Peterborough Police Service headquarters on Water Street in Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Trudeau)
A Peterborough man and teen are facing drug production charges in connection with a police investigation at a home at 814 Mountain Ash Rd. in Peterborough on Thursday (December 31).
After responding to an early morning fire at the home, the Peterborough fire department contacted police shortly after 7 a.m. on Thursday.
Following an investigation, police charged a 51-year-old man with producing a schedule III substance (psilocybin mushrooms) and with obstructing a police officer for trying to go back into a crime scene.
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A 17-year-old male is charged with producing a schedule III substance (psilocybin mushrooms) failure to comply with an undertaking.
The 17-year-old cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Police have also not released the name of the 51-year-old man, presumably because it may identify the 17-year-old.
The teenager is currently bound by an undertaking with a condition to remain at his residence between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The 17-year-old accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on January 16, 2021. The 51-year-old accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on January 27, 2021.
A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Lisa Ferdinando)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 2,964 new cases, with the seven-day average of daily cases across the province increasing by 137 to 2,792. There are triple-digit increases today in 10 health unit regions.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there is 1 new case to report and 14 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 13 to 188.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (786), Peel (346), York (308), Durham (197), Windsor-Essex (187), Hamilton (172), Waterloo (157), Niagara (113), Ottawa (100), and Halton (100).
There are double-digit increases in Middlesex-London (79), Simcoe Muskoka (58), Lambton (55), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (53), Eastern Ontario (45), Haldimand-Norfolk (30), Southwestern (29), Huron Perth (27), Chatham-Kent (19), Peterborough (18), Brant (18), Grey Bruce (15), and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (14), with smaller increases in Timiskaming (6).
The remaining 10 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases. For the first time since the pandemic began, every health unit in Ontario is reporting at least 1 case.
Of today’s new cases, 50% are among people under the age of 40, with the highest number of cases (1,095) among people ages 20-39, followed by 900 cases among people ages 40-59 and 420 cases among people ages 60-79. With 2,175 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.2% to 85.2%. The average positivity rate across Ontario is unavailable on statutory holidays and weekends.
Ontario is reporting 25 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 15 deaths in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have decreased by 5 to 998, but this total does not include data from more than 10% of hospitals so is under-reported. With 7 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs reported today, there are now 329 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario. With 8 more COVID-19 patients on ventilators reported today, there are now 228 COVID-19 patients on ventilators.
A total of 49,803 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 13,940 to 27,769. A total of 37,551 vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 4,360 from yesterday.
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After a substantial increase of 88 new cases over the past two days, today there is only 1 new case to report in the greater Kawarthas region, in Peterborough. There are no new cases in Hastings Prince Edward. However, reports for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton are unavailable on Sundays, so the number of new cases in these counties is unknown.
An additional 14 cases have been resolved, including 6 in Peterborough and 8 in Hastings Prince Edward.
There is 1 new COVID-19 hospitalization in Peterborough. Peterborough Public Health has also declared two new outbreaks: one at a second unidentified congregate living facility in Peterborough, and another at a workplace in Otonabee-South Monaghan. One or both of these outbreaks may explain the increase of 37 new cases reported on January 2.
There are currently 188 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 13 from yesterday, including 95 in Peterborough, 27 in Hastings Prince Edward (9 in Quinte West, 14 in Belleville, 1 in Prince Edward County, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in North Hastings), 33 in Northumberland, 27 in Kawartha Lakes, and 6 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 386 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (286 resolved with 5 deaths), 264 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (218 resolved with 32 deaths), 257 in Northumberland County (222 resolved with 2 deaths), 33 in Haliburton County (28 resolved with no deaths), and 296 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (264 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on December 27.
