date is 127. There are 10 people in hospital (one fewer than Wednesday) and four in the ICU (one more than Wednesday). There are three institutional outbreaks (no change from Wednesday). Testing increased 279 to 167,785. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,264 cases (six active), SD&G 1,351 cases (15 active), Cornwall 1,744 cases (25 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 482 cases (eight active)(Akwesasne health department reported no new cases Thursday: 485 total cases, three active, nine deaths to date).
- Vaccines: Ontario 22,569,439 (+16,588, last update Nov. 4); EOHU 330,789 (last update Nov. 4, +191 from previous update Nov. 3); LGL 150,687 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 146,090 with second doses, 2,690 with third doses. (last update Nov. 2, +410 first doses, +988 second doses, +346 third doses since previous update Oct. 26).
- The Upper Canada school board announced new coronavirus cases associated with Char-Lan District High School in Williamstown and Viscount Alexander Public School in Cornwall. Both schools are open and running normally.
- Across the border in St. Lawrence County (which includes Massena, Potsdam, Canton and Ogdensburg), there were 64 new cases Thursday to bring the total case count to 12,874. There are 486 active cases with most in Massena (99), Potsdam (39), Gouverneur (38) and Ogdensburg (33). There are 31 people in hospital and 136 people have died to date. just over 55 per cent of eligible county residents have been vaccinated. The positivity rate is nearly 6 per cent.
- More groups are critical of the federal government’s requirement that fully vaccinated Canadians need to have an expensive molecular COVID-19 test to return home after visiting the U.S. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says it makes no sense while business leaders say it’s making air travel out of reach for everyday Canadians. Chamber President Perrin Beatty is calling for more targeted measures and says the current system is bad for tourism.
- St. Lawrence College says 80 per cent of its fall programs will “have an in-person, on-campus component” at its three campuses in Brockville, Cornwall and Kingston. President Glenn Vollebregt says the college “may proceed and expand capacity” for students, employees and visitors based on provincial rules.
- A Conservative MP says she’s forming a mini-caucus within the party caucus to advocate for those concerned about vaccine mandates. Marilyn Gladu estimates 15-30 other Conservatives and senators may join. Gladu says it’s not about Erin O’Toole’s leadership, though some may perceive it that way.
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