This photo of a misty country backroad in Selwyn Township by Memtyme was our top Instagram post in April 2021 with more than 13,600 impressions. (Photo: Memtyme @memtyme / Instagram)
April is my favourite month, second to none. I’m biased because it’s my birthday month, but I think it’s more about the return of spring, new growth, and a promise of a new year.
For me it is the new year and there are so many reasons to love this month. April rain is a promise of the lush summer to come. The wildlife returns. The spring melt is a reminder that winter does indeed pass, eventually. When April is here, there is hope.
I hope that you enjoy our April photographs as much as I have enjoyed posting them. As always, we are grateful to our local photographers for allowing us to post and share their work.
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 in 2021.
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#1. Misty country backroad in Selwyn Township by Memtyme @memtyme
Posted April 16, 2021. 13.6K impressions, 1,152 likes
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 2,864 new cases today, with the seven-day average of daily cases decreasing to 3,193 and the proportion of active cases across the province declining for the 19th straight day.
Peel has overtaken Toronto today as the region with the highest number of daily cases at 803, while Toronto and 6 other health units are also reporting triple-digit increases.
Hospitalizations have fallen for the third day in a row, with a small decrease in the number of ICU patients and a larger decrease in the number of patients on ventilators. Ontario is reporting 25 deaths today, with no new deaths in long-term care homes.
Ontario has now administered over 6 million vaccine doses, with more than 40% of the population having received at least 1 dose.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 40 new cases to report (including 17 in Hastings Prince Edward, 10 in Peterborough, 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) and an additional 20 cases resolved, with the number of active cases climbing by 20 to 233. See below for detailed information from each health unit in the region.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Peel (803), Toronto (684), York (285), Hamilton (133), Durham (125), Middlesex-London (110), Ottawa (107), and Niagara (105).
There are double-digit increases reported today in Halton (98), Waterloo (72), Simcoe Muskoka (60), Windsor-Essex (39), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (35), Southwestern (31), Eastern Ontario (23), Porcupine (20), Haldimand-Norfolk (20), Northwestern (18), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (15), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (11), and Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (10), with smaller increases in Huron Perth (9), Hastings Prince Edward (8), Thunder Bay (7), Peterborough (7), and Lambton (6).
The remaining 8 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 1 health unit (Algoma) reporting no new cases.
Of today’s new cases, 61% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (1,213) among people ages 20-39 followed by 757 cases among people ages 40-59 and 531 cases among people 19 and under.
With 3,596 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to at 91.6% — the 19th straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.2% to 6.8%, meaning that 68 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on May 7.
Ontario is reporting 25 new COVID-19 deaths today, with no new deaths in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 26 new daily deaths over the past week, an decrease of 1 from yesterday.
The number of hospitalizations has fallen by 92 to 1,832, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs decreasing by 7 to 851 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators falling by 23 to 588.
A total of 47,817 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 4,217 to 21,740.
A total of 6,023,610 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 138,125 from yesterday, with 390,990 people have been fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 3,506 from yesterday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 2.65% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.02% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 40.88% of the population, an increase of 0.94% from yesterday. An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 40 new cases to report, including 17 in Hastings Prince Edward, 10 in Peterborough, 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton. An outbreak at an unidentified child care facility in Belleville, involving 3 cases, was declared on May 7.
There are 23 new regional cases of variants of concern, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Hastings Prince Edward, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
An additional 20 cases have been resolved, including 10 in Hastings Prince Edward, 8 in Peterborough, and 2 in Kawartha Lakes. An outbreak at an unidentified workplace #7 in Peterborough was declared resolved on May 7.
There are currently 233 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 20 from yesterday, including 81 in Hastings Prince Edward (12 in Quinte West, 44 in Belleville, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 8 in Prince Edward County, 8 in Central Hastings, and 8 in North Hastings), 71 in Peterborough, 44 in Kawartha Lakes, 32 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,290 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,204 resolved with 15 deaths), 770 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (683 resolved with 56 deaths), 843 in Northumberland County (797 resolved with 14 deaths), 108 in Haliburton County (102 resolved with 1 death), and 1,004 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (913 resolved with 10 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on May 6.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 4 p.m. the previous day, as well as from systems in Toronto, Ottawa, and Middlesex-London at 2 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: 1,290 (increase of 9)* Total variants of concern cases: 486 (no change) Active cases: 71 (increase of 1) Close contacts: 226 (decrease of 13) Deaths: 15 (no change) Resolved: 1,204 (increase of 8) Hospitalizations (total to date): 57 (no change)** ICU admissions (total to date): 10 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 50,700 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: Unidentified congregate living facility #3 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #5 in Peterborough, Sunshine Daycare in Peterborough, Unidentified home child care centre #1 in Peterborough County (decrease of 1)*** Vaccine doses administered: 60,427 (increase of 4,018 as of May 7) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,421 (increase of 210 as of May 7)
*The health unit is reporting 10 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has only increased by 9 because 1 case has been removed from a previous day.
**As of May 7, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 14 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (decrease of 2) and a total of 70 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (increase of 3).
***An outbreak at an unidentified workplace #7 in Peterborough was declared resolved on May 7.
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 Sundays and statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,721, including 770 in Kawartha Lakes, 843 in Northumberland, and 108 in Haliburton (increase of 13, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton)* Total variants of concern cases: 440, including 168 in Kawartha Lakes, 250 in Northumberland, and 22 in Haliburton (increase of 16, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Active cases: 81, including 44 in Kawartha Lakes, 32 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton (increase of 13, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Probable cases: 4, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Hospitalizations (total to date): 62, including 33 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (no change)** Deaths (including among probable cases): 71, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 14 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Resolved: 1,582, including 683 in Kawartha Lakes, 797 in Northumberland, and 102 in Haliburton (increase of 2 in Kawartha Lakes) Tests completed: 184,091 (no change) Vaccine doses administered: 72,365 (increase of 7,412 as of May 3) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,271 (increase of 723 as of May 3) Outbreaks: Transition House shelter in Cobourg, Staples and Swain Law Office in Lindsay (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.
