A look at local numbers …
Sudbury Public Health & Districts say there has been another death related to COVID-19.
The individual was linked to the outbreak at Health Sciences North.
The agency says there are ten new cases, all outbreak-related and all in the Greater Sudbury area.
There are 34 active cases in the agency’s jurisdiction.
13 people are in hospital.
There are seven patients who have tested positive with one in intensive care.
Algoma Public Health has identified seven COVID-19 cases associated with the multi-unit dwelling at 100 Warsaw Place in Elliot Lake.
Some of the cases are linked to known person-to-person exposures.
Additional laboratory investigations are ongoing, and all residents are being asked to seek testing.
The health unit is also reporting three new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
Considering resolved cases, there are 22 active cases in the Algoma District.
March break moved ahead
March break is now April break.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says they’re pushing back the usual spring holiday for four weeks, to start on April 12th.
Lecce says moving the break back will help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community, especially with new, more-contagious strains of the virus emerging.
The four main teachers unions in the province are opposed to the delay.
They say the government didn’t take into account the mental health of teachers, students, and parents, who have been under considerable pressure during the pandemic.
The new COVID-19 model
New modelling data shows the daily number of new COVID-19 cases could start to rise again by the end of this month, as the newer strains of the coronavirus spread across the province.
Health officials say measures, like the stay-at-home order and mandatory mask use have helped to reduce deaths, cases, positivity rates, and hospitalizations.
But they add the U-K variant, which is much more contagious, could set off the third wave of infections.
Under the most likely scenario, we could see up to six-thousand new cases a day by the end of March.
Currently, our province is running at about 12-hundred new diagnoses each day.
Pfizer vaccine back on track
The federal government says delays in the shipment of COVID-19 vaccines will end next week, with the arrival of the largest shipments to date from Pfizer.
The company’s vaccines slowed over the past month as it expanded its manufacturing plant in Belgium, the source of Canada’s supplies.
It will be back on track to deliver the six-million doses it promised by the end of March.
However, Moderna’s vaccine shipments remain lower than promised.
It’s supposed to supply two-million inoculations by the end of next month.
Air Transat goes to Air Canada
The federal government has approved the takeover of Air Transat by Air Canada.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra the devastation caused in the airline industry by the COVID-19 pandemic was a deciding factor.
He says the takeover is subject to strict conditions that will maintain jobs and services that Air Transat has provided.
But rival airlines and consumer groups say the takeover will mean fewer travel choices for Canadians, resulting in higher prices.