Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Home Blog Page 558

Ontario reports third straight record increase with 1,925 new COVID-19 cases

By kawarthaNOW -

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting another record increase of COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row, with today’s 1,925 cases exceeding by one case yesterday’s record of 1,924. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has increased by 25 to 1,820.

There are 13 new cases to report today in the greater Kawarthas region, including 8 in Northumberland, 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 1 in Peterborough, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes, with the total number of active cases across the region decreasing by 6 to 87. Effective Monday (December 7), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region has joined Peterborough Public Health and Hastings Prince Edward Health in Ontario’s ‘Yellow-Protect‘ level.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (601), Peel (512), York (167), and Durham (133).

There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (76), Waterloo (61), Simcoe Muskoka (60), Halton (54), Ottawa (48), Windsor-Essex (46), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (30), Niagara (27), Middlesex-London (23), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (22), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (11), and Huron Perth (10), with smaller increases in Thunder Bay (9), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (7), Southwestern Public Health (6), and Brant County (6).

The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 5 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 50% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (674) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 571 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,412 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.1% to 84.7%. Since the last update on December 4, the average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.4% to 4.0%, meaning that 40 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 6.

Ontario is reporting 26 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 13 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 24 to 725, although this number excludes reports from around 40 hospitals. There are 9 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 12 more patients on ventilators.

A total of 45,283 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 16,612 to 31,238.

There are 138 new cases in Ontario schools today, an increase of 9 from December 4, with 109 student cases and 29 staff cases. There are 23 new cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 3 from December 4, with 9 cases among children and 14 cases among staff.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 13 new cases to report, including 8 in Northumberland, 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 1 in Peterborough, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.

An additional 8 cases have been resolved in Northumberland, 7 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 2 in Peterborough, and 2 in Kawartha Lakes.

While the Ontario data indicates that none of today’s reported new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region, St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough reported on December 7 that there has been a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school community; the school reports the individual has been isolating at home, did not attend school while they were infectious, and that the health unit says there is no risk to students or staff.

There are currently 87 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 35 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 28 in Northumberland, 17 in Peterborough, and 7 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 228 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (206 resolved with 5 deaths), 205 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (179 resolved with 32 deaths), 117 in Northumberland County (88 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 171 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (134 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.

Province-wide, there have been 129,234 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,925 from yesterday, with 109,402 resolved cases (84.7% of all cases), an increase of 1,412 from yesterday. There have been 3,798 deaths, an increase of 26 from yesterday, with 2,391 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 13 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 24 to 725, although this number excludes reports from around 40 hospitals. There are 9 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 12 more patients on ventilators. A total of 6,626,589 tests have been completed, an increase of 45,283 from yesterday, with 31,238 tests under investigation, a decrease of 16,612 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).

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Peterborough Public Health

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.

Confirmed positive: 228 (increase of 1)
Active cases: 17 (decrease of 1)
Close contacts: 50 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Resolved: 206 (increase of 2)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 12*
Total tests completed: Over 37,350 (increase of 50)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports that, as of December 4, there are 2 patients with COVID-19 on inpatient units and 1 patient with COVID-19 in ICU (transferred from a partner 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.

Confirmed positive: 349, including 205 in Kawartha Lakes, 117 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 9, including 8 in Northumberland and 1 in Kawartha Lakes)
Active cases: 35, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes and 28 in Northumberland (net decrease of 1)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 195, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 174 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 10)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 294, including 179 in Kawartha Lakes, 88 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 10, including 8 in Northumberland and 2 in Kawartha Lakes)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

 

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.

Effective December 5, the health unit is providing daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 174 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 35 (decrease of 4)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change)
Resolved: 134 (increase of 7)
Swabs completed: 7,731
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 129,234 (increase of 1,925)
Resolved: 109,402 (increase of 1,412, 84.7% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 725 (increase of 24)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 213 (increase of 9)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 121 (increase of 12)
Deaths: 3,798 (increase of 26)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,391 (increase of 13)
Total tests completed: 6,626,589 (increase of 45,283)
Tests under investigation: 31,238 (decrease of 16,612)

*Around 40 hospitals did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for December 5. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 6 - December 6, 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 6 – December 6, 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 6 - December 6, 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 tests completed in Ontario from November 6 – December 6, 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)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

Community Care steps up to help local residents needing access to food after fire destroys Sayers Foods in Apsley

By kawarthaNOW -
Sayers Foods in Apsley has been demolished after a fire devastated the family-owned grocery store on December 5, 2020, leaving many residents of the village and North Kawartha Township without access to a local grocery store. (Photo: North Kawartha Mayor Carolyn Amyotte / Facebook)

Community Care is stepping up to help North Kawartha Township residents, and is asking others to do the same.