Province-wide, there have been 190,962 confirmed cases, an increase of 2,964 from yesterday, with 162,701 cases resolved (85.2% of all cases), an increase of 2,175 from yesterday. There have been 4,650 deaths, an increase of 25 from yesterday, with 2,829 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 15 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 5 to 998, but this total does not include data from more than 10% of hospitals so is under-reported. With 7 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs reported today, there are now 329 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario. With 8 more COVID-19 patient on ventilators reported today, there are now 228 COVID-19 patients on ventilators. A total of 8,103,832 tests have been completed, an increase of 49,803 from yesterday, with 27,769 tests under investigation, a decrease of 13,940 from yesterday. A total of 37,551 vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 4,360 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 386 (increase of 1) Active cases: 95 (decrease of 5) Close contacts: 195 (decrease of 17) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 286 (increase of 6) Hospitalizations (total to date): 16 (increase of 1)* Total tests completed: Over 39,450 (increase of 50) Outbreaks: Riverview Manor in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living facility #1 in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living facility #2 in Peterborough, Workplace in Otonabee-South Monaghan (increase of 2)**
*As of December 31, Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports a total of 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 3 patients on an inpatient unit and 1 patient in ICU (transferred from another hospital). This number does not include the new hospitalization reported by the health unit.
**The health unit is reporting a new outbreak at a second unidentified congregate living facility in Peterborough as of January 3, as well as a workplace outbreak in Otonabee-South Monaghan as of January 2. One or both of these outbreaks may explain the increase of 37 new cases reported on January 2.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are for the two-day period January 1 and 2.
Confirmed positive: 554, including 264 in Kawartha Lakes, 257 in Northumberland, 33 in Haliburton (increase of 37, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 21 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton)* Active cases: 65, including 27 in Kawartha Lakes, 33 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton (increase of 29, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 18 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton) Probable cases: 2 (increase of 2, in Northumberland) High-risk contacts: 239, including 54 in Kawartha Lakes, 154 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (net decrease of 27)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 23, including 15 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Deaths: 34 (no change) Resolved: 468, including 218 in Kawartha Lakes, 222 in Northumberland, 28 in Haliburton (increase of 8, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 4 in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: Christian Horizons group home in Northumberland, Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope (increase of 2)***
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes 25 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***An outbreak was declared at Christian Horizons group home in Northumberland on January 1 and in Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope on December 31. The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg has been declared over.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 296 (no change) Active cases: 27 (decrease of 8) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 2 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 264 (increase of 8) Swabs completed: 26,702 (decrease of 58) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 190,962 (increase of 2,964) Resolved: 162,701 (increase of 2,175, 85.2% of all cases) Positivity rate: 5.7% (for December 31; rate is unavailable on statutory holidays and weekends) Hospitalized: 998 (decrease of 5)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 329 (increase of 7) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 228 (increase of 8) Deaths: 4,650 (increase of 25) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,829 (increase of 15) Total tests completed: 8,103,832 (increase of 49,803) Tests under investigation: 27,769 (decrease of 13,940) Total vaccine doses administered: 37,551 (increase of 4,360)
*As more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for this report, the number of hospitalization is under-reported.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from December 3, 2020 – January 2, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from December 3, 2020 – January 2, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from December 3, 2020 – January 2, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from December 3, 2020 – January 2, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
A video of a moose crossing a highway in Algonquin Park by Jesse Villemaire and Susan Brown of Follow Me North Photography was our top post on Instagram in 2020. (Screenshot of video by @followmenorth / Instagram)
As I review our top 20 images for the year, I’m amazed once again that nature and the beauty of the Kawarthas endures.
Our two most popular photographers in 2020 were Kirk Hillsley (four of his his scenic Millbrook pond shots were in our top 20) followed by Mike Quigg (three of his Kasshabog Lake shots were in our top 20). We’re very grateful to all the local and visiting photographers who allow us to share their work on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Cheers to all of us, and we are looking forward to a better year ahead!
Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawartha photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month.
Without further ado, here are the top 20 from 2020:
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#1. Majestic moose in Algonquin Park by Jesse Villemaire and Susan Brown of Follow Me North Photography @followmenorth
Posted December 20, 2020. 59.6K impressions, 29,234 views, 2,918 likes
Jesse Villemaire and Susan Brown of Follow Me North Photography shot this video of a majestic moose crossing a highway in Algonquin Park. The couple, who live in the Township of Lake of Bays in northeastern Muskoka beside Algonquin Park, provide a wide range of photography services, sell wall art and greeting cards featuring their photography, and offer photography workshops. Find out more at www.followmenorth.com.
