Environment Canada has issued a snow squall watch for northern Kawartha Lakes, including Fenelon Falls, for Sunday afternoon (February 7).
Locally heavy snow squalls are forecast to develop on Sunday afternoon to the southeast of Georgian Bay, as strong west to northwest winds become established.
The snow squalls are expected to continue into Sunday night before weakening on Monday.
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Very heavy snowfall amounts in the 15 to 40 cm range appear possible, with the heaviest amounts likely in areas closest to Georgian Bay, including the Midland, Orillia, and Port Carling areas.
Winds will whip up the freshly fallen snow resulting in sudden near zero visibility in blowing snow. Dangerous winter driving conditions are possible this afternoon and tonight. Motorists are advised to adjust their travel plans accordingly.
The lake effect snow will move to the north of the region by Monday morning.
Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
In other areas of the Kawarthas region, including Peterborough, Haliburton, southern Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Hastings County, only 2 to 4 cm of snow are expected.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 1,388 new cases, with 11 new cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and no new cases the B.1.351 South Africa variant. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 97 to 1,479.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report and 10 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 1 to 106.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (455), Peel (288), and York (131).
There are double-digit increases in Ottawa (60), Hamilton (57), Niagara (56), Waterloo (43), Durham (46), Halton (42), Windsor-Essex (36), Simcoe Muskoka (35), Middlesex-London (26), Thunder Bay (15), Eastern Ontario (12), Southwestern (12), Chatham-Kent (11), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (11), and Huron Perth (10).
The remaining 16 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 4 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people 40 and older, with the highest number of cases (491) among people ages 20-39, followed by 412 cases among people ages 40-59 and 201 cases among people 60-79.
With 1,796 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 92.1%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.1% to 2.6%, meaning that 26 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 5.
Ontario is reporting 45 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 22 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 48 new daily deaths over the past week.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 22 from yesterday to 1,021, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs unchanged at 325 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators increasing by 3 to 228.
A total of 62,341 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 9,637 to 31,924.
A total of 372,666 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 9,917 from yesterday, with 96,573 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 8,742 from yesterday.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Peterborough, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
An additional 10 cases have been resolved, including 4 in Peterborough, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and 2 in Northumberland. The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared resolved on February 5.
There are currently 106 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 1 from yesterday, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Peterborough, 15 in Northumberland, 4 in Hastings Prince Edward (2 in Quinte West and 2 in Belleville) and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 559 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (524 resolved with 9 deaths), 481 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (389 resolved with 46 deaths), 381 in Northumberland County (357 resolved with 9 deaths), 50 in Haliburton County (48 resolved with no deaths), and 370 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (361 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on February 4.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 559 (increase of 3) Active cases: 26 (decrease of 1) Close contacts: 60 (increase of 2) Deaths: 9 (no change) Resolved: 524 (increase of 4) Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 41,950 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of February 5, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and 14 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive.
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: 912, including 481 in Kawartha Lakes, 381 in Northumberland, and 50 in Haliburton (increase of 5, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 76, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 1 in Kawartha Lakes (no change) High-risk contacts: 141, including 84 in Kawartha Lakes, 35 in Northumberland, and 13 in Haliburton (net increase of 13)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 35, including 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 55, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland (no change) Resolved: 794, including 389 in Kawartha Lakes, 357 in Northumberland, 48 in Haliburton (increase of 6, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 128,570 (increase of 572) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay (two outbreaks), Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home (decrease 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.
**This total includes an additional 9 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of February 5, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 1 patient hospitalized with COVID-19.
****The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared resolved on February 5.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 370 (increase of 1) Active cases: 4 (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: 361 (no change) Tests completed: 46,664 (no change) Vaccines administered: 1,096 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Trent Valley Lodge long-term care home in Trenton (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 276,718 (increase of 1,388) 7-day average of new cases: 1,479 (decrease of 97) Resolved: 254,966 (increase of 1,796, 92.1% of all cases) Positivity rate: 2.6% (increase of 0.1%) Hospitalized: 1,021 (decrease of 22) Hospitalized and in ICU: 325 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 228 (increase of 3) Deaths: 6,483 (increase of 45) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,719 (increase of 22) Total tests completed: 9,974,364 (increase of 62,341) Tests under investigation: 41,561 (decrease of 5,721) Vaccination doses administered: 372,666 (increase of 9,917) People fully vaccinated (two doses): 96,573 (increase of 8,742) Total COVID-19 variant cases: 164 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 11); 1 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (no change)
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Karley and Kristy-Marie, two of the healthcare professionals at Peterborough Regional Health Centre providing care for patients with COVID-19. (Photo: Peterborough Regional Health Centre)
The recent downward trend in the number of reported positive COVID-19 cases across Ontario continues to be reflected locally.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Friday (February 5), medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra reported that as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, there were 31 active COVID-19 cases in the Peterborough area — two less than reported February 2nd and 19 less than one week ago. By Friday afternoon, with no new cases reported and an additional four cases resolved, that number had decreased further to 27.