After a fire destroyed Sayers Foods in Apsley on Saturday morning (December 5), many local residents who lack transportation have no access to food or regular groceries,.

The non-profit charitable organization, which serves the city and county of Peterborough, already offers Meals on Wheels, grocery delivery, and transportation support throughout North Kawartha.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Community Care is now offering to further subsidize these programs to ensure all residents can get the food supplies they need, according to the organization’s executive director Danielle Belair.

“Our program office in Apsley will assist residents who are unable to drive, those who do not own a vehicle, or will struggle to pay to travel to Buckhorn, Bancroft, or Lakefield to buy groceries by coordinating volunteer drivers to take residents shopping or delivering groceries to them,” Belair says.

With the loss of Sayers Foods, the closest full-service grocery stores are 40 kilometres southwest in Buckhorn, 45 kilometres north in Bancroft, or 50 kilometres south in Lakefield. The cost to travel to these locations ranges between $30 to $50 per trip.

“We will also provide meals through our Meals on Wheels to help bridge the need,” Belair adds. “Community Care is here as a lifeline and I would encourage those who can to join us as we support this community.”

Community Care is looking for volunteers who can take residents to buy groceries in nearby communities, deliver purchased grocery orders to residents, or deliver Meals on Wheels to residents. Those interested in volunteering can call the Apsley office at 705-656-4589.

Related stories

Sayers Food in Apsley suffers major fire early Saturday morning

With Sayers Foods destroyed by fire, access to food is immediate challenge for Apsley residents

The organization is also encouraging donations to help provide subsidized Meals on Wheels to Apsley and North Kawartha residents who need food support, and to pay transportation costs for volunteers who will be travelling out of the community to pick up groceries. To donate, visit www.commcareptbo.org/BeALifeline.

Since the fire, Community Care’s client services team has been working to come up with solutions to aid residents.

Hamilton Bus Lines is donating the gas and driver to provide free bus transportation on Tuesdays and Fridays to Bancroft for residents to purchase their groceries. Beginning on Friday (December 11), pick-up spots will be outside the Community Care office in Apsley (126 Burleigh St.) and North Kawartha Community Centre (340 McFadden Rd.).

“This bus transport is available for all residents at no charge,” says Sarah McCall, Community Care’s community development coordinator in Apsley. “Community Care will coordinate all the scheduling for these drives.”

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Community Care’s Caremobile will also be providing transportation every Wednesday at the same pick-up locations for residents who require accessible transportation options.

“We will be able to transport people to either Bancroft or Lakefield with the Caremobile, depending on the need,” McCall adds.

Volunteer drivers will also be available to accommodate any special requests.

“We will do our best to accommodate any special needs or requests with our volunteer drivers,” McCall says. “For people who live outside Apsley and need help to get to one of the scheduled bus pick-up locations, our volunteer drivers will assist by getting people to town.”

McCall says, if residents need someone to help them shop, volunteers are also available to act as “shopping buddies”.

Frozen Meals on Wheels options will be made available for anyone with an immediate need.

“We have frozen meals in our freezer and we can make them available to anyone who needs immediate support,” McCall says.

Community Care will act as the hub to coordinate and schedule these free transportation services and access to meals.

Residents with immediate food needs should call the North Kawartha Food Bank at 705-656-1748.

Ontario reports another record increase with 1,924 new COVID-19 cases

By kawarthaNOW -
Nurse Simone Jackson wearing personal protective equipment in March 2020 as she prepares to open a swab to test a patient for COVID-19 in Peterborough Public Health's clinic. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting a record increase of COVID-19 cases for the second straight day, with today’s 1,924 cases exceeding by 65 yesterday’s record of 1,859. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has increased by 31 to 1,795.

There are 2 new cases to report today in the greater Kawarthas region, in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (from a workplace outbreak at Walmart Supercentre in Trenton). The total number of active cases across the region has decreased by 7 to 93. Effective Monday (December 7), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region will join Peterborough Public Health and Hastings Prince Edward Health in Ontario’s ‘Yellow-Protect‘ level.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (568), Peel (477), York (249), and Durham (104).

There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (87), Ottawa (61), Halton (51), Waterloo (47), Simcoe Muskoka (44), Niagara (35), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (32), Windsor-Essex (31), Middlesex-London (22), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (17), Southwestern Public Health (15), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (13), Huron Perth (10), and Brant County (10), with smaller increases in Thunder Bay (7), Haldimand-Norfolk (7), and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (7).

The remaining 13 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units (all in northern Ontario) reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 54% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (715) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 527 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,574 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.1% to 84.8%. The average positivity rate across Ontario is unavailable on weekends.