**As of May 7, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 6 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (decrease of 1).
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, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,004 (increase of 17) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 351 (increase of 7) Active cases: 81 (increase of 6) Deaths: 10 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 17 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 6 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 6 (no change) Resolved: 913 (increase of 10) Tests completed: 132,230 (no change) Vaccine doses administered: 66,472 (increase of 742) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,612 (increase of 48) Outbreaks: Unidentified workplace in Prince Edward County, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, QHC Belleville General Hospital, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, Unidentified congregate living facility in Belleville, Unidentified child care facility in Quinte West, ICU of QHC Belleville General Hospital, Unidentified child care facility in Belleville (increase of 1)*
*An outbreak at an unidentified child care facility in Belleville, involving 3 cases, was declared on May 7.
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 489,087 (increase of 2,864) COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 89,614 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 2,768); 395 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 28); 1,212 of P.1 Brazilian variant (increase of 143) VOC R(t): 0.92 (increase of 0.03 as April 30)* 7-day average of daily new cases: 3,193 (decrease of 73) Positivity rate: 6.8% (increase of .02%) Resolved: 447,938 (increase of 3,596), 91.6% of all cases (increase of 0.2%) Hospitalizations: 1,832 (decrease of 92) Hospitalizations in ICU: 851 (decrease of 7) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 588 (decrease of 23) Deaths: 8,261 (increase of 25) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 26 (decrease of 1) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,931 (no change) Total tests completed: 14,463,901 (increase of 47,817) Tests under investigation: 21,740 (decrease of 4,217) Vaccination doses administered: 6,023,610 (increase of 138,125), 40.88% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.94%)** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 390,990 (increase of 3,506), 2.65% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.02%)**
*R(t) is a virus’s effective reproduction number, which is the average number of new infections caused by a single infected individual at a specific time (t) in a partially immunized population. To successfully eliminate a disease from a population, R(t) needs to be less than 1.
**An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from April 7 – May 7, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from April 7 – May 7, 2021. The red line is the daily number of tests completed, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from April 7 – May 7, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling 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 rolling average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from April 7 – May 7, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from April 7 – May 7, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 3,166 new cases today, but the province notes a technical data issue means case counts from Toronto and health units in central Ontario may be underreported today. While Toronto and 6 other health units are reporting triple-digit increases, the seven-day average of daily cases has decreased to 3,266 and the number of active cases continuing to decline.
Hospitalizations have fallen for the second day in a row, with a significant decrease in the number of ICU patients, but the number of patients on ventilators has increased. Ontario is reporting 23 deaths today, including 2 in long-term care homes.
Ontario administered 144,724 vaccine doses yesterday, the highest number since vaccinations began, with almost 40% of the population now having received at least a single dose.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 33 new cases to report (including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, 8 in Peterborough, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) and an additional 24 cases resolved, with the number of active cases climbing by 9 to 213.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (876), Peel (817), York (300), Durham (205), Hamilton (148), Halton (139), and Ottawa (106).
There are double-digit increases reported today in Middlesex-London (83), Niagara (65), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (65), Simcoe Muskoka (64), Waterloo (48), Brant (41), Windsor-Essex (35), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (19), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (18), Lambton (16), Eastern Ontario (15), Porcupine (14), Haldimand-Norfolk (13), Southwestern (12), Sudbury (11), and Hastings Prince Edward (11), with smaller increases in Huron Perth (9), Northwestern (7), and Peterborough (6).
The remaining 8 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 1 health unit (Timiskaming) reporting no new cases.
Of today’s new cases, 59% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (1,357) among people ages 20-39 followed by 893 cases among people ages 40-59 and 497 cases among people 19 and under.
With 3,875 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to at 91.4% — the 18th straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.2% to 7.0%, meaning that 70 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on May 6.
Ontario is reporting 23 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 2 new deaths in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 27 new daily deaths over the past week, an increase of 1 from yesterday.
The number of hospitalizations has fallen by 19 to 1,924, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs decreasing by 19 to 858 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators increasing by 11 to 611.
A total of 51,338 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation falling by 1,329 to 25,957.
A total of 5,885,485 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 144,724 from yesterday — the highest daily increase since vaccinations began in Ontario. A total of 387,484 people have been fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 2,895 from yesterday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 2.63% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.02% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 39.95% of the population, an increase of 0.98% from yesterday. An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 33 new cases to report, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, 8 in Peterborough, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton. An outbreak at Staples and Swain Law Office in Lindsay was declared on May 6.
There are 16 new regional cases of variants of concern, including 12 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Hastings Prince Edward, 1 in Peterborough, and 1 in Northumberland.
There is 1 new hospitalization in Hastings Prince Edward, and 1 new ICU admission in Peterborough.
An additional 24 cases have been resolved, including 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
There are currently 213 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 9 from yesterday, including 75 in Hastings Prince Edward (13 in Quinte West, 42 in Belleville, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 8 in Prince Edward County, 6 in Central Hastings, and 5 in North Hastings), 70 in Peterborough, 40 in Kawartha Lakes, 24 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,281 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,196 resolved with 15 deaths), 764 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (681 resolved with 56 deaths), 835 in Northumberland County (797 resolved with 14 deaths), 107 in Haliburton County (102 resolved with 1 death), and 988 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (903 resolved with 10 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on May 6.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 4 p.m. the previous day, as well as from systems in Toronto, Ottawa, and Middlesex-London at 2 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: 1,281 (increase of 7)* Total variants of concern cases: 486 (increase of 1) Active cases: 70 (increase of 2) Close contacts: 239 (increase of 23) Deaths: 15 (no change) Resolved: 1,196 (increase of 5) Hospitalizations (total to date): 57 (no change)** ICU admissions (total to date): 10 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 50,600 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: Unidentified congregate living facility #3 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #5 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #7 in Peterborough, Sunshine Daycare in Peterborough, Unidentified home child care centre #1 in Peterborough County (no change) Vaccine doses administered: 60,427 (increase of 4,018 as of May 7) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,421 (increase of 210 as of May 7)
*The health unit is reporting 8 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has increased by 7 because 1 case has been removed from a previous day.