Posted April 1, 2020. 42.5K impressions, 1,864 likes
Founded in 2013 by Bill and Sacha Douglas, Douglas + Son is a shop located at 68 Bolton Street in Bobcaygeon that sells vintage goods and clothing, original Douglas + Son apparel, and home and lifestyle products. They produced this print to show their support for the community, which was devastated in March by the deaths of 28 residents of Bobcaygeon’s Pinecest Nursing Home from COVID-19. For more information, about Douglas + Son, visit www.douglasandson.ca.
#15. Killer kayaker by Jesse Villemaire and Susan Brown of Follow Me North Photography @followmenorth
Posted October 26, 2020. 27.8K impressions, 953 likes
Our 2019 share of this Halloween-themed photo, originally posted by Follow Me North Photography in 2019, was one of our top posts last year and our re-share in October made the cut again (no pun intended) in 2020.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting a new record-high number of daily cases today at 3,363, with the seven-day average of daily cases across the province increasing by 219 to 2,655.
Yesterday, Ontario reported 2,476 cases; however, due to a data issue at Toronto Public Health, the total cases for December 31 are under-reported.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 88 new cases to report and 17 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region jumping by 73 to 201.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Peel (713), Toronto (700), York (395), Windsor-Essex (226), Hamilton (171), Niagara (166), Halton (152), and Durham (115).
There are double-digit increases in Middlesex-London (94), Ottawa (81), Lambton (70), Simcoe Muskoka (58), Waterloo (58), Eastern Ontario (53), Southwestern (56), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (55), Haldimand-Norfolk (36), Brant (26), Huron Perth (22), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (20), Peterborough (20), Hastings Prince Edward (14), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (12), and Grey Bruce (11), with smaller increases in Algoma (9), Chatham-Kent (9), and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (8).
The remaining 7 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 2 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people under the age of 40, with the highest number of cases (1,158) people ages 20-39, followed by 970 cases among people ages 40-59 and 499 cases among people ages 60-79. With 2,054 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.4% to 85.4%. The average positivity rate across Ontario is unavailable on statutory holidays and weekends.
Ontario is reporting 44 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 14 deaths in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have decreased by 257 to 1,003, but this total does not include data from more than 10% of hospitals so is under-reported. With 14 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs reported today, there are now 322 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario. With 1 less COVID-19 patient on a ventilator reported today, there are now 220 COVID-19 patients on ventilators.
A total of 61,401 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 29,817 to 41,709. A total of 33,191 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, with 4,305 administered yesterday.
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In the greater Kawarthas region over the past two days, there are 88 new cases to report, including 37 in Peterborough, 21 in Northumberland, 15 in Hastings Prince Edward, 11 in Kawartha Lakes, and 4 in Haliburton.
There is 1 new hospitalization in Kawartha Lakes. An outbreak was declared at Christian Horizons group home in Northumberland on January 1 and in Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope on December 31. The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg has been declared over.
An additional 17 cases have been resolved, including 7 in Peterborough, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 2 in Hastings Prince Edward.
There are currently 201 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 73 from December 31, including 100 in Peterborough, 35 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 15 in Belleville, 2 in Prince Edward County, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in North Hastings), 33 in Northumberland, 27 in Kawartha Lakes, and 6 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 385 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (280 resolved with 5 deaths), 264 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (218 resolved with 32 deaths), 257 in Northumberland County (222 resolved with 2 deaths), 33 in Haliburton County (28 resolved with no deaths), and 296 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (256 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on December 27.
Province-wide, there have been 187,998 confirmed cases, an increase of 3,363 from yesterday, with 160,526 cases resolved (85.4% of all cases), an increase of 2,054 from yesterday. There have been 4,625 deaths, an increase of 44 from yesterday, with 2,814 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 14 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 257 to 1,003, but this total does not include data from more than 10% of hospitals so is under-reported. With 14 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs reported today, there are now 322 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario. With 1 less COVID-19 patient on a ventilator reported today, there are now 220 COVID-19 patients on ventilators. A total of 8,054,029 tests have been completed, an increase of 61,401 from yesterday, with 41,709 tests under investigation, a decrease of 29,817 from yesterday. Yesterday, 4,305 vaccine doses were administered, for a total of 33,191 doses administered.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are for a two-day period (January 1 and 2).
Confirmed positive: 385 (increase of 37) Active cases: 100 (increase of 30) Close contacts: 212 (decrease of 21) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 280 (increase of 7) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 39,400 (increase of 200) Institutional outbreaks: Riverview Manor in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living setting (no change)
*As of December 31, Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports a total of 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 3 patients on an inpatient unit and 1 patient in ICU (transferred from another hospital).