This week, there have been 11 new positive cases reported locally, down considerably from the 21 new cases reported the previous week. Weekly positive case numbers this low haven’t been seen locally since the week of November 7th, when seven new cases were reported.
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“Right now we are back at yellow, as far as that pre-stay-at-home framework that we were using … everything is trending down,” said Salvaterra, adding “The staying at home, the reduction in socialization, is making a difference.”
“For each (new) case that we are getting, we’re getting a smaller number of high-risk contacts. That makes it more manageable for us. We’re also now trying to ramp up vaccine rollout. The nurses currently doing case and contact management can be redeployed as immunizers. The better controlled our outbreak is, the more capacity Peterborough Public Health will have to address vaccine rollout.”
Weekly cases of COVID-19 in the Peterborough area. For the week of February 1, 11 new cases were reported. Weekly positive case numbers this low haven’t been seen locally since the week of November 7, when seven new cases were reported. (Graphic: Peterborough Public Health)
Salvaterra also updated local vaccination efforts, noting long-term care residents at Fairhaven and Riverview Manor in Peterborough, Extendicare Lakefield, Pleasant Meadow Manor in Norwood, and Springdale Country Manor in Cavan-Monaghan Township have all received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
With another vaccine shipment “arriving soon”, according to Salvaterra, first-dose immunizations at the region’s three remaining long-term care homes — Extendicare Peterborough, St. Joseph’s at Fleming, and Centennial Place in Millbrook — are expected to be completed by the provincially mandated deadline of February 10th.
According to Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Canada is “on track” to receive some six million vaccine doses in March.
“Our challenge is ensuring that those who administer the vaccine have the capacity and the supports to do that,” said Monsef.
Following her remarks, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith said Ontario has the ability now to vaccinate 40,000 people daily.
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“This past week (Ontario) received 26,000 vaccines in total; next week we’ll receive 27,000 doses” Smith said.
“Our capacity to deliver the vaccine far exceeds what we’re receiving right now. I’d like to really impress upon our federal member to do everything possible to get more vaccines for us. We have the ability to put them in people’s arms. We just need to have them here.”
“We have procured 10 doses per Canadian,” Monsef countered. “Any Canadian who wants it will receive the vaccine by September.”
Meanwhile, Peterborough Public Health is partnering with Trent University on a community-based research study aimed at getting a better handle on the beliefs, opinions and concerns residents may have as they relate to COVID-19 vaccination.
Those interested in participating must be a resident of Peterborough city or County, Curve Lake or Hiawatha, and over the age of 18 and a fluent English speaker. Visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca to learn more about the study and to register.
“Our goal is to better understand what kinds of information people want about vaccines and what their concerns are so we can support them in making an informed decision about getting vaccinated,” noted Peterborough Public Health communications manager Brittany Cadence.
“This will help us to build confidence in vaccines when the mass immunization clinics launch this spring. There’s a lot of information out there about vaccines. I think it’s understandable that a lot of people are confused and not sure how to tell what is credible information or not.”
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In terms of outbreaks, the news remains positive with no new ones reported. Those previously declared at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Peterborough Retirement Resident are ongoing but stable. An outbreak reported January 17th at Regency Retirement in Lakefield was resolved this week.
During the course of the pandemic, there have been 556 positive cases in total, 520 of which are resolved, and now nine COVID-related deaths. On the testing front, 41,850 residents have been tested at least once.
Also present and commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell, and Peterborough Police Services Chief Scott Gilbert.
Gilbert said there have been no new charges or fines levied in relation to any violation of the ongoing public health restrictions in close to two weeks.
Peterborough police asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing 30-year-old Cassandra Alexandre.
Update – Sat Feb 6 at 11 a.m.
Cassandra Alexandre was located safe overnight.
Alexandre was last seen last Friday (January 29) at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. It is unknown what clothes she was wearing.