**As of May 7, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 14 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (decrease of 2) and a total of 70 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (increase of 3).
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 Sundays and statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,706, including 764 in Kawartha Lakes, 835 in Northumberland, and 107 in Haliburton (increase of 15, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton)* Total variants of concern cases: 424, including 155 in Kawartha Lakes, 248 in Northumberland, and 21 in Haliburton (increase of 13, including 12 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Active cases: 68, including 40 in Kawartha Lakes, 24 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton (net increase of 7) Probable cases: 3, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 62, including 33 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (no change)** Deaths (including among probable cases): 71, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 14 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Resolved: 1,580, including 681 in Kawartha Lakes, 797 in Northumberland, and 102 in Haliburton (increase of 10, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Tests completed: 184,091 (increase of 643) Vaccine doses administered: 72,365 (increase of 7,412 as of May 3) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,271 (increase of 723 as of May 3) Outbreaks: Transition House shelter in Cobourg, Staples and Swain Law Office in Lindsay (increase of 1)***
*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.
**As of May 7, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 6 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (decrease of 1).
***An outbreak at Staples and Swain Law Office in Lindsay was declared on May 6.
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, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 988 (increase of 9) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 344 (increase of 2) Active cases: 75 (no net change) Deaths: 10 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 17 (increase of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 6 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 6 (no change) Resolved: 903 (increase of 8) Tests completed: 132,230 (increase of 9) Vaccine doses administered: 65,730 (increase of 1,069) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,564 (increase of 56) Outbreaks: Unidentified workplace in Prince Edward County, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, QHC Belleville General Hospital, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, Unidentified congregate living facility in Belleville, Unidentified child care facility in Quinte West, ICU of QHC Belleville General Hospital (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 486,223 (increase of 3,166)* COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 86,846 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 3,496); 367 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 41); 1,069 of P.1 Brazilian variant (increase of 14) VOC R(t): 0.92 (increase of 0.03 as April 30)** 7-day average of daily new cases: 3,266 (decrease of 103) Positivity rate: 7.0% (increase of .02%) Resolved: 444,342 (increase of 3,875), 91.4% of all cases (increase of 0.2%) Hospitalizations: 1,924 (decrease of 40) Hospitalizations in ICU: 858 (decrease of 19) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 611 (increase of 11) Deaths: 8,236 (increase of 23) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 27 (increase of 1) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,931 (increase of 2) Total tests completed: 14,416,084 (increase of 51,338) Tests under investigation: 25,957 (decrease of 1,329) Vaccination doses administered: 5,885,485 (increase of 144,724), 39.95% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.98%)*** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 387,484 (increase of 2,895), 2.63% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.02%)***
*The government states that, due to a technical data issue, today’s case count may be underreported for the central east, central west, and Toronto regions.
**R(t) is a virus’s effective reproduction number, which is the average number of new infections caused by a single infected individual at a specific time (t) in a partially immunized population. To successfully eliminate a disease from a population, R(t) needs to be less than 1.
***An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from April 6 – May 6, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from April 6 – May 6, 2021. The red line is the daily number of tests completed, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from April 6 – May 6, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling 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 rolling average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from April 6 – May 6, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from April 6 – May 6, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. Studies have shown both Pfizer and Moderna are over 90 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19, starting 14 days after the first dose. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)
For all the surprises COVID-19 has presented over the course of the pandemic, people’s refusal to be vaccinated while at a vaccination clinic in Peterborough remains the most baffling of them all to the region’s medical officer of health.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Friday (May 7), Dr. Rosana Salvaterra noted “a few” residents have “walked away” when they learned that the Moderna vaccine was going to be administered to them.
“I find that extremely disappointing and hard to understand,” she said, advising people to call the provincial vaccine information line at 1-888-999-6488 to have any vaccine-related questions answered.
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“I was dumbfounded when I heard that there were 25 people yesterday at the Evinrude Centre (clinic) who turned around and walked out and gave up their chance to be immunized when they learned we are using Moderna. I have no idea why that’s the case.”
Pfizer and Moderna are equivalent vaccines, in that both use mRNA (messenger ribonucleuc acid) to trigger an immune response by teaching cells how to make a protein similar to that found on the “spike” of the virus that causes COVID-19. Studies have shown both Pfizer and Moderna are over 90 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19, starting 14 days after the first dose.
“People need to educate themselves and take advantage of all the great materials made available that speak to the effectiveness of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines,” Dr. Salvaterra added. “Especially for the older population, they blow influenza vaccines out of the water.”
That strange refusal aside, close to 3,600 people have been vaccinated over the past week, bringing the total number of those who have received at least their first dose to 60,427 — close to 56,000 of those Peterborough-area residents. That brings the coverage rate to 45.4 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, 4,421 people who have received two vaccine doses and are now fully immunized.
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On Thursday (May 6), three new groups became eligible to book a vaccine appointment: people 50 years old and up, people with high-risk health conditions such as obesity as well as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and essential workers who can’t work from home — a large grouping that includes teachers, school bus operators, farm workers, enforcement workers and licensed child care providers.
“Pfizer has now been approved by Health Canada for anyone 12 years of age and older,” said Dr. Salvaterra, adding “Plans are underway to extend vaccination to our younger residents. We should have more information on that in the next week or two.”
On Tuesday, there were still 4,500 vaccine appointments available in the Peterborough region but, as of Friday morning, there were no appointments available to book. Dr. Salvaterra is asking for patience on the part of those eligible to book their appointment, saying “We do expect to open up more appointments next week starting on Monday (May 10).”