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are for a two-day period (January 1 and 2).
Confirmed positive: 554, including 264 in Kawartha Lakes, 257 in Northumberland, 33 in Haliburton (increase of 36, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 21 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton)* Active cases: 65, including 27 in Kawartha Lakes, 33 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton (increase of 29, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 18 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton) Probable cases: 2 (increase of 2, in Northumberland) High-risk contacts: 239, including 54 in Kawartha Lakes, 154 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (net decrease of 27)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 23, including 15 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Deaths: 34 (no change) Resolved: 468, including 218 in Kawartha Lakes, 222 in Northumberland, 28 in Haliburton (increase of 8, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 4 in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: Christian Horizons group home in Northumberland, Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope (increase of 2)***
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes 25 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***An outbreak was declared at Christian Horizons group home in Northumberland on January 1 and in Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope on December 31. The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg has been declared over.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are for a two-day period (January 1 and 2).
Confirmed positive: 296 (increase of 15) Active cases: 35 (increase of 13) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 3 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 256 (increase of 2) Swabs completed: 26,760 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
January 1
Confirmed positive: 187,998 (increase of 3,363) Resolved: 160,526 (increase of 2,054, 85.4% of all cases) Positivity rate: 5.7% (for December 31; rate is unavailable on statutory holidays and weekends) Hospitalized: 1,003 (decrease of 257)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 322 (decrease of 14) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 220 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 4,625 (increase of 44) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,814 (increase of 14) Total tests completed: 8,054,029 (increase of 61,401) Tests under investigation: 41,709 (decrease of 29,817) Daily vaccine doses administered: 4,305 (decrease of 1,158) Total vaccine doses administered: 33,191 (increase of 9,689)
*As more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for this report, the number of hospitalization is under-reported.
December 31
Confirmed positive: 184,635 (increase of 2,476)* Resolved: 158,472 (increase of 2,460, 85.8% of all cases) Positivity rate: 5.7% (for December 31; rate is unavailable on statutory holidays and weekends) Hospitalized: 1,260 (increase of 25) Hospitalized and in ICU: 336 (decrease of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 221 (increase of 11) Deaths: 4,581 (increase of 51) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,800 (increase of 23) Total tests completed: 7,992,628 (increase of 70,570) Tests under investigation: 71,526 (decrease of 757)
*Due to a data issue, cases reported on December 31 for Toronto Public Health are under-reported. This issue also affects overall case counts for Ontario.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from December 2, 2020 – January 1, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from December 2, 2020 – January 1, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from December 2, 2020 – January 1, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from December 2, 2020 – January 1, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Thomas H.B. Symons in front of the Bata Library at Trent University in Peterborough. The founding president of the university, Professor Symons has passed away at the age of 91. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
Trent University announced on Saturday (January 2) that Thomas Henry Bull Symons, its founding president, has passed away. He was 91 years old.
“It was a privilege to know President Symons,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “He was gracious, interested, and always obliging when I came to Trent. With great enthusiasm, he told me about Trent’s origins, the politics of Peterborough, and the lessons he learned from so many years in academic leadership,”
“Tom was an elder statesman in the best sense — an intelligent, witty and compassionate leader who was generous with his time, his knowledge and his hospitality. He was unwavering in his interest in Trent University, Peterborough, and post-secondary education.”
“His values remain at the heart of the university he started: in its commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, a university made up of colleges, and the School for the Study of Canada and Indigenous Studies. The impact of his work will reverberate across the nation and around the world for many years to come.”
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Professor Symons was born in Toronto in 1929 to First World War flying ace Harry Lutz Symons and Dorothy Bull, daughter of the financier and historian William Perkins Bull.
In 1961, while teaching history at the University of Toronto, Professor Symons was approached by a committee of Peterborough citizens who asked him to create a university for the city.
He accepted the challenge and, at 33 years old, became the youngest university president in Canada.