Ontario is reporting 15 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 7 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have decreased by 8 to 701, although this number excludes data from around 45 hospitals. There are 2 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 7 fewer patients on ventilators.

A total of 59,251 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 15,343 to 47,850.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 2 new cases to report in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (from a workplace outbreak at Walmart Supercentre in Trenton).

There are no new cases in Peterborough. Reports for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton are not available on Sundays.

An additional 6 cases have been resolved in Peterborough and 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

There are currently 93 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 39 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 28 in Northumberland, 18 in Peterborough, and 8 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 227 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (204 resolved with 5 deaths), 204 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (177 resolved with 32 deaths), 109 in Northumberland County (80 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 171 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (127 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.

Province-wide, there have been 127,309 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,924 from yesterday, with 107,990 resolved cases (84.8% of all cases), an increase of 1,574 from yesterday. There have been 3,772 deaths, an increase of 15 from yesterday, with 2,378 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 8 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 8 to 701, although this number excludes data from around 45 hospitals. There are 2 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 7 fewer patients on ventilators. A total of 6,581,306 tests have been completed, an increase of 59,251 from yesterday, with 47,850 tests under investigation, a decrease of 15,343 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).

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Peterborough Public Health

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.

Confirmed positive: 227 (no change)
Active cases: 18 (decrease of 6)
Close contacts: 51 (no change)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Resolved: 204 (increase of 6)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 12*
Total tests completed: Over 37,300 (increase of 150)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports that, as of December 4, there are 2 patients with COVID-19 on inpatient units and 1 patient with COVID-19 in ICU (transferred from a partner 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 from December 5.

Confirmed positive: 340, including 204 in Kawartha Lakes, 109 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 7, including 5 in Northumberland and 2 in Kawartha Lakes)
Active cases: 36, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 28 in Northumberland (net increase of 5)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 185, including 23 in Kawartha Lakes, 160 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 7)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 284, including 177 in Kawartha Lakes, 80 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

 

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.

Effective December 5, the health unit is providing daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 171 (increase of 2)
Active cases: 39 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change)
Resolved: 127 (increase of 3)
New swabs completed: 70
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 127,309 (increase of 1,924)
Resolved: 107,990 (increase of 1,574, 84.8% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 701 (decrease of 8)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 204 (increase of 2)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 109 (decrease of 7)
Deaths: 3,772 (increase of 15)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,378 (increase of 8)
Total tests completed: 6,581,306 (increase of 59,251)
Tests under investigation: 47,850 (decrease of 15,343)

*Around 45 hospitals did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for December 4. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 5 - December 5, 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 5 – December 5, 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 5 - December 5, 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 tests completed in Ontario from November 5 – December 5, 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)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

Window mural initiative in downtown Peterborough is a ‘street-level demonstration of love’

By Sarah McNeilly -
Former Toronto artist Julii McMillan (middle), who is now living in Peterborough, is one of the founders of the "Neighbourhood Love" public art campaign, launched this fall in Etobicoke when a family received hate mail after having a mural commissioned on their garage door. McMillan has joined with local artists Bethany LeBlonc (left), Dawn Pond, Brooklin Stormie, and Olivia Chessman and Toronto artists Julia Prajza and Bareket Kezwer (right) to paint six window murals in downtown Peterborough as part of the "Love for the Boro" initiative, including this mural at the old Patch Store at Hunter and George. (Photo courtesy of Love for the Boro)

A viral public art campaign called “Neighbourhood Love” that began in Toronto this fall has now made its way to Peterborough.

“Love for the Boro” debuted on Friday night (December 4) during the monthly First Friday Peterborough arts crawl through a so-called “mural scavenger hunt”.

Local artists Dawn Pond, Bethany LeBlonc, Brooklin Stormie, and Olivia Chessman joined Toronto artists Julia Prajza, Julii McMillan, and Bareket Kezwer to paint six murals in storefront windows in downtown Peterborough.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

“Love for the Boro is a community-led and supported initiative,” reads a media release from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), one of the initiative’s sponsors.

“Together we can make love visible by creating safe spaces and opportunities to express what we love as individuals and as a community. We have the power to support, uplift, inspire and connect with each other, even when we must stay apart.”

Along with Toronto artist Natalie Very B., Toronto artists McMillan (who now lives in Peterborough) and Prajza are the founders of Neighbourhood Love, which began in September after an Etobicoke woman received anonymous hate mail in response to a mural on her garage door.