Police are concerned for her well-being.
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Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 1,670 new cases, with 2 new cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and no new cases the B.1.351 South Africa variant. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 24 to 1,576.
The total case count for today includes 125 additional cases from Toronto Public Health that were not fully migrated during the transition to Ontario’s Case and Contact Management system. Excluding these cases, today’s actual case count is 1,545.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 4 new cases to report and 10 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 3 to 107.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (667), Peel (317), York (125), and Halton (100).
There are double-digit increases in Waterloo (64), Ottawa (46), Durham (46), Hamilton (45), Simcoe Muskoka (43), Niagara (41), Windsor-Essex (28), Middlesex-London (26), Brant (20), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (19), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (17), Southwestern (16), and Eastern Ontario (11), with smaller increases in Chatham-Kent (8) and Haldimand-Norfolk (8).
The remaining 16 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 5 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people 40 and older, with the highest number of cases (663) among people ages 20-39, followed by 512 cases among people ages 40-59 and 259 cases among people 60-79.
With 2,233 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.3% to 92.0%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.1% to 2.5%, meaning that 25 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 4.
Ontario is reporting 45 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 14 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 52 new daily deaths over the past week.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 58 from yesterday to 1,043, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs increasing by 2 to 325 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators decreasing by 16 to 225.
A total of 62,710 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 5,721 to 41,561.
A total of 362,749 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 7,694 from yesterday, with 87,831 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 6,854 from yesterday.
There are 2 new cases in Ontario schools, a decrease of 7 from yesterday, including 1 student case and 1 case among an unidentified person. There are 22 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, a decrease of 3 from yesterday, with 13 cases among children and 9 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 4 new cases to report, including 2 in Northumberland, 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Peterborough or Haliburton.
There is 1 new hospitalization in Kawartha Lakes.
An additional 10 cases have been resolved, including 4 in Peterborough, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward.
There are currently 107 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 3 from yesterday, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 27 in Peterborough, 16 in Northumberland, 3 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West and 2 in Belleville) and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 556 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (520 resolved with 9 deaths), 477 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (386 resolved with 46 deaths), 380 in Northumberland County (355 resolved with 9 deaths), 50 in Haliburton County (48 resolved with no deaths), and 369 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (361 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on February 4.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 556 (no change) Active cases: 27 (decrease of 4) Close contacts: 58 (decrease of 6) Deaths: 9 (no change) Resolved: 520 (increase of 4) Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 41,850 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of February 5, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (an decrease of 1 from yesterday) and 14 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change from yesterday).
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: 907, including 477 in Kawartha Lakes, 380 in Northumberland, and 50 in Haliburton (increase of 3, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 77, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 1 in Kawartha Lakes (no change) High-risk contacts: 108, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 33 in Northumberland, and 15 in Haliburton (net increase of 3)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 35, including 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 55, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland (no change) Resolved: 788, including 385 in Kawartha Lakes, 355 in Northumberland, 48 in Haliburton (increase of 5, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 127,998 (increase of 659) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay (two outbreaks), Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home (no change)
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes an additional 4 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of February 5, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 1 patient hospitalized with COVID-19 (no change from yesterday).
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 369 (increase of 1) Active cases: 3 (no change) 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: 361 (increase of 1) Tests completed: 46,664 (no change) Vaccines administered: 1,096 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Trent Valley Lodge long-term care home in Trenton (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 275,330 (increase of 1,670)* 7-day average of new cases: 1,576 (decrease of 24) Resolved: 253,170 (increase of 2,233, 92.0% of all cases) Positivity rate: 2.5% (decrease of 0.1%) Hospitalized: 1,043 (decrease of 58) Hospitalized and in ICU: 325 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 225 (decrease of 16) Deaths: 6,438 (increase of 45) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,697 (increase of 14) Total tests completed: 9,912,023 (increase of 62,710) Tests under investigation: 41,561 (decrease of 5,721) Vaccination doses administered: 362,749 (increase of 7,694) People fully vaccinated (two doses): 87,831 (increase of 6,854) Total COVID-19 variant cases: 155 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 2); 1 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (no change)
*Toronto Public Health is reporting 125 additional cases today that were not fully migrated during the transition to to Ontario’s Case and Contact Management system, resulting in a slight overestimation of today’s overall case numbers.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 5 – February 4, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from January 5 – February 4, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 5 – February 4, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 5 – February 4, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 5 – February 4, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
In June 2020, kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger sold his 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier to Peterborough car-racing driver and filmmaker Jeremy Kelly for $150. Kelly and his three vehicle restoration and racing buff friends fixed up the car for a rally. They document the journey in episode five of "Cease & Desist", premiering on Facebook and YouTube on February 7, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Larry and Ben Strung / StrungFoto)
It poured buckets early on the evening of June 23, 2020 but that was fitting, equating perfectly with my sadness as I said goodbye to my 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier.