Next week will see vaccine eligibility extended to those 40 and up, followed by those 30 and up the week of May 17 and to those 18 and up the week of May 24.
Area residents are directed to phone the provincial call centre at 1-833-943-3900 to book their COVID vaccination appointments when they are in the age group that has become eligible. The line is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days per week.
Eligible residents can also continue to book their appointments online by visiting ontario.ca/bookvaccine.
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Dr. Salvaterra also announced the creation of a local standby vaccination list.
“Now that more people are eligible for a vaccine, it helps us prevent any vaccine wastage by using up leftover doses at the end of the clinic day,” she explained. “The list is not a guaranteed way to get immunized, so book through the provincial system. But if you like, you can also sign up for this standby list.”
“We limit it to 100 people and it opens up as space permits. You can sign up for it on our website on the vaccine clinics page. To get on the list, you must be eligible for a vaccine and you must not have received your first dose. You must be available and reachable between 3 and 7 p.m. seven days a week and you have to be within 30 minutes drive of any of our clinics.”
As of Thursday (May 6) at 4:30 p.m., the number of active cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha was reported as 68 — down 14 from last Thursday. Since Monday, 32 new cases have been detected locally with the number of new cases in May at 47.
However, the number of close contacts of positive cases being closely monitored by public health staff has gone up after decreasing in recent weeks, now at 216, up 23 this week.
There are currently five active outbreaks in the region, including two in daycare settings. Two outbreaks have been declared over, including a longstanding one at Empress Gardens Retirement Residence that led to two COVID-related deaths.
Dr. Salvaterra also reported an additional death, bringing to 15 the number of local people who have died from the virus over the course of the pandemic. She had no details on that death as it occurred just recently.
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With Ontario public health officials hinting that an extension of the provincial lockdown until the end of June is a distinct possibility, Dr. Salvaterra says “We do need to see those (provincial case) numbers come down before we open up.”
“I don’t want to see a repeat of what happened in February. Until we see those numbers come down, we have to sit tight. What we don’t want is a fourth wave. We want to come out of this and we want to stay out of it.”
Also commenting during Friday’s briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, and Peterborough board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
Celebrated humourist and author Drew Hayden Taylor from Curve Lake First Nation is the host of "Going Native", which premieres on APTN on May 8, 2021. The series take both a humourous and serious look at Indigenous sterotypes and traditions and how Indigenous people are reshaping their culture in the 21st century. (Photo courtesy of Ice River Films)
Need to lighten your lockdown? Drew Hayden Taylor’s new 13-episode television series Going Native will fill you with inspiration, wisdom, wonder, and laughs — frankly, it’s just what this soul-sucking pandemic needs.
Taylor is a truly prolific Anishinaabe artist from Curve Lake First Nation with an immense body of work spanning across multiple genres and media. An award-winning playwright, novelist, journalist/columnist, humourist, screenwriter, and filmmaker, Taylor has authored more than 20 published plays with nearly 100 productions to date, 33 works of fiction and non-fiction, and too many articles and columns to count.
Whether travelling the world to lecture or hold artist residencies at prestigious institutions, performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, being a regular CBC commentator, or being the master of ceremonies at major cultural events, Taylor has done it all.
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He’s kind of a big deal. So is the world premiere on Saturday (May 8) of the first season of Going Native on APTN, Canada’s national Indigenous network.
“It’s quite exciting,” says Taylor in a Zoom interview. “And of course, the best news is the fact that they [APTN] liked what we did so much that they’ve already given us a second season. So we’re starting work on season two as we speak.”
In the first season, Taylor focuses his comedic lens on the ways Indigenous peoples have changed the world and are reshaping their culture in the 21st century.
VIDEO: “Going Native” trailer
Written, produced, and hosted by Taylor, the series is described as ‘IndigiGonzo’ — a reference to the gonzo journalism style founded by the late American writer Hunter S. Thompson that relies on the reporter’s personal involvement in the story.
Each episode is its own unique adventure, tied together by Taylor’s perspective, that examines a new aspect of Indigenous life. From architecture to pop culture, Taylor takes viewers on a journey across Turtle Island, exploring everything from the weird and wacky to the deep and profound ways Indigenous peoples impact the world.
The series, which has been in the works for the last two years, with shooting miraculously wrapped before the pandemic hit, was filmed across 45 locations in Canada and the US.
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“We put some miles on getting the show together,” Taylor laughs.
“Going to the American Southwest was especially wonderful for me because I had been there in 1983 and then again in 2019. So there’s almost a 40-year difference there, and it was just so amazing to be on the same trip, all those years apart — once as a young man, once as a much older man. That was a special favourite for me.”
“And the people — I was given the opportunity to meet and speak with so many amazing people,” he adds. “They all helped me understand and appreciate the many different First Nation communities on Turtle Island.”
In “Going Native”, host Drew Hayden Taylor examines and breaks down stereotypes of Indigenous peoples. Here he stands in front of The Wigwam Motel, a motel chain in the U.S. built during the 1930s and 1940s. As Taylor points out in an episode, the rooms are actually built in the form of teepees. (Photo courtesy of Ice River Films)
Each half-hour episode of Going Native is a masterpiece, boasting visually striking shots, beautiful music, compelling stories and, of course, Taylor’s witty and hilarious commentary.
“We were very fortunate to partner up with Sam Karney and Andrew Wiens of Ice River films, who are excellent camera people,” says Taylor of the stunning cinematography. “They gave the show its distinctive and unique look. We’re very privileged to have them as producers and camera people on this production.”
In addition to the incredible production quality, the genius of Going Native can be found in the ways the series examines and breaks down stereotypes of Indigenous peoples.