Thomas H.B. Symons as president-designate of Trent University in Peterborough in 1961. At just 33 years old, he was Canada’s youngest university president at the time. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
He served as Trent University’s president and vice-chancellor for 11 years until 1972. Upon Professor Symons’ retirement in 1994, he was made Vanier Professor Emeritus and the Nassau Mills campus of the university was officially renamed in his honour for his years of dedication and tireless work.
He also played an instrumental role in the founding of Fleming College and over a dozen other colleges and universities around the world. His leadership in education and his contributions to society and the nation were widely recognized including his investment as a member of the Order of Canada in 1976 and the Order of Ontario in 2002.
After retirement, Professor Symons remained an active member of the university community as well within Peterborough and beyond.
Thomas H.B. Symons in Trent University’s 50th anniversary parade procession in 2014. After his retirement in 1994,Professor Symons remained an active member of the university community as well within Peterborough and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
In recognition of Professor Symons’ exceptional contributions to Trent University and as an expression of deep sympathies to family, friends and colleagues, the flag atop Bata Library will be lowered.
Trent University has created a special tribute website at www.trentu.ca/professorsymons/ with more information about Professor Symons’ life and legacy at Trent University and around the world.
Corbin Alexander Zilney was born on 12:44 a.m. on January 1, 2021 at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. (Photo courtesy of PRHC)
The first baby of 2021 in the Kawarthas was born at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on New Year’s Day, according to a media release from the hospital.
On Friday, January 1, 2021 at 12:44 a.m., parents Ashley Merlin and Alex Zilney welcomed their son Corbin Alexander Zilney into the world.
The baby boy was safely delivered at PRHC, weighing seven pounds. Mother and baby are doing well and the parents are overjoyed with the new addition to their family.
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“The care at PRHC has been wonderful, both on the antenatal side and here on [inpatient unit] A6,” Ashley said.
“There are of course some differences delivering now than with my other three children because of COVID-19 protocols, but the team has done a great job of making us feel very comfortable.”
Keene resident, historian, and retired Trent University professor John Jennings has been appointed to the Order of Ontario. (Photo courtesy of John Jennings)
Keene resident and historian John Jennings is one of 47 people who have been appointed to the Order of Ontario for 2019 and 2020.
Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell announced the appointments to the province’s highest honour on Friday (January 1). The Order of Ontario honours individuals whose exceptional achievements have left a lasting legacy in the province.
“One of Canada’s foremost historians of canoe history, Dr. John Jennings was a central figure in the creation and development of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough — now a nationally recognized Canadian institution, which educates Canadians about the contribution of the canoe — a national iconic symbol,” reads a media release announcing the appointments. “Dr. Jennings book, The Canoe: A Living Tradition is regarded as a seminal contribution to the field.”
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Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Jennings moved to Peterborough and began teaching history at Trent University in Peterborough in 1976, where he was introduced to canoeing.
“I started becoming fascinated with the canoe and took my first canoe trips when I came to Trent and got involved with a small group of faculty who were passionate canoeists,” he said in a 1999 interview with Jim Barber published in Trent magazine.
That group of Trent professors eventually turned into a committee (and then a board of trustees) that worked to fulfill the dream of University of Toronto professor Kirk Wipper to create a national canoe museum (Wipper had collected more than 600 canoes). The committee’s original idea in 1982 was to establish the museum on Trent’s main campus, but that plan was shelved.
John Jennings presenting “The Historic Wind and Peel Rivers of the Northern Yukon” at the Wilderness & Canoe Symposium in 2014. (YouTube screenshot)
“We officially acquired the collection from Professor Wipper in 1995, but up until that time we stored canoes in barns around the Peterborough area,” Jennings said in his Trent magazine interview. “We realized that a permanent site was needed.”
In 1990, the city of Peterborough and the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority offered the board four acres of land on the Trent Severn Waterway, near Beavermead Park, as a site for the museum. (Ironically, this is now going to be the location of the museum’s new facility after the museum abandoned the site beside the Peterborough Life Lock due to chemical contamination of the soil).
Despite fundraising for buildings on the site, the board was no closer to constructing the new museum. Then, Outboard Marine Corporation, which has closed its factory in Peterborough in 1990, offered the board all of its property and buildings on Monaghan Road.
“The canoe is really the closest thing Canada has to a national symbol,” Jennings said in that story.