That car and I had been through a lot since the spring of 2007, when Mom gifted me Dad’s beloved ride shortly after his passing in late April of that same year. For $80 — the cost of changing the ownership — the Rellingers had a second vehicle, which sure made our family’s life a whole lot easier.
But come last summer, it had sat in the driveway for more than a year, strong of body but weak of pretty much everything else. Vehicle maintenance was never my thing, limited for the most part to emptying the overflowing dashboard ashtray every couple of months and paper clipping the drooping interior roof fabric back in place.
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And so a call to the wrecker was made, the promise of $150 coming my way if I could get it there.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the car crusher. I remembered a conversation I had with car-racing driver and filmmaker Jeremy Kelly in 2017 during which I related my ownership of said car and he related his desire to one day buy it should I decide to sell it.
“It’s not every day you hear about a car that has lasted that long and has had such a journeyed kind of life,” Kelly says of his initial interest.
So it was that Kelly, joined by his pals and vehicle restoration and racing buffs Tyler Junkin, Nate Mitchell, and Andy McCann, came by the house that rainy June evening, poured over the car front to back, and then took it away to work their magic.
Jeremy Kelly (second from right) and Tyler Junkin, Nate Mitchell, and Andy McCann with kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger’s former 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier. (Photo courtesy of Ellisha Tryon)
This Sunday (February 7) at 6 p.m., the fruits of their labour will be evident as “Cease & Desist Episode 5: The Covilier” — a witty take on COVID and Cavalier — premieres on Facebook at facebook.com/dontsayhoon and on the FilmKELLY YouTube channel.
The 43-minute production shot by Kelly, a Sheridan College-trained filmmaker who has worked on numerous projects over the years, chronicles the boys’ initial driveway introduction to the beater, their modifying it to get it car rally-ready, and the events of race day at the Free Flow MX Park and Campground near Belleville.
What’s abundantly clear in the documentary is it wasn’t love at first sight for Junkin, Mitchell, and McCann when they first laid eyes on the four-cylinder subject of Kelly’s desire.
“That style of car is considered cool and classic now,” says Kelly, making me somewhat regret my not taking care of it.
“I saw some promise they didn’t see. That was out of my own naiveté. Those guys have been around the block many times with this car in particular and many others of that era. They kind of knew what was coming, but I saw the potential.”
“It’s not about being the fastest or the most luxurious. It’s about taking a turd and polishing it up and making it something that’s a little more cooler than it is.”
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Despite their initial misgivings — I haven’t heard that many f-bombs dropped since I last dusted off Scarface — Kelly says his pals warmed up to the project once they got busy making the necessary modifications.
“We did all the stuff we did to it and it kind of grew on us. You form a kind of attachment. You put some love into it and you have the experience of driving it in that context, racing around the track. It’s like ‘Holy crap, this is actually fun.'”
Post-rally, the Cavalier’s transmission shot all to hell, discussion turned to scrapping it but Kelly says the group consensus was “No, we can’t get rid of it.” And so it’s now in a most familiar position: parked with nowhere to go.
Episode five of “Cease & Desist”, premiering on Facebook and YouTube on February 7, 2021, documents the transformation of kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger’s former 33-year-old beater into a car rally competitor. (Photo courtesy of Cease & Desist)
As a side story, there’s some drama around the series name of Cease & Desist.
In late April 2018, Velocity — part of the Discovery’s specialty cable channel network — aired Hoonin’ All Day, Kelly’s 22-minute production documenting how the foursome brought another beater back to life and took it for a spin at Shannonville Motorsport Park. It later competed very well at a King of the Hill event at Peterborough Speedway.
Hooning is a term used primarily in Australia and New Zealand to describe driving a vehicle in a reckless or dangerous manner, generally to provoke a reaction from onlookers.
“After we aired on Discovery, I got a five-page cease-and-desist order,” says Kelly, adding it came from Ken Block, a professional rally driver with the Hoonigan Racing Division, a U.S.-based motor racing team that competes worldwide.