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“When people think about Native buildings, they think about teepees, longhouses, and wigwams,” reads the show’s description. “But Drew Hayden Taylor is thinking about the revolutionary architects that are creating zero-emission communities on the West Coast.”
“When people think about Native food they think about pemmican and seal blubber, but Drew is tucking into nouveau cuisine in downtown Toronto and learning how traditional ‘companion planting’ of crops is revolutionizing today’s agriculture.”
With Going Native, Taylor, Ice River Films, and Paul Kemp Productions have created a decolonial love letter that celebrates the amazing achievements and contributions of contemporary Indigenous peoples.
VIDEO: Musician Billy Joe Greene from “Going Native”
“I have always felt this kind of series was sorely needed in the Indigenous community,” Taylor says in a media release. “If you look at a lot of the literature and media about our communities, the focus always seems to be on the negative or perhaps, more accurately, the dark, depressing, sad, bleak, and angry perspective of Indigenous life.”
“As somebody who’s travelled to over 150 First Nation communities, I know for a fact that there is so much more to us. Just down the road and across the field there’s laughter, there’s beauty, there’s the unexpected and there’s the knowledge nobody knows about.”
“Well, maybe we knew, but not everybody did. And that is where the fun begins.”
VIDEO: Architect Daniel Glenn from “Going Native”
Going Native premieres on APTN on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 8:30 pm EDT. For more information about additional broadcasts and streaming, visit aptn.ca/goingnative/.
For more information about the show, including additional video clips, visit goingnativetv.com.
Canadian author and outspoken environmentalist Farley Mowat, who died in 2014, would have turned 100 years old on May 12, 2021. (Photo: Mowat family)
The late iconic Canadian author and outspoken environmentalist Farley Mowat would have turned 100 years old next Wednesday (May 12) and Port Hope will be celebrating all of next week.
Municipal council has proclaimed the week of May 10th to 16th as Farley Mowat Week. As a tribute to Mowat, Port Hope is also renaming the east side of Rotary Park — where the Farley Mowat Boat Roofed House is located, across the Ganaraska River from the Port Hope Library — as Farley Mowat Park.
The park renaming will take place during Farley Mowat Week, and a special dedication ceremony will be scheduled at a future date when gathering restrictions are no longer in place.
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“We are proud to celebrate the great Farley Mowat and his incredible collection of work, as well as to recognize the diversity, culture, and heritage that is integral to our community,” says Port Hope mayor Bob Sanderson. “We are privileged to have many authors and artisans in our community, who work tirelessly in the pursuit of arts and cultural awareness in Port Hope.”
Although Mowat was born in Belleville in 1921 and lived in Richmond Hill, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Cape Breton Island throughout his life, he and his second wife Claire spent their later years together in Port Hope. Mowat died on May 6, 2014, less than one week before his 93rd birthday, and is buried at St. Mark’s Anglican Church cemetery in Port Hope.
During his career, he published more than 40 works of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children, many on the subject of Canada’s Far North. Some of his best-known books are People of the Deer (1952), Lost in the Barrens (1956), Owls in the Family (1962), Never Cry Wolf (1963), and Sea of Slaughter (1984). Two of his books and one of his short stories have been made into films.
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The Rotary Club of Port Hope has planned various commemorative activities to celebrate Farley Mowat Week, including:
“WiFi in the Wilderness’ podcast on Monday, May 10th. In 2014, Mowat participated in a debate on CBC Radio’s The Current about Parks Canada’s plan to bring WiFi to parks, a decision Mowat called “a disastrous, quite stupid, idiotic concept”. In this podcast, Port Hope Library staff Lisa O’Leary and Cherie Madill continue the debate.
Readings of Mowat’s works from St. Mark’s Anglican Church from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12th. Featuring five readers selected by St. Mark’s and Mowat’s widow Claire, the readings will take place via Zoom.
The announcement of the winners of the Farley Mowat Arctic-themed writing contest, which was open to children and adults in Port Hope and Arviat, Nunavut until May 1st. The awards ceremony will take place on Zoom at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15th.
A themed window display of Mowat artifacts at the Mary J. Benson Branch of the Port Hope Library at 31 Queen Street, and a large display of Mowat’s books at Furby House Books at 65 Walton Street.
In addition, residents are encouraged to watch two free documentaries on the National Film Board website about Farley Mowat: Finding Farley and Ten Million Books.
For more information about Farley Mowat Week, visit www.porthope.ca.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
After 2 days of fewer than 3,000 cases, today Ontario is reporting 3,424 cases, with Toronto and 7 other health units reporting triple-digit increases and all health units reporting at least 3 new cases. However, the seven-day average of daily cases has fallen by 63 to 3,369 and the number of active cases continuing to decline.
There are 2,839 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant, 9 more cases of the B.1.351 South Africa, and 54 more cases of the P.1 Brazilian variant.
Hospitalizations has fallen significantly, with a smaller decrease in the number of ICU admissions and a larger decrease of patients on ventilators. Ontario is reporting 26 deaths today, with no new deaths in long-term care homes.
Ontario administered 141,038 vaccine doses yesterday, the highest number since vaccinations began, with almost 39% of the population now having received at least a single dose.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 37 new cases to report (including 12 in Hastings Prince Edward, 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 10 in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) and an additional 30 cases resolved, with the number of active cases increasing by 5 to 204. There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Peterborough, the region’s 15th death.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (958), Peel (900), York (291), Durham (175), Hamilton (155), Halton (129), Niagara (127), and Ottawa (108).
There are double-digit increases reported today in Simcoe Muskoka (95), Middlesex-London (89), Waterloo (63), Windsor-Essex (42), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (41), Haldimand-Norfolk (29), Eastern Ontario (23), Brant (23), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (20), Northwestern (15), Southwestern (15), Porcupine (12), Sudbury (11), Hastings Prince Edward (11), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (10), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (10), Peterborough (10), and Huron Perth (10), with smaller increases in Thunder Bay (9), North Bay Parry Sound (8), Grey Bruce (8), Lambton (8), and Renfrew (7).