After Etobicoke resident Sapna Shah commissioned a mural to be painted on her garage door in September, she received anonymous hate mail. In response, a group of Toronto artists launched the "Neighbourhood Love" initiative where 20 professional artists painted 25 colourful murals on house and garage doors, porches, and mailboxes in Shah's South Etobicoke neighbourhood over the Thanksgiving weekend. (Photos: Joanna Lavoie/Torstar)
After Etobicoke resident Sapna Shah commissioned a mural to be painted on her garage door in September, she received anonymous hate mail. In response, a group of Toronto artists launched the “Neighbourhood Love” initiative where 20 professional artists painted 25 colourful murals on house and garage doors, porches, and mailboxes in Shah’s South Etobicoke neighbourhood over the Thanksgiving weekend. (Photos: Joanna Lavoie/Torstar)

Soon after commissioning Natalie Very B. to paint the mural on her garage door, Sapna Shah found two anonymous letters in her mailbox, one of which claimed she had “devalued all of the homes in this area with that hideous graffiti” and that the mural “has made the entire neighbourhood look like a low income ghetto.”

After Shah shared the vitriolic letter with its classist and racist undertones on Facebook and the Toronto Star published a story about it, there was an outpouring of support for the Shah family.

That included the artists behind Neighbourhood Love, who organized “a street-level demonstration of love”. They raised more than $3,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to cover the cost of supplies to have 20 professional artists paint 25 colourful murals — depicting whimsical flora and fauna, landscapes, and geometrics — on house and garage doors, porches, and mailboxes in Shah’s South Etobicoke neighbourhood over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

By creating public art in the private sector, Neighbourhood Love was able to circumvent much slower bureaucratic procedures, such as the jury process, common for artworks in the public domain.

Now, with the newly formed sister initiative Love for the Boro, the Toronto artists along with local artists are planning to paint a total of 10 murals. Along with the Peterborough DBIA, the initiative is being sponsored by Dulux Peterborough, Summers and Co., AsONE Foundation, and private property owners.

“By creating a variety of opportunities for community participation and support we will work together to uplift, unite and inspire positive action,” the artists write on their Love for the Boro GoFundMe campaign. “We are also working to increase local public arts experience, increase local artist visibility and generate future opportunities for artists in the area”

"Love for the Boro" logo. (Photo courtesy of Love for the Boro)
“Love for the Boro” logo. (Photo courtesy of Love for the Boro)

“The Love for the Boro initiative will continue into the month of December with a variety of creative community engaged activities, both online and in the real world,” reads the Peterborough DBIA media release.

To learn more about the initiative and upcoming programming, follow Love for the Boro on Instagram @loveforboro.

Ontario reports record increase of 1,859 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting a record increase of 1,859 new COVID-19 cases today, slightly exceeding the previous record of 1,855 reported on November 27. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has increased by 6 to 1,764.

There are 12 new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region, with the total number of active cases across the region increasing to 100. Effective Monday (December 7), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region will join Peterborough Public Health and Hastings Prince Edward Health in Ontario’s ‘Yellow-Protect‘ level.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (504), Peel (463), and York (198).

There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (89), Windsor-Essex (86), Ottawa (72), Halton (68), Waterloo (64), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (48), Simcoe Muskoka (44), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (41), Durham (41), Middlesex-London (25), Niagara (23), Southwestern Public Health (15), Thunder Bay (13), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (13), with smaller increases in Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (7), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (6), and Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit (6).

The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units (all in northern Ontario) reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (712) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 589 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,624 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 84.9%. The average positivity rate across Ontario is unavailable on weekends.

Ontario is reporting 20 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 13 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 35 to 709, with 6 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and no change in the number of patients on ventilators.

A total of 59,399 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 790 to 63,193.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report, including 5 in Northumberland, 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 2 in Peterborough, and 2 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases to report in Haliburton.

An additional 5 cases have been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 4 in Peterborough, 1 in Kawarthas Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.

There are currently 100 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 40 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 28 in Northumberland, 24 in Peterborough, and 8 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 227 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (198 resolved with 5 deaths), 204 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (177 resolved with 32 deaths), 109 in Northumberland County (80 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 169 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (124 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.

Province-wide, there have been 125,385 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,859 from yesterday, with 106,416 resolved cases (84.9% of all cases), an increase of 1,624 from yesterday. There have been 3,757 deaths, an increase of 20 from yesterday, with 2,370 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 13 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 35 to 709, with 6 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and no change in the number of patients on ventilators. A total of 6,522,055 tests have been completed, an increase of 59,399 from yesterday, with 63,193 tests under investigation, an increase of 790 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).

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Peterborough Public Health

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.

Confirmed positive: 227 (increase of 2)
Active cases: 24 (decrease of 2)
Close contacts: 51 (increase of 7)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Resolved: 198 (increase of 4)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 12*
Total tests completed: Over 37,150 (increase of 50)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports there are currently 2 patients with COVID-19 on inpatient units and 1 patient with COVID-19 in the ICU (transferred from a partner 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.