“I was like ‘What is this?’ The billionaire car racing guy was threatened by four unknown dudes who virtually make no money on this. So we were like ‘OK, I guess we have to change the name.’ We had to take down episodes from Facebook and YouTube and kind of be quiet for a bit. We had a group chat and decided to call it Cease & Desist.”
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With a competitive racing background forged mostly at Peterborough Speedway events, Kelly has combined his two passions — auto racing and filmmaking — to keep himself busy. He comes by the former naturally, his grandfather having raced back in the day at Peterborough Speedway and Bell City in Selwyn.
On the film side of things, his credits include a canoe-related documentary he worked on with Tony Buell, a co-production with Rob Viscardis detailing The Weber Brothers’ musical journey, and a 14-part TV series in 2012 about two bad golfers scouring the world for unique golf courses.
COVID pandemic restrictions have limited the work Kelly can do now, but he has been quite busy producing PSAs for local organizations like Peterborough EMS and the OPP along with “tons of corporate videos.”
The past month, however, saw him devote most all of his time to editing this newest episode of Cease & Desist.
kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger’s former 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier, modified by Jeremy Kelly, Tyler Junkin, Nate Mitchell, and Andy McCann, on race day at the Free Flow MX Park and Campground near Belleville. (Photo courtesy of Larry and Ben Strung / StrungFoto)
“At this point everyone needs to see or hear something that’s not COVID-related and just kind of escape reality for a moment,” says Kelly of what he hopes the take-away will be for viewers.
“It’s a like precursor to things maybe opening up in the summer, and we can actually get together with friends and have some fun. As a filmmaker, I’d love to do this full-time with the boys. They’re so passionate about this stuff.”
In the meantime, the Cavalier that won’t die lives.
kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger (left) saying goodbye to his 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier, originally owned by his late father. Episode five of “Cease & Desist”, premiering on Facebook and YouTube on February 7, 2021, documents the efforts of Jeremy Kelly, Tyler Junkin, Nate Mitchell, and Andy McCann to transform the car into rally condition. (Screenshot)
On the sale price of $150, I made back what I paid close to 14 years ago plus $70. Not too shabby by any standards.
But more than that, it’ll be fun to watch the car my dad wouldn’t coax past 80 kilometres per hour on the highway being pushed to its limit on the rally track.
I’m not sure Dad would be happy I sold his pride-and-joy for that purpose, but he’d be thrilled I at least made a few bucks.
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As for Kelly, the purchase price was more than fair considering the return.
“That $150 has brought me so much joy, so much fun and camaraderie between my buddies and me. I don’t care if I ever get that $150 back.”
That said, he’s working on it, having pocketed $3 in change he found hiding in the car.
Artist's rendering of the completed rental housing development at 888 Whitefield Drive in Peterborough. The developer, Parkview Homes, has received $8.5 million in financing from the federal government for the project. (Illustration: Parkview Homes)
The federal government is providing $8.5 million in financing for Parkview Homes to complete an affordable housing project in Peterborough.
During a virtual media briefing on Friday (February 5), Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef announced the financing would be used for a three-storey, 27-rental-unit building currently being constructed at 888 Whitefield Drive in Peterborough.
“Today’s announcement means more than $30 million has been invested by the Government of Canada to renovate, subsidize, and build 1,600 housing units in Peterborough-Kawartha,” Monesf said.
Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef at her home during a virtual media conference on Feburary 5, 2021, announcing $8.5 million for Parkview Home’s development of an affordable 27-rental-unit building at 888 Whitefield Drive in Peterborough. (Screenshot)
Parkview Homes, one of the largest residential homebuilders in the Peterborough area, is receiving the financing through federal government’s Rental Construction Financing initiative, delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The Whitfield Drive development will be energy efficient and will consist of a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom rental units. Three of the units will have a universal design to ensure accessibility.
The initial rental cost for all of the units will fall below a third of Peterborough’s median income.
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As part of the Parkview Home’s commitment in borrowing the federal funds, six units will remain at this cost for 11 years, with the cost for an additional 11 units remaining at a third of Peterborough’s median income.
“Housing affordability is a top priority to Parkview Homes and we achieve this objective by building housing at all levels of affordability, from small to family-sized homes within the Peterborough community,” said Paul Dietrich, owner of Parkview Homes.