Only 3 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with all reporting at least 3 new cases.
Of today’s new cases, 60% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (1,424) among people ages 20-39 followed by 954 cases among people ages 40-59 and 617 cases among people 19 and under.
With 3,997 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to at 91.2% — the 17th straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.2% to 6.8%, meaning that 68 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on May 5.
Ontario is reporting 26 new COVID-19 deaths today, with no new deaths in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 26 new daily deaths over the past week, an decrease of 2 from yesterday.
The number of hospitalizations has fallen by 111 to 1,964, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs decreasing by 5 to 877 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators decreasing by 20 to 600.
A total of 54,118 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation falling by 1,893 to 27,286.
A total of 5,740,761 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 141,038 from yesterday — the highest daily increase since vaccinations began in Ontario. A total of 384,589 people have been fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 3,466 from yesterday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 2.61% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.02% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 38.97% of the population, an increase of 0.96% from yesterday. An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 37 new cases to report, including 12 in Hastings Prince Edward, 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 10 in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
There are 27 new regional cases of variants of concern, including 15 in Peterborough, 4 in Hastings Prince Edward, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and 4 in Northumberland.
There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Peterborough, the 15th in the region. There are 4 new hospitalizations in Peterborough with 1 new ICU admission, 1 new hospitalization in Hastings Prince Edward, and 1 new hospitalization in Northumberland.
An additional 30 cases have been resolved, including 13 in Peterborough, 8 in Hastings Prince Edward, 5 in Northumberland, and 4 in Kawartha Lakes. An outbreak at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough was declared resolved on May 6.
There are currently 204 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 5 from yesterday, including 75 in Hastings Prince Edward (13 in Quinte West, 44 in Belleville, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 9 in Prince Edward County, 6 in Central Hastings, and 2 in North Hastings), 68 in Peterborough, 32 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,274 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,191 resolved with 15 deaths), 750 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (675 resolved with 56 deaths), 833 in Northumberland County (794 resolved with 14 deaths), 106 in Haliburton County (101 resolved with 1 death), and 980 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (895 resolved with 10 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on May 6.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 4 p.m. the previous day, as well as from systems in Toronto, Ottawa, and Middlesex-London at 2 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: 1,274 (increase of 9)* Total variants of concern cases: 485 (increase of 15) Active cases: 68 (decrease of 5) Close contacts: 216 (increase of 12) Deaths: 15 (increase of 1) Resolved: 1,191 (increase of 13) Hospitalizations (total to date): 57 (increase of 4)** ICU admissions (total to date): 9 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 50,500 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: Unidentified congregate living facility #3 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #5 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #7 in Peterborough, Sunshine Daycare in Peterborough, Unidentified home child care centre #1 in Peterborough County (decrease of 1)*** Vaccine doses administered: 56,409 (increase of 12,806 as of April 29) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,211 (increase of 1,730 as of April 29)
*The health unit is reporting 10 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has increased by 9 because 1 case has been removed from a previous day.
**As of May 6, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 16 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (increase of 1) and a total of 67 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change).
***An outbreak at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough was declared resolved on May 6.
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 Sundays and statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,689, including 750 in Kawartha Lakes, 832 in Northumberland, and 106 in Haliburton (increase of 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton)* Total variants of concern cases: 411, including 143 in Kawartha Lakes, 247 in Northumberland, and 21 in Haliburton (increase of 8, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 4 in Northumberland) Active cases: 61, including 32 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton (net increase of 7) Probable cases: 3 (increase of 3, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Hospitalizations (total to date): 62, including 33 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland)** Deaths (including among probable cases): 71, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 14 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Resolved: 1,570, including 675 in Kawartha Lakes, 794 in Northumberland, and 101 in Haliburton (increase of 9, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 5 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 183,448 (increase of 670) Vaccine doses administered: 72,365 (increase of 7,412 as of May 3) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,271 (increase of 723 as of May 3) Outbreaks: Transition House shelter 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.
**As of May 6, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 7 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (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 daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 980 (increase of 12) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 342 (increase of 4) Active cases: 75 (increase of 3) Deaths: 10 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 16 (increase of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 6 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 6 (no change) Resolved: 895 (increase of 8) Tests completed: 132,221 (increase of 1) Vaccine doses administered: 64,661 (increase of 1,403) Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,508 (increase of 120) Outbreaks: Unidentified workplace in Prince Edward County, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, QHC Belleville General Hospital, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, Unidentified congregate living facility in Belleville, Unidentified child care facility in Quinte West, ICU of QHC Belleville General Hospital (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 483,057 (increase of 3,424) COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 83,350 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 2,839); 326 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 9); 1,055 of P.1 Brazilian variant (increase of 54)* VOC R(t): 0.92 (increase of 0.03 as April 30)** 7-day average of daily new cases: 3,369 (decrease of 63) Positivity rate: 6.8% (increase of .02%) Resolved: 440,467 (increase of 3,997), 91.2% of all cases (increase of 0.2%) Hospitalizations: 1,964 (decrease of 111) Hospitalizations in ICU: 877 (decrease of 5) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 600 (decrease of 20) Deaths: 8,213 (increase of 26) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 26 (decrease of 2) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,929 (no change) Total tests completed: 14,364,746 (increase of 54,118) Tests under investigation: 27,286 (decrease of 1,893) Vaccination doses administered: 5,740,761 (increase of 141,038), 38.97% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.96%)*** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 384,589 (increase of 3,466), 2.61% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.02%)***
*While Ontario’s daily update still is not yet reporting this information, Public Health Ontario confirmed on April 23 that 36 cases of the B.1.617 variant, a so-called “double mutation” variant first identified in India, have been detected in Ontario.
**R(t) is a virus’s effective reproduction number, which is the average number of new infections caused by a single infected individual at a specific time (t) in a partially immunized population. To successfully eliminate a disease from a population, R(t) needs to be less than 1.