Here’s the full list of appointees to the Order of Ontario:
2020 Appointees to the Order of Ontario
Daniel Allen
Joseph Raymond Buncic
Michael DeGasperis
Raymond Desjardins
Ernest Eves
Hershell Ezrin
Carlo Fidani
Karen Goldenberg
Michael D. Harris
Ellis Jacob
Jing Jiang
Shana Kelley
André Lapierre
Dale Lastman
André M. Levesque
Peter Liu
Hazel McCallion
Arden McGregor
Janet McKelvy
George McLean
Hon. Rosemary Moodie
Hon. Robert. W. Runciman
Marilyn Sonley
Ahmad Reza Tabrizi
Hon. Karen Weiler
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2019 Appointees to the Order of Ontario
Melanie Adrian
Roland “Roly” Armitage
Allan Carswell
Helen Ching-Kircher
John Colangeli
Nancy Coldham
Sean Conway
Clare Copeland
Barbara Croall
Lisa Farano
Geoff Fernie
Allan Fox
John Freund
Susan Hay
John Jennings
Marlys Koschinsky
James W. Leech
Audrey Loeb
Dani Reiss
Janis Rotman
Linda Silver Dranoff
Joan Sutton Straus
The Lieutenant Governor will bestow the honour upon the newest appointees during an investiture ceremony at Queen’s Park, at a point in time in the future, when Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health deems gatherings possible once again in the province.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for southern Peterborough County, southern Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County for the possibility of patchy freezing rain on Friday night (January 1).
A low pressure system moving north from Texas will track near the south shore of Lake Erie on Friday evening.
Precipitation will begin as snow early in the evening over areas north of Lake Ontario. This snow will then become mixed with patchy freezing rain or ice pellets later in the evening.
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Some minor ice accretion is possible.
Precipitation will transition to snow by early Saturday morning.
Environment Canada does not anticipate issuing freezing rain warnings at this time but will continue to monitor the situation.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
As provincial data and individual public health unit data will not be available on New Year’s Day as it is a statutory holiday. kawarthaNOW will not be posting a COVID-19 update on January 1. Data for January 1 will be included in the January 2 update.
For the first time ever, Ontario has exceeded 3,000 daily COVID-19 cases, reporting 3,328 new cases on the last day of 2020, along with 56 new deaths and 337 COVID-19 patients in ICUs.
This is the third straight day of a record-breaking case count, with the seven-day average of daily cases across the province increasing by 126 to 2,436. Cases are now in the triple digits in 10 Ontario communities.
Back on November 12, Ontario’s top public health officials projected Ontario would have between 3,000 and 4,000 daily cases by the end of December. On December 21, they projected more than 300 ICU beds would be occupied by COVID-19 patients by the end of December.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 27 new cases to report and 14 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region increasing by 13 to 128.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (888), Peel (431), York (418), Windsor-Essex (257), Ottawa (194), Hamilton (156), Waterloo (127), Durham (114), Middlesex-London (112), and Niagara (110).
There are double-digit increases in Simcoe Muskoka (83), Southwestern Public Health (79), Halton (79), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (58), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (58), Brant (26), Lambton (25), Huron Perth (19), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (13), Chatham-Kent (12), and Haldimand-Norfolk (12), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (10), with smaller increases in Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (9), Sudbury (8), Peterborough (8), Hastings Prince Edward (6), and Renfrew (6).
The remaining 7 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 3 health units (all in northern Ontairo) reporting no new cases at all.
New infections continue to predominate in people 40 years of age and older, with 52% of today’s cases in that age group. The highest number of cases (1,123) remains among people ages 20-39, followed by 1,037 cases among people ages 40-59 and 502 cases among people ages 60-79. With 2,213 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.4% to 85.6%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 2.7% to 5.7%, meaning that 57 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 30.
Ontario is reporting 56 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 12 deaths in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 313 to 1,177. With 14 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs reported today, there are now 337 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario. With 6 more COVID-19 patients on ventilators reported today, there are now 210 COVID-19 patients on ventilators.
A total of 63,858 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 17,328 to 72,283. A total of 23,502 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, with 5,463 administered yseterday.
Due to the winter break and the remote learning period during the provincial shutdown, there will be no data to report for Ontario schools between December 22 and January 8. There are 57 new cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 17 from ysterday, with 24 cases among children and 33 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 27 new cases to report, including 13 in Peterborough, 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Hastings Prince Edward, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton. None of the new cases in licensed child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are 2 new hospitalizations in Peterborough (as reported by Peterborough Regional Health Centre) and 1 new hospitalization in Kawartha Lakes.