Construction on the Whitefield Drive development began in July 2019, with “substantial completion expected soon” according to a media release from the federal government.
Syrian journalist and poet Abdulrahman Matar, pictured during a February 2020 panel discussion at Trent University organized by Dr. James Cullingham, a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and Trent alumnus. Matar is one of three refugee journalists profiled in Cullingham's new documentary "The Cost of Freedom - Refugee Journalists in Canada", scheduled for release in late 2021. (Photo: Ben Wolfe, courtesy of Tamarack Productions)
An award-winning documentary filmmaker who recently relocated to Peterborough-Nogojiwanong is producing a new documentary about refugee journalists in Canada.
Himself a journalist as well as a historian, Dr. James Cullingham’s films with Tamarack Productions have been screened worldwide. His most recent films include Jim Galloway – A Journey in Jazz (2018), In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey (2012), and Lessons in Fear (2005).
Cullingham is now working on his latest documentary, The Cost of Freedom – Refugee Journalists in Canada, scheduled for release later this year.
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The Cost of Freedom will profile the individual stories of three refugee journalists — Arzu Yildiz (originally from Turkey), Luis Nájera (originally from México), and Abdulrahman Matar (originally from Syria) — all of whom were forced to flee their countries because of imprisonment and death threats.
Cullingham tells kawarthaNOW that, by sharing these specific human stories, he hopes his film will “open a window on a global crisis” and “raise consciousness” on the global threat to journalism.
A Trent University alumnus, Cullingham has been imagining the film since 2017, but it became a local matter after his move back to Peterborough.
James Cullingham, director and producer of “The Cost of Freedom – Refugee Journalists in Canada”, introducing the three journalists to be profiled in his upcoming documentary, during a February 2020 panel discussion at Trent University. (Photo: Ben Wolfe, courtesy of Tamarack Productions)
“I hadn’t lived in Peterborough since the 1980s,” Cullingham notes. “Thirty-nine years later, I’m back and I met — courtesy of a very fine filmmaker in Peterborough, Peter Blow — Rob Viscardis and Pawel Dwulit.”
Viscardis and Dwulit jointly run Paradigm Pictures in Peterborough. Viscardis — known for films such as Town of Widows (2019), Last Beer at the Pig’s Ear (2018), and Before We Arrive: The Story of the Weber Brothers (2016) — has signed on as co-producer and post-production coordinator. Dwulit, a photojournalist, cinematographer, and filmmaker, will be the film’s cinematographer.
Viscardi and Dwulit’s involvement with The Cost of Freedom began after Cullingham asked them to film an event at Peter Gzowski College on February 27, 2020. At this event, Cullingham led a panel of discussion with the three refugee journalists the film will profile.
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“The three journalists were riveting,” Dr. Cullingham recalls. “It was one of those things that could only happen at Trent University in Peterborough.”
Footage from the event will appear in the finished documentary, a tremendous boost for the project since the pandemic shut everything down — including the film industry — just 10 days after the event.
Although COVID-19 temporarily stalled filming and there is more to be done in the weeks and months ahead, Cullingham says his team is committed to completing the project. They expect the film will be complete by the end of July and released to the public in the fall.
Arzu Yildiz (left, originally from Turkey), Abdulrahman Matar (second from left, originally from Syria), and Luis Nájera (right, originally from México) participating in a February 2020 panel discussion at Trent University organized by James Cullingham. The three refugee journalists are profiled in Cullingham’s upcoming documentary “The Cost of Freedom – Refugee Journalists in Canada”. (Photo: Ben Wolfe, courtesy of Tamarack Productions)
Working on this film is Daniela Leal, a recent graduate of the Cultural Studies program at Trent University, and Shahed Khatio, a film production student currently studying online with George Brown College. Leal is originally from Honduras and has first-hand knowledge of the global threat to journalism. Khatio and her family are Syrian refugees living in Peterborough.
Deborah Palloway, an award-winning documentary film editor, is also committed to the project. She and Cullingham have collaborated on several projects since the 1990s.
Cullingham says it means a great deal to him to have these people working on the project with him.
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“It’s gratifying and exciting,” he says. “For 30 years, I’ve worked with a lot of people in Toronto very happily, but it’s great to have developed these relationships and the team here.”
Since the three main characters of the documentary film live in the greater Toronto region, filming will not take place solely in Peterborough. However, Cullingham says the film will be completed here and that all of the post-production will take place locally.
