AROUND THE WORLD:
Countries around the world are stepping up their actions to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization now describes as a pandemic.
That refers to its geographic spread, not to the seriousness of the illness itself.
In Italy, which has been under lockdown since Monday, the government is now closing all stores, with the exception of pharmacies, grocery stores, and banks.
Italy is the worst-hit country in Europe, with more than 12-thousand cases of the virus, and more than 800 deaths.
President Donald Trump says travel from 26 European countries to the U-S will be halted for 30 days, as of midnight Friday.
There have been more than 126-thousand cases of the virus reported around the world to date.
But in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak that began in late December, the number of new diagnoses is down to single digits.
ACROSS CANADA:
The number of coronavirus cases in Canada has now topped 100.
British Columbia is the hardest-hit province so far, with a total of 48.
Seven new illnesses have been reported, including two more at a long-term care home in North Vancouver.
Ontario is reporting five new positive diagnoses, bringing the provincial total to 42.
Alberta’s total has risen to 19, with five new cases.
All the new victims had recently travelled abroad, leading provincial health officials to recommend against travel outside of Canada for those over 65, or those with chronic health conditions.
Two new cases are being reported in Quebec, for a total of nine.
And Atlantic Canada has detected its first case of the coronavirus, a woman who had recently travelled to France.
The World Health Organization now describes the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.
LOCALLY:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is working with other health units on setting up alternate test sites for the coronavirus.
The health unit’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe says right now anyone who has symptoms of COVID 19 is being asked to call their health provider or go to the emergency department at local hospitals.
Dr. Sutcliffe adds hospital staff in the districts has been outfitted with special equipment including ventilator masks.
Dr. Sutcliffe says a special committee is looking at eventually setting up alternate test sites in partnership with the other health units across Northern Ontario.
The move follows the first confirmed case of the virus in Sudbury on Sunday.
A man in his 50s presented at the Health Sciences North and is now in self-isolation.
And in long-term facilities across the districts, screening is now underway for visitors.