Confirmed positive: 340, including 204 in Kawartha Lakes, 109 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 7, including 5 in Northumberland and 2 in Kawartha Lakes)
Active cases: 36, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 28 in Northumberland (net increase of 5)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 185, including 23 in Kawartha Lakes, 160 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 7)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 284, including 177 in Kawartha Lakes, 80 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

 

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.

Effective December 5, the health unit is providing daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 169 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 40 (increase of 1)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change)
Resolved: 124 (increase of 5)
Total swabs completed: 44,937*
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

*The health unit is again reporting the total swabs completed, instead of only those completed the previous day.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 125,385 (increase of 1,859)
Resolved: 106,416 (increase of 1,624, 84.9% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 709 (increase of 35)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 202 (decrease of 5)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 116 (no change)
Deaths: 3,757 (increase of 20)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,370 (increase of 13)
Total tests completed: 6,522,055 (increase of 59,399)
Tests under investigation: 63,193 (increase of 790)

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 4 - December 4, 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)[
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 4 – December 4, 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 4 - December 4, 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 tests completed in Ontario from November 4 – December 4, 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)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

With Sayers Foods destroyed by fire, access to food is immediate challenge for Apsley residents

By Jeannine Taylor -
Members of the North Kawartha Fire Department continue to extinguish a fire at Sayers Foods in Apsley that happened early in the morning of December 5, 2020. The building was severely damaged in the fire and will need to be demolished, according to North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte. Until Sayers Food is able to rebuild, residents of the village of Apsley and the surrounding area will need to travel to Bancroft for groceries. (Photo: OPP)
UPDATE – Sun Dec 6

The Economic Development Co-operative of North Kawartha (EDCNK) met virtually with the Sayers family, the Mayor of North Kawartha, the Township CAO, and various community leaders to begin formulating a community response and action plan to deal with the loss of Sayers Foods. A task force has been created to mobilize volunteers and donations and is gathering information on next steps. Stay tuned for updates.

For residents with immediate food insecurity, call the North Kawartha Food Bank at 705-656-1748. Fr any assistance with shopping and/or transportation, call Community Care at 705-656-4589.

The generosity of the Apsley community is going to help them get through the loss of their only grocery store, Sayers Foods, which burned down early on Saturday morning (December 5).

Exactly one week ago, area residents came together at Sayers Food to collect more than $21,000 worth of non-perishable food for North Kawartha Food Bank, a member of Kawartha Food Share, located right across the street from the grocery store. The event was part of Kawartha Food Share’s “Winter is Coming” food drive, held in communities across Peterborough County.

Now some Apsley residents may be relying on that donated food in the short term, according to North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte, who spoke to kawarthaNOW Saturday morning after she returned from “giving my town of Apsley a big hug.”

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

“Getting the fire out first is a priority today,” said Amyotte. “Our next steps will be to mobilize for food organization.”

“One of the great things about Apsley is that it’s self-sufficient,” she said. “Many people who live here have no need to drive, as we have all services needed here in town.”

Except now, with the loss of Sayers Foods, locals will need to shop at the nearest grocery store, which is located 45 kilometres north in Bancroft. This means residents without a vehicle have no access to food.

North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte (second from right) with Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith (middle) during a food drive at Sayers Foods on November 28, 2020, which raised more than $21,000 worth of food for North Kawartha Food Bank, located right across the street. Some Apsley residents may be relying on the food bank in the short term now that fire has destroyed Sayers Foods, the only grocery store in the Apsley area. (Photo: Dave Smith / Facebook)
North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte (second from right) with Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith (middle) during a food drive at Sayers Foods on November 28, 2020, which raised more than $21,000 worth of food for North Kawartha Food Bank, located right across the street. Some Apsley residents may be relying on the food bank in the short term now that fire has destroyed Sayers Foods, the only grocery store in the Apsley area. (Photo: Dave Smith / Facebook)

Amyotte says the mayor of Bancroft and the local community transit system have already reached out offering transportation and assistance for those wishing to shop in Bancroft. However, the pandemic is going to make the logistics of that more complicated.

“It’s not like we can load a bus with people and transport them to shop,” she said. “We need to get this figured out.”

As for the fire itself, Amyotte noted the fire chief told her the cause is not yet known.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Related story

Sayers Food in Apsley suffers major fire early Saturday morning

Members of the North Kawartha Fire Department worked through the night to control the blaze, and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Amyotte says the fire department had to pull water from the creek, and that public works needed to sand the roads due to the water used to fight the fire freezing.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

A portion of Burleigh Street in Apsley, where Sayers Food is located, remains closed while the building is being demolished. The roof of the back portion of the building caved in and, although the front portion of the building — which is 150 years old — is still standing, it is also severely damaged.