The Cost of Freedom is a timely film, given a recent request by a coalition of press freedom and human rights groups calling on the Canadian government to welcome at least 100 at-risk journalists as refugees annually.
A Trent University alumnus, James Cullingham is a journalist, historian, and award-winning documentary filmmaker who relocated to Peterborough in 2019. (Photo: Li Robbins)
“I think that we Canadians often share a presumption that the world is like Canada,” Cullingham comments. “Canada is an uncommonly safe and secure place to be. Storytellers here, despite all of the challenges, experience nothing like the risk of going to prison and being killed because you’re a journalist.”
According to Cullingham, the three journalists profiled in the film — Luis Nájera, Arzu Yildiz, and Abdulrahman Matar — all either are or want to be Canadian, so by sharing their stories, he is sharing Canadian stories.
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Although each would be delighted to get a full-time paying job in journalism, Cullingham explains, this has yet to happen in Canada due to language barriers. Nevertheless, all of them are finding ways to keep their storytelling alive, including through their involvement in this film.
“Getting to know Luis, Arzu, and Abdulrahman has been a real eye-opener and a blessing for me,” Cullingham notes. “They’ve been incredibly generous, patient, and committed.”
Cullingham also says he is grateful to the multiple individuals who have provided much-needed support for the film, as well as organizations including the Symons Trust for Canadian Studies, Peter Gzowski College, New Canadians Centre Peterborough, and Kawartha World Issues Centre.
The film’s development is also being supported through funding from the Canada Council for The Arts.
“We are very grateful to Canada Council for its development support,” Cullingham says. “We are hopeful of further support from broadcasters and cultural agencies going forward.”
The film requires continued financial support and is open to donations from individuals. Any amount would be welcomed.
If you’d like to support the film, contact Tamarack Productions at 416-312-1841 or tamarackp@gmail.com.
Filmmakers Rob Viscardis and Pawel Dwulit, who launched Paradigm Pictures in Peterborough in 2020. Viscardis is co-producer and post-production coordinator for James Cullingham’s upcoming documentary “The Cost of Freedom – Refugee Journalists in Canada”, with Dwulit the film’s cinematographer. (Photo courtesy of Paradigm Pictures / paradigmpictures.tv)
As co-producer of the film, Rob Viscardis tells kawarthaNOW that he hopes the Peterborough community will show support for the project, especially since “this is a production happening completely locally at this point between James and our company Paradigm Pictures, so folks would be supporting a local team to tell a global story.”
“The issue at the heart [of the film] affects us all,” Viscardis explains. “They [the refugee journalists] put everything on the line to uncover what they did. The least we can do is help play a part in uncovering their own stories.”
“The issues at the root of this film have massive implications globally so that’s always an attractor for me with a project, but as a filmmaker I am also excited to collaborate with an experienced journalist and filmmaker like James as I continue to develop my career as a filmmaker.”
Cullingham says he realizes not everyone will be able to donate to the film.
“There are other ways of supporting the effort,” he points out. “Stay in touch with the way the community is going to release the film. Maybe people can help in kind rather than in cash when the time comes.”
You can keep an eye on the film’s development on Facebook and Instagram.
“It’s very gratifying personally as a filmmaker who has only lived back in Peterborough for less than two years to have this kind of community response to the film,” Cullingham says. “I appreciate it greatly, and it’s certainly a motivator.”
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 1,563 new cases, with 46 new cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and no new cases of the B.1.351 South Africa variant. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 75 to 1,600.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 27 new cases to report and 11 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region increasing by 15 to 110. There has been 1 new COVID-19 death in Kawartha Lakes.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (584), Peel (265), and York (132).
There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (78), Halton (58), Niagara (58), Simcoe Muskoka (55), Waterloo (51), Ottawa (46), Durham (34), Chatham-Kent (24), Windsor-Essex (24), Middlesex-London (21), Eastern Ontario (20), Southwestern (16), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (12), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (12), Huron Perth (11), Thunder Bay (10), and Lambton (10), with smaller increases in Peterborough (7) and Brant (7).
The remaining 12 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with all reporting at least 1 new case.
Of today’s new cases, 53% are among people 40 and older, with the highest number of cases (534) among people ages 20-39, followed by 478 cases among people ages 40-59 and 241 cases among people 60-79.
With 1,956 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 91.7%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.7% to 2.6%, meaning that 26 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 3.