An additional 14 cases have been resolved, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Peterborough, 2 in Northumberland, 1 in Haliburton, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward,
There are currently 128 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 13 from yesterday, including 70 in Peterborough, 22 in Hastings Prince Edward (10 in Quinte West, 10 in Belleville, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in North Hastings), 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 348 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (273 resolved with 5 deaths), 252 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (214 resolved with 32 deaths), 235 in Northumberland County (218 resolved with 2 deaths), 30 in Haliburton County (28 resolved with no deaths), and 281 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (254 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on December 27.
Province-wide, there have been 182,159 confirmed cases, an increase of 3,328 from yesterday, with 156,012 cases resolved (85.6% of all cases), an increase of 2,213 from yesterday. There have been 4,530 deaths, an increase of 56 from yesterday, with 2,777 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 39 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 58 to 1,235. With 14 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs reported today, there are now 337 COVID-19 ICU patients in Ontario. With 6 more COVID-19 patients on ventilators reported today, there are now 210 COVID-19 patients on ventilators. A total of 7,922,058 tests have been completed, an increase of 63,858 from yesterday, with 72,283 tests under investigation, an increase of 17,328 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 348 (increase of 13) Active cases: 70 (increase of 10) Close contacts: 233 (increase of 30) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 273 (increase of 3) Hospitalizations (total to date): 14 (increase of 1)* Total tests completed: Over 39,200 (increase of 100) Institutional outbreaks: Riverview Manor in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living setting (no change)
*As of December 31, Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports a total of 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 3 patients on an inpatient unit and 1 patient in ICU (transferred from another hospital). This represents an increase of 2 COVID-19 patients.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 517, including 252 in Kawartha Lakes, 235 in Northumberland, 30 in Haliburton (increase of 10, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton)* Active cases: 36, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no net change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 266, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes, 185 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (net increase of 30)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 22, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Deaths: 34 (no change) Resolved: 460, including 214 in Kawartha Lakes, 218 in Northumberland, 28 in Haliburton (increase of 10, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Institutional outbreaks: Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg (no change)
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes 28 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 281 (increase of 4) Active cases: 22 (increase of 3) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 3 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 254 (increase of 1) Swabs completed: 26,760 (increase of 15) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 182,159 (increase of 3,328) Resolved: 156,012 (increase of 2,213, 85.6% of all cases) Positivity rate: 5.7% (decrease of 2.7%) Hospitalized: 1,235 (increase of 58) Hospitalized and in ICU: 337 (increase of 14) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 210 (increase of 6) Deaths: 4,530 (increase of 56) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,777 (increase of 39) Total tests completed: 7,922,058 (increase of 63,858) Tests under investigation: 72,283 (increase of 17,328) Daily vaccine doses administered: 5,463 Total vaccine doses administered: 23,502
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 20 – December 30, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from November 20 – December 30, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from November 20 – December 30, 2020. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from November 20 – December 30, 2020. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
After searching a Park Street home in Peterborough on Wednesday afternoon (December 30), police have arrested and charged a 30-year-old Peterborough man with firearms and animal cruelty offences.
Ar around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the Peterborough police’s emergency response team executed a search warrant at 216 Park Street North, closing the street for about an hour.
Police arrested 30-year-old Kevin Fenn of Peterborough, who was wanted in connection with the shooting of a dog at the end of November and pointing a firearm at the dog’s female owner.
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Fenn is bound by an undertaking with Ontario Provincial Police to not communicate with the female victim and by a prohibition order not to possess any firearm, any crossbow, restricted weapon, ammunition, and explosive substance for a period of 10 years or any prohibited firearm, restricted firearm, prohibited weapon, prohibited device, and prohibited ammunition for life.
As a result of the investigation and search warrant, Fenn has been charged with killing or injuring animals, unauthorized possession of a firearm, using a firearm while committing an offence, three counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and cruelty to animals (unnecessary pain, suffering or injury).
During the search of the residence, police also recovered a Polaris ATV that had been reported stolen to Peterborough County OPP.
Fenn is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday (December 31).
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