Sayers Foods in Apsley was engulfed in flames in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)
Sayers Foods in Apsley was engulfed in flames in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)

Sayers Food is independently owned and operated by the Sayers family, who live in the village. The fire is a triple tragedy for the family, as family members also work at the store and Christmas gifts were being stored there.

“Sayers is the heart of our town and our heart is a little burnt right now,” Amyotte said, pointing out that Sayers has gone “above and beyond during the pandemic” to ensure local residents were kept well-stocked.

As for owner Jeff Sayers, Amyotte said he was surprisingly upbeat when she spoke to him. He told her Sayers plans to rebuild and that he “is already talking about a bigger build.”

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

As news of the fire spread, there has been an outpouring of support from the community, including from other local businesses and several cottage associations.

The fire at Sayers Food comes almost 10 years to the day when Kemp’s gas station, previously located at Burleigh and Wellington streets in Apsley, was destroyed by fire.

As many have heard the news of the fire at our local Sayers grocery store overnight we would like to offer our community…

Posted by Lakeview Cottages & Marina on Saturday, December 5, 2020

I just got home from being in town. I had to give Apsley a big hug. I have met with Jeff Sayers, Fire Chief Lambe and…

Posted by Mayor Carolyn Amyotte on Saturday, December 5, 2020

Such heartbreaking news?? Sayers is a staple in our community. We are so grateful no one was hurt and are sending our…

Posted by Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre on Saturday, December 5, 2020

This morning I was in Apsley to offer my support to Jeff and everyone at Sayers Food Town. A 3 generation family…

Posted by Dave Smith on Saturday, December 5, 2020

 

This story has been updated with selected reactions to the fire posted on social media.

Sayers Food in Apsley suffers major fire early Saturday morning

By kawarthaNOW -
Sayers Foods in Apsley was engulfed in flames in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)

It doesn’t seem possible, but 2020 just got even worse.

Related story

With Sayers Foods destroyed by fire, access to food is immediate challenge for Apsley residents

Sayers Foods, located at 132 Burleigh Street in the village of Apsley in North Kawartha Township, suffered a major fire early Saturday morning (December 5).

Independently owned and operated by the Sayers family, the grocery store is the only one in Apsley, 60 kilometres north of Peterborough.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

As around 2 a.m. on Saturday morning on Facebook, the Sayers family began posting pictures of firefighters with the North Kawartha Fire Department battling flames engulfing the store,

The extent of the damage is not yet known, but based on the photographs it appears the building is damaged beyond repair. No injuries have been reported.

Firefighters with the North Kawartha Fire Department battling flames engulfing Sayers Foods in Apsley in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)
Firefighters with the North Kawartha Fire Department battling flames engulfing Sayers Foods in Apsley in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)

The loss of the business is devastating for the Sayers family and the store’s employees, as well as Apsley and the surrounding area, especially three weeks before Christmas.

It is the only full-service grocery store between Lakefield and Bancroft, and is also popular with seasonal residents in the area.

Based on photographs of the fire at Sayers Foods in Apsley in the early morning of December 5, 2020, it appears the building is damaged beyond repair. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)
Based on photographs of the fire at Sayers Foods in Apsley in the early morning of December 5, 2020, it appears the building is damaged beyond repair. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)

Ontario reports 1,780 new COVID-19 cases and Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton move to ‘Yellow-Protect’ level

By kawarthaNOW -

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting 1,780 new COVID-19 cases today, with the average number of daily cases over the past seven days decreasing by 10 to 1,759. Hospitalizations and ICU admissions of patients with COVID-19 continue to rise.

There are 15 new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region, with the total number of active cases in the region decreasing by 3 to 99. Today, the Ontario government announced the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region — which includes Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton — will be moving into the more restrictive “Yellow-Protect” level effecting 12:01 a.m. on Monday (December 7).

“We are seeing more COVID-19 activity in our region, so the move into Yellow is not a surprise,” says Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, medical officer of health with Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “The new measures in the Yellow level are not much different than what we currently have in place but will enhance our ability to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”

Most of the increased COVID-19 activity in the health unit region has been in Northumberland County, with cases increasing by more than double in the past month. When deciding to move a health unit into another level, the province reviews factors such as case counts, outbreaks, percent positivity of tests, and capacity of local hospitals and health units.

VIDEO: Dr. Lynn Noseworthy explains impact of move into “Yellow-Protect” level

With the addition of Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, all three health units in the greater Kawarthas region are now in the “Yellow-Protect” level.

Health units stay in their level for a minimum of 28 days, or two COVID-19 incubation periods, at which time the province assesses the impact of public health measures to determine if the health unit should stay where they are or be moved to less restrictive or more restrictive level.