Ontario is reporting 88 new COVID-19 deaths today — the highest single-day increase of deaths since January 20, when 89 deaths were reported — including 29 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 54 new daily deaths over the past week.
Hospitalizations have increased by 35 from yesterday to 1,101, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs decreasing by 13 to 323 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators also decreasing by 13 to 241.
A total of 64,467 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 2,676 to 47,282.
A total of 355,055 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 6,724 from yesterday, with 80,977 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 5,983 from yesterday.
There are 9 new cases in Ontario schools, a decrease of 6 from yesterday, including 8 student cases and 1 staff case. There are 25 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, a decrease of 4 from yesterday, with 14 cases among children and 11 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 27 new cases to report, including 18 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Northumberland, and 2 in Peterborough. There are no new cases in Hastings Prince Edward or Haliburton.
There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Kawartha Lakes.
Outbreaks at Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home and Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home were declared on February 3.
An additional 11 cases have been resolved, including 7 in Peterborough and 4 in Kawartha Lakes.
There are currently 110 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 15 from yesterday, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 31 in Peterborough, 15 in Northumberland, 3 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West and 2 in Belleville) and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 556 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (516 resolved with 9 deaths), 473 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (381 resolved with 46 deaths), 378 in Northumberland County (354 resolved with 9 deaths), 50 in Haliburton County (48 resolved with no deaths), and 368 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (360 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on February 4.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 556 (increase of 2) Active cases: 31 (decrease of 5) Close contacts: 64 (decrease of 3) Deaths: 9 (no change) Resolved: 516 (increase of 7) Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 41,750 (increase of 50) Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of February 4, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 5 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (an increase of 1 from yesterday) and 14 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (an increase of 2 from yesterday).
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: 901, including 473 in Kawartha Lakes, 378 in Northumberland, and 50 in Haliburton (increase of 25, including 18 in Kawartha Lakes and 7 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 76, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (increase of 20, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes and 7 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 1 in Kawartha Lakes (decrease of 2 in Kawartha Lakes) High-risk contacts: 105, including 47 in Kawartha Lakes, 36 in Northumberland, and 15 in Haliburton (net decrease of 3)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 34, including 24 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 55, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Resolved: 783, including 381 in Kawartha Lakes, 354 in Northumberland, 48 in Haliburton (increase of 4 in Kawartha Lakes) Tests completed: 127,339 Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay (two outbreaks), Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home (increase of 2)****
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes an additional 4 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of February 4, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 1 patient hospitalized with COVID-19 (a decrease of 1 since yesterday).
****Outbreaks at Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home and Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home were declared on February 3.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 368 (no change) Active cases: 3 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 360 (no change) Tests completed: 46,664 (no change) Vaccines administered: 1,096 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Trent Valley Lodge long-term care home in Trenton (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 273,660 (increase of 1,563)* 7-day average of new cases: 1,600 (decrease of 75) Resolved: 250,937 (increase of 1,956, 91.7% of all cases) Positivity rate: 2.6% (decrease of 0.7%) Hospitalized: 1,101 (increase of 35) Hospitalized and in ICU: 323 (decrease of 13) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 241 (decrease of 13) Deaths: 6,393 (increase of 88) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,683 (increase of 36) Total tests completed: 9,849,313 (increase of 64,467) Tests under investigation: 47,282 (increase of 2,676) Vaccination doses administered: 355,055 (increase of 6,724) People fully vaccinated (two doses): 80,977 (increase of 5,983) Total COVID-19 variant cases: 153 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 46); 1 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (no change)
*On February 1, Toronto Public Health migrated its COVID-19 data to to Ontario’s Case and Contact Management system. As data quality checks and remediation activities continue this week, fluctuations in case count may occur.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 4 – February 3, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from January 4 – February 3, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 4 – February 3, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 4 – February 3, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 4 – February 3, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for the southern Kawarthas region for Thursday (February 4) overnight into Friday morning.
The advisory is in effect for southern Peterborough County including Lakefield and the city of Peterborough, southern Kawartha Lakes including Lindsay, and all of Northumberland County.
Snow is expected to move into the area from the west just after midnight and continue until early Friday morning.
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At any location, the heaviest snowfall is most likely for the first two or three hours after onset. Lighter snowfall is expected afterwards.
Total snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm are expected by early Friday morning, with the bulk of the precipitation likely coming in the overnight hours.
Road conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate once the snow arrives. Untreated roads may suddenly become snow covered and slippery. Motorists should allow for extra time to reach their destination.
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