COVID-By-The-Numbers

There have now been no new cases of COVID-19 in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington since last weekend.  55 people have tested positive since testing began in mid-March and 51 of those people have recovered.

 

The number of cases in Canada climbed over the 30 thousand mark yesterday.  Most of the infections are based in Ontario and Quebec.  Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says more than 90 percent of the 12 hundred Canadians who have died are over the age of 60.

 

COVID – Prisons

There are 233 cases of the coronavirus among inmates, staff and contractors at correctional facilities across Canada according to a professor at the University of Ottawa.

Justin Piche is keeping a daily log of infections in prisons and jails.

It shows 145 of the cases involve federal inmates.

But – there are no cases of COVID-19 in Kingston area federal penitentiaries or at the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee.

 

COVID – Prisoner Release

A 53-year-old inmate at Bath Institution will be let out of custody because he is concerned about contracting COVID-19 behind bars. Derrick Snow has serious health problems — including diabetes, pulmonary disease and malignant sarcoma. The Correctional Service of Canada has granted Snow a temporary absence, to begin next Tuesday.  The move comes as pressure mounts for officials to release aging and frail prisoners who are more likely to suffer badly from the virus.

 

COVID – Kingston Police

Kingston Police have received 147 complaints about people breaking emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police Chief Antje McNeely told the police services board yesterday no tickets have been issued due to the complaints.

McNeely also revealed police now have a list of all people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the region.  It is being used to make sure people are following the 14 day self-isolation period.  She says that list is only available to a select few to protect the privacy of the individuals.

 

Arrest – Window Smashing

A 28-year-old Kingston man is facing a charge of mischief after all of the large windows in a downtown eatery were smashed.  Paramedics spotted a man walking on Macdonnell Street on Wednesday afternoon bleeding profusely from cuts on his hand.  They followed him until police arrived.  The man was arrested and was held for a bail hearing after being treated at Kingston General Hospital. Police say they have had repeated encounters with him during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Impaired by Drugs

A 19-year-old from Central Frontenac Township is facing charges after the OPP received a complaint about a vehicle travelling south on Highway 38 near Verona.  Police have charged Shane Peters with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by a drug and having over 30 grams of cannabis.

 

Cabin Assault

A man from New York state has been charged after a person was assaulted at a remote cabin in Addington Highlands.  Lennox and Addington County OPP responded to a 9-1-1 call to the cabin around midnight on Wednesday.  33-year-old Geoffrey Blew of Jamestown, New York has been charged with assault causing bodily harm.

 

Loud Sounds

You may be hearing a loud noise coming from the new baby formula factory in Kingston’s west end industrial park.  Canada Royal Milk is conducting regulatory testing of its steam boilers.

Venting steam from the boilers creates a loud roaring noise.  The testing started yesterday and will continue today. An official with the company says the sounds will not be part of the plant’s regular operations.

 

Alberta – Kingston Check

People on social media are calling it a fake…a letter dated March 24th to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney from a Kingston couple that says it is donating a thousand dollars to Alberta to help in some small way.  Kenney Tweeted yesterday the letter came from Kanji and Susie Nakatsu of Kingston.  Earlier this week, Kenny had posted a copy of the letter thanking Alberta for what it has done for Canada – but their names were cut off at the bottom of the letter.

 

Peer to Peer Help – YGKares

More than a dozen people in Kingston are offering to help others with support and expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A website called YGKares has been established to connect people with the virtual consultants who can offer help on things including making business decisions, personal finances and real estate.

You can book a virtual coffee meeting with the people who are volunteering their time to help.

The website is Y-G – K – a-r-e-s dot com.

https://ygkares.com/

 

Snapcab

A Kingston company that makes portable workspaces it calls pods is developing a pod that may help during a pandemic.  Snapcab has been testing the pod that protects medical staff by isolating them from a patient without the use of other protective equipment.  It is being tested for use in taking swab samples for COVID-19 testing.

The company has asked for feedback from the medical community to help it further develop the pod.

It says it has also been getting requests for a hospital room pod that can be used to isolate people who are infected.

Snapcab is located on Railway Street in Kingston.