For more information on how the “Yellow-Protect” level will affect residents and businesses in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton, visit hkpr.on.ca/2020/12/04/current-colour-code-for-local-covid-19-restrictions-2/

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Most of the new cases reported today in Ontario are in Toronto (633), Peel (433), and York (152). There are double-digit increases in Durham (94), Windsor-Essex (68), Halton (51), Hamilton (43), Simcoe Muskoka (41), Waterloo (40), Middlesex-London (39), Ottawa (36), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (25), Niagara (21), Southwestern Public Health (20), Thunder Bay (13), Brant County (11), Huron Perth (10), with smaller increases in Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (7), Grey Bruce (7), and Hastings and Prince Edward (6).

The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units (all in northern Ontario) reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 53% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (687) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 546 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,553 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 84.8%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.8% to 3.6%, meaning that 36 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 3.

Ontario is reporting 25 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 15 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 6 to 674, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 9 additional patients on ventilators.

A total of 56,001 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 4,083 to 62,403.

There are 129 new cases in Ontario schools today, an increase of 7 from yesterday, with 102 student cases and 27 staff cases. There are 20 new cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 3 from yesterday, with 10 cases among children and 10 cases among staff.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 15 new cases to report, including 8 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (most in Belleville), 4 in Peterborough, and 3 in Northumberland. There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes or in Haliburton.

An additional 8 cases have been resolved in Northumberland, 5 in Hastings and Prince Edward, and 1 in Peterborough. A duplicate case in Kawartha Lakes has been identified and removed.

None of today’s reported new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.

There are currently 96 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 39 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 26 in Peterborough, 23 in Northumberland, 7 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 225 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (194 resolved with 5 deaths), 202 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (176 resolved with 32 deaths), 104 in Northumberland County (80 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (26 resolved with no deaths), and 166 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (119 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.

Province-wide, there have been 123,526 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,780 from yesterday, with 103,239 resolved cases (84.8% of all cases), an increase of 1,553 from yesterday. There have been 3,737 deaths, an increase of 25 from yesterday, with 2,357 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 15 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 10 to 674, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 9 additional patient on ventilators. A total of 6,462,656 tests have been completed, an increase of 56,001 from yesterday, with 62,403 tests under investigation, an increase of 4,083 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).

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Peterborough Public Health

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.

Confirmed positive: 225 (increase of 4)
Active cases: 26 (increase of 3)
Close contacts: 44 (decrease of 2)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Resolved: 194 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)*
Total tests completed: Over 37,100 (increase of 100)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*The health unit is no longer reporting the total number of hospitalizations.

 

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 Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 333, including 202 in Kawartha Lakes, 104 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (net increase of 2, including 3 in Northumberland)*
Active cases: 31, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 23 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (decrease of 6)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 178, including 26 in Kawartha Lakes, 148 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton (net increase of 22)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 282, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 80 in Northumberland, 26 in Haliburton (increase of 8, in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

*One duplicate case in Kawartha Lakes has been identified and removed.

 

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 reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 166 (increase of 8)
Active cases: 39 (decrease of 5)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change)
Resolved: 119 (increase of 5)
New swabs completed: 70 (decrease of 4,966)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 123,526 (increase of 1,780)
Resolved: 104,792 (increase of 1,553, 84.8% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 674 (increase of 8)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 207 (increase of 12)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 116 (increase of 9)
Deaths: 3,737 (increase of 25)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,357 (increase of 15)
Total tests completed: 6,462,656 (increase of 56,001)
Tests under investigation: 62,403 (increase of 4,083)

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 3 - December 3, 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 3 – December 3, 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 3 - December 3, 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 tests completed in Ontario from November 3 – December 3, 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)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

Confirmed case of COVID-19 at St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough

By kawarthaNOW -
St. Peter Catholic Secondary School is located at 730 Medical Drive in Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board)

There’s been a confirmed case of COVID-19 at St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough, located at 730 Medical Drive.

“In line with Ministry of Education reporting requirements, we need to let you know that Peterborough Public Health has notified us of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our school community,” principal Shannon Brady says in a letter to students, staff, and families on Thursday (December 3). “The identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation and will not be shared.”

In the letter, Brady does not indicate whether the infected person is a student or staff member.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Brady says the person has been isolating at home and did not attend school while they were infectious.

She adds the individual will remain at home until the health unit advises they may return to the school,

“The health unit has confirmed that this case does not pose a risk to St. Peter CSS students or staff,” Brady says. “No students or staff need to isolate and everyone can continue to attend school and work as usual.”

Ontario reports 1,824 new COVID-19 cases, including 10 in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting 1,824 new COVID-19 cases today, although this number includes 127 cases from Middlesex-London Health Unit reported over the previous three days that, due to a data processing error, were not included in previous daily reports. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has increased by 49 to 1,769.