***An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from April 5 – May 5, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from April 5 – May 5, 2021. The red line is the daily number of tests completed, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from April 5 – May 5, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling 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 rolling average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from April 5 – May 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from April 5 – May 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
A birch bark basket made by Hannah McCue and presented as a gift to His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, when he toured North America in 1860. Hiawatha First Nation and the Peterborough Museum & Archives have received federal funding to facilitate the loan of a group of quilled birch bark items from the Royal Collection Trust in England for a planned exhibition at the museum in 2023. (Supplied photo)
In 1860, His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales — the eldest son of Queen Victoria was heir apparent for almost 60 years, finally becoming King in 1901 — toured North America. During a stop at Rice Like, Michi Saagiig women presented him with hand-made birch bark gifts.
Now, thanks to a $153,817 grant to Hiawatha First Nation and the Peterborough Museum & Archives from the Department of Canadian Heritage Museum Assistance Program’s Indigenous Heritage stream, these items will be returning to their ancestral home for a planned exhibition in Peterborough-Nogojiwanong in 2023.
‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860’ will facilitate the loan of a group of quilled birch bark items from the Royal Collection Trust in England, which cares for the Royal Collection and manages the public opening of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen.
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“It is so exciting to have our ancestors come back home to our First Nation, our traditional territory,” said Chief Laurie Carr of Hiawatha First Nation in a media release. “All of these gifts given to the Prince in 1860 are interwoven from our past, to our present, and into our future. The spirit of our ancestors lives in these gifts and it is such an overwhelming feeling to know that we will be able to meet them and have ceremony and bring together many generations.”
Peterborough Museum & Archives will provide a safe and accessible home for the ancestral items while they are in Canada, with Hiawatha First Nation leading all associated programming, such as workshops on quillwork, birch bark arts, and the Michi Saagiig language.
“I would like to say ‘chi-miigwetch’ to the Royal Collection Trust for working with us to have these items loaned, the Department of Canadian Heritage for the grant approval, and to the Peterborough Museum & Archives for partnering with Hiawatha to host our ancestors,” Chief Carr said.
A birch bark basket made by Polly Soper and presented as a gift to His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, when he toured North America in 1860. Hiawatha First Nation and the Peterborough Museum & Archives have received federal funding to facilitate the loan of a group of quilled birch bark items from the Royal Collection Trust in England for a planned exhibition at the museum in 2023. (Supplied photo)
“I would also like to acknowledge and give thanks to Dr. Lori Beavis and Dr. Laura Peers for all their hard work and dedication to have our ancestors come back home to be honoured and have ceremony with all our Michi Saagiig peoples,” Chief Carr added.
“To our sister Michi Saagiig Nations of Alderville, Curve Lake, Mississaugas of Credit, Missisaugi, and Scugog Island, we give thanks for your support and partnership in this honour of all our ancestors.”
A facial reconstruction of what Warrant Officer John Gregory may have looked like, based on a DNA sample collected from a direct living descendant. A team of researchers at Trent University, University of Waterloo, and Lakehead University compared the descendant's DNA to DNA collected from tooth and bone samples that are more than 170 years old to confirm the remains are those of John Gregory, an engineer aboard HMS Erebus. (Photo: Diana Trepkov / University of Waterloo)
A researcher from Trent University in Peterborough is part of a Canadian team of anthropologists that has used DNA to identify a member of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin expedition — the first member of the expedition to be positively identified through DNA and genealogical analyses.
Dr. Anne Keenleyside, associate professor in Trent University’s anthropology department, along with researchers from the University of Waterloo and Lakehead University, made the ground-breaking discovery, which was recently featured in The New York Times and is making headlines around the world.
By comparing DNA extracted from tooth and bone samples — more than 170 years old — that were recovered in 2013 on King William Island in Nunavut with a sample obtained by a direct living descendant, the researchers were able to confirm that the remains are those of Warrant Officer John Gregory, an engineer aboard HMS Erebus.
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“We now know that John Gregory was one of three expedition personnel who died at this particular site, located at Erebus Bay on the southwest shore of King William Island,” says Douglas Stenton, adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Waterloo.
Stenton, along with co-authors Keenleyside, Stephen Fratpietro of Lakehead University, and Robert W. Park of the University of Waterloo, has published a paper about the team’s research in the journal Polar Record.
To confirm John Gregory’s identity, the researchers obtained a DNA sample from Jonathan Gregory of Port Elizabeth in South Africa — his great-great-great grandson.
“Having John Gregory’s remains being the first to be identified via genetic analysis is an incredible day for our family, as well as all those interested in the ill-fated Franklin expedition,” Gregory said. “The whole Gregory family is extremely grateful to the entire research team for their dedication and hard work, which is so critical in unlocking pieces of history that have been frozen in time for so long.”
Jonathan Gregory (right), with his brother Stuart and Stuart’s two children, who provided a DNA sample that allowed researchers to confirm that remains recovered in 2013 on King William Island in Nunavut are those of his great-great-great grandfather John Gregory, an engineer aboard HMS Erebus. (Photo: Jonathan Gregory)
In 1845, Captain Sir John Franklin led an expedition of 129 sailors on two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, to traverse the last unnavigated sections of the northwest passage in the Canadian Arctic and to record magnetic data to help determine whether a better understanding could aid navigation. In late 1846, both ships became icebound in Victoria Strait near King William Island in what is today Nunavut.
The crews abandoned the ships in 1848, by which time Franklin and nearly two dozen others had already died. The survivors, led by Franklin’s second-in-command Francis Crozier and Erebus’ captain James Fitzjames, set out for the 400-kilometre march to the Canadian mainland. All eventually perished.
Since the mid-19th century, skeletal remains of dozens of crew members have been found on King William Island, but none had been positively identified. To date, the DNA of 26 other members of the Franklin expedition have been extracted from remains found in nine archaeological sites situated along the line of the 1848 retreat.
