Coronavirus – Kingston

The city of Kingston says it is monitoring the situation with COVID-19 – but it has not shut down events at the Grand Theatre.  There are concerts scheduled for tonight and tomorrow night.  There is also an event scheduled for tomorrow at the Tett Centre that has not been cancelled at this time.

 

The city says it has increased measures to clean facilities…including Kingston Transit buses and has put measures in place at Rideaucrest Home to protect residents from the coronavirus.

 

The Kingston Canadian Film Festival announced yesterday the festival would be cancelled starting with the showing of movies last night.  It says refunds will be offered and full details will be on its website by noon today.

 

Queen’s University Principal Patrick Deane issued a statement yesterday asking students not to hold large gatherings for St. Patrick’s Day due to concerns about health risks posed by large events and gatherings.

 

Coronavirus – Schools

All elementary and high schools in Kingston and across Ontario will be closed for two weeks after March break because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus when students return from the break. The Ontario government has ordered all schools to close from March 14th to April 5th.

 

Coronavirus – March Break

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says Canadians looking at whether to travel for March break should consider staying at home. British Columbia says anyone from that province who leaves the country during the March break will have to self-isolate for fourteen days when they return to B-C.

 

Coronavirus Exposure – Queen’s

As many as 50 members of the Queen’s University community are monitoring themselves for symptom of the coronavirus.  A group from Queen’s attended a large conference in Toronto on March 2nd and 3rd.  A man from Sudbury who was at the conference has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Anyone who attended the conference has been asked to monitor themselves.

 

Coronavirus – Trudeau

The Prime Minister’s Office says Sophie Gregoire Trudeau has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his wife will remain in self-isolation and her symptoms remain mild.  Trudeau took to social media last night saying he will be in self isolation for 14 days but isn’t showing any signs of the coronavirus.

 

Coronavirus – Research Breakthrough

A research team at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto has isolated the virus responsible for causing COVID-19.

The team included researchers at McMaster University and the University of Toronto.

The isolated virus will help researchers across the world develop better testing, treatments and vaccines.

 

Catholic Teachers – Tentative Contract

Ontario’s English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Ontario government.  It is the first of the four major unions representing teachers in the province to get a deal during a lengthy round of bargaining that has included strikes by the teachers.

OECTA says members are set to vote on the tentative deal on April 7th and 8th.

 

Friday the 13th

Don’t forget – it could be your lucky day.  No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in southeastern Ontario so far…and it is Friday the 13th.  The Lotto Max jackpot for tonight is $50 million.  Good luck!