There are 10 new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region, with the total number of active cases decreasing by 5 to 99.

Most of the new cases reported today are in Peel (592), Toronto (392), York (187), and Middlesex-London (127). The cases in Middlesex-London, which are the total cases reported over the past three days, work out to an average of 42 cases per day.

There are double-digit increases in Waterloo (87), Halton (68), Windsor-Essex (62), Durham (57), Hamilton (56), Ottawa (41), Niagara (25), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (23), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (19), Thunder Bay (13), and Simcoe Muskoka (11), with smaller increases in Huron Perth (9), Southwestern Public Health (8), Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (7), and Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (6).

The remaining 15 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 6 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Of today’s cases, 54% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (728) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 499 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,541 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 84.8%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.3% to 4.4%, meaning that 44 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 2.

Ontario is reporting 14 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 11 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 10 to 666, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 1 additional patient on a ventilator.

A total of 52,873 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 8,746 to 58,320.

There are 122 new cases in Ontario schools today, a decrease of 44 from yesterday, with 94 student cases and 28 staff cases. There are 17 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 11 from yesterday, with 11 cases among children and 6 cases among staff.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 10 new cases to report, including 4 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (almost all in Belleville), 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Peterborough, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases to report in Haliburton.

An additional 9 cases have been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward, 3 in Northumberland, and 3 in Peterborough.

The new cases in schools reported by Ontario include 1 student case at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School in Asphodel-Norwood. In addition, St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough is reporting a confirmed case, but has not identified whether it is a student or staff member.

None of the reported new cases in child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.

There are currently 99 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 39 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 28 in Northumberland, 23 in Peterborough, 8 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 221 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (193 resolved with 5 deaths), 203 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (176 resolved with 32 deaths), 101 in Northumberland County (72 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (26 resolved with no deaths), and 158 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (114 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.

Province-wide, there have been 121,746 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,824 from yesterday. This number includes 127 cases from Middlesex-London Health Unit reported over the previous three days that, due to a data processing error, were not included in previous daily reports. There are 103,239 resolved cases (84.8% of all cases), an increase of 1,541 from yesterday. There have been 3,712 deaths, an increase of 14 from yesterday, with 2,342 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 11 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 10 to 666, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 1 additional patient on a ventilator. A total of 6,406,655 tests have been completed, an increase of 52,873 from yesterday, with 58,320 tests under investigation, an increase of 8,746 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).

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Peterborough Public Health

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.

Confirmed positive: 221 (increase of 2)
Active cases: 23 (decrease of 1)
Close contacts: 46 (decrease of 4)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Resolved: 193 (increase of 3)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)*
Total tests completed: Over 37,000 (increase of 100)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*The health unit is no longer reporting the total number of hospitalizations.

 

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 Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 331, including 203 in Kawartha Lakes, 101 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 4, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Northumberland)
Active cases: 37, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 28 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 156, including 22 in Kawartha Lakes, 128 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton (increase of 39, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 31 in Northumberland)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 274, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 72 in Northumberland, 26 in Haliburton (increase of 3 in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

 

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 reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 158 (increase of 4)
Active cases: 39 (decrease of 5)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change)
Resolved: 114 (increase of 9)
New swabs completed: 5,036 (increase of 68)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 121,746 (increase of 1,824)*
Resolved: 103,239 (increase of 1,541, 84.8% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 666 (increase of 10)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 195 (increase of 12)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 107 (increase of 1)
Deaths: 3,712 (increase of 14)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,342 (increase of 11)
Total tests completed: 6,406,655 (increase of 52,873)
Tests under investigation: 58,320 (increase of 8,746)

*This number includes 127 cases from Middlesex-London Health Unit reported over the previous three days that, due to a data processing error, were not included in previous reports.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 2 - December 2, 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 2 – December 2, 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 2 - December 2, 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 tests completed in Ontario from November 2 – December 2, 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)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

1...557558559...1,092Page 558 of 1,092

Become a #kawarthaNOW fan

30,216FollowersLike
25,074FollowersFollow
17,715FollowersFollow
4,355FollowersFollow
3,512FollowersFollow
2,944FollowersFollow

Sign up for kawarthNOW's Enews

Sign up for our VIP Enews

kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.




Submit your event for FREE!

Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free. To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.

EDITOR'S PICKS

SIGN UP FOR OUR ENEWS




© Copyright kawarthaNOW® 1996 - 2025. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission, or republication strictly prohibited. Trademarks owned by kawarthaNOW include kawarthaNOW®, Keep It In The Kawarthas®, Web Sites That Work®, Kawartha Localist™, Know Your Locals™, businessNOW™, musicNOW™, artNOW™, nightlifeNOW™, encoreNOW™, and KNosh™.