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“Analysis of these remains has also yielded other important information on these individuals, including their estimated age at death, stature, and health,” says Keenleyside, who has been researching the Franklin expedition since 1993, analyzing skeletal remains of more than a dozen crew members recovered from King William Island to construct biological profiles that include information on age, sex, ancestry, stature, and features such as trauma and pathology.
Keenleyside was also involved in the facial reconstruction by forensic artist Diana Trepkov of two of the crania found at the King William Island site, and started taking DNA samples for analysis.
“Once we had this database our next step was to seek out living descendants of the crew and ask them if they would be willing to submit buccal samples for DNA analysis to try and identify the remains found on King William Island,” Keenleyside explains. “We are truly grateful to the Gregory family for providing DNA samples in support of our research, and we encourage other descendants of the Franklin expedition crew to reach out to our team.”
Douglas Stenton, adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Waterloo, in Nunavut excavating an as-yet-unidentified sailor whose remains were found with those of John Gregory. (Photo: Robert W. Park)
Prior to the DNA match, the last information about Warrant Officer John Gregory’s voyage known to his family was in a letter he wrote to his wife Hannah from Greenland in July 1845 before the ships entered the Canadian Arctic.
The letter ends with the words “Give my kind Love to Edward, Fanny, James, William, and kiss baby for me — and accept the same yourself.”
The research was funded by the Government of Nunavut, Trent University, and the University of Waterloo.
Hayley Goodchild takes a selfie with her compost. To celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (May 2-8), share your #CompostSelfie with @PtboGreenUP on social media. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Hayley Goodchild, Coordinator of Neighbourhood and Residential Programs at GreenUP.
This week (May 2-8) is International Compost Awareness Week — an ideal time to learn how composting can help reverse climate change.
What is composting? It’s a human activity that leverages natural processes of decay to turn organic materials into soil-enriching humus. In other words, it’s managing how things rot.
Organic matter includes anything that was once living, such as vegetable scraps, hair, animal bones, or that greasy pizza box from last night’s dinner. To us, these things are waste.
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To microbes, these things are food. Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms break down the material into humus, water, and other by-products, such as heat and carbon dioxide (CO2). These organisms require oxygen to do their job effectively.
When we send organic waste to landfills, it decomposes without the benefit of oxygen, creating methane. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that does much more damage to our atmosphere than the carbon dioxide produced in aerobic (oxygen-rich) compost systems.
Diverting organics from landfill to compost can achieve significant GHG reductions through methane reductions alone, which is why the municipal composting facility slated for 2023 is so important.
A compost pile with an internal temperature between 44 and 65 degrees Celsius tells you aerobic microorganisms are hard at work. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild)
“The composting facility is estimated to be the main driver of corporate GHG emissions reductions, supporting the target to reduce emissions by 30 per cent below the 2011 baseline by 2031,” says James Byrne, climate change coordinator for the City of Peterborough.
When you factor in the ability of plants and trees to sequester carbon throughout their lives, the CO2 produced by composting plants and trees should be nullified. Byrne also encourages residents to think about the types of waste we generate in the first place, especially since the municipal system won’t be operational until 2023.
“Soiled cardboard and paper products, like that greasy pizza box, can actually generate more methane emissions than food scraps because of their high carbon content,” he explains. “Consider making pizza at home, or (when it’s safe to do so), eating out at a restaurant.”
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While Peterborough’s coming composting facility is great news for city residents, with only a decade left to avert catastrophic climate change there is no time to waste.
The urgency of the climate crisis inspired Desiree Bandi to begin 1.5 Degrees Composting Solutions (peterboroughcompost.ca/) last year. 1.5 Degrees collects customers’ organic waste each week, delivers it to a regional composting facility, and returns finished compost to participants in the spring. For those who can’t make use of their compost, Bandi donates their portions to local community gardens.
Closing the compost loop is a crucial piece of the puzzle.
Desiree Bandi is the owner of 1.5 Degrees Composting offers an organic waste pick-up service for residents and commercial clients in the Peterborough area. (Photo: 1.5 Degrees Composting Solutions)
“Returning organic matter and microbial life to the ground makes healthy plants, and that sequesters carbon from the atmosphere,” Bandi says. “There are also many other benefits to compost, such as healthier food, reducing the need for fertilizers, and better water retention in the soil.”
To take advantage of these benefits, add compost to your garden and vegetable beds on a regular basis, usually once per year. There’s no need to work it into the soil. Simply add a layer one or two inches thick in the spring or fall. Take care to work around any existing plants. Don’t bury their leaves or stems.
The Ecology Park Nursery — which opens for the 2021 season on Saturday, May 22nd — will be selling bulk compost with some restrictions due to COVID-19. For updates, visit the Ecology Park website at greenup.on.ca/ecology-park/nursery/.
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Spring is great time to begin composting at home.
It is simple to do as long as you balance nitrogen-rich “greens” and carbon-rich “browns” in your pile. You should also avoid materials like meat or dairy products that can attract pests. You can find more information in GreenUP’s composting fact sheet below.
Compost accessories, like the hand-powered compost aerator pictured below, are available for purchase in the Outdoor section of GreenUP’s online store at shop.greenup.on.ca. Backyard composters are currently sold out, but we hope to have more soon.
Kayla’s Compost Cane, invented in Canada and sold in the GreenUP store, is ideal for aerating your compost without putting stress on your back. (Photo: GreenUP)
No backyard? No problem. Vermicomposting is a worm-based composting method that can be practised indoors or on a balcony.
Services such as 1.5 Degrees are also available for those who cannot compost in a backyard.
Businesses interested in composting as a means of reducing their carbon footprint can learn more through Green Economy Peterborough — a new local network that supports businesses to act on climate. Find out more at greenup.on.ca/green-economy-peterborough/.
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