Calgary’s mayor is warning citizens “don’t be like Toronto” and congregate in large numbers in parks.
Naheed Nenshi made the comment in reference to thousands of people who squeezed into a downtown Toronto park on Saturday, despite calls from public health officials to avoid large gatherings.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called the behaviour “reckless” and suggested those who were there get tested for COVID-19.
Toronto is one of the Canadian cities hit hardest by the virus, with over 10,000 confirmed cases and 768 deaths.
Nenshi is advising Calgarians against going to four popular parks in their city.
He is also urging people to find other areas for recreation.
“I just want to say to Calgarians, a sentence that Calgarians don’t need any reminding of — don’t be like Toronto,” Nenshi said Tuesday during a news conference.
“We have a beautiful city that is full of green spaces. There are great opportunities to get together in your own neighbourhood in non-traditional spaces.”
While its number of active cases is declining, Calgary remains the provincial epicentre of the virus, with almost 600 active cases and 101 of Alberta’s 138 deaths.
- The Canadian Press
Today’s top headlines:
- Federal deficit likely now at $260-billion due to COVID-19, PBO says
- Ford vows to take action after military report on five Ontario long-term care homes
- Canadian military releases ‘deeply disturbing’ report on Ontario long-term care facilities
- Trudeau to co-host United Nations meeting as vote for Security Council seat nears
- Trudeau, Ford discuss ‘deeply disturbing’ Canadian Forces report on Ontario long-term care facilities
- Quebec ombudswoman to investigate high number of COVID-19 deaths at seniors facilities
- Inspection reports reveal critical gaps inside Quebec nursing homes ravaged by COVID-19
- How systemic failings fuelled outbreak at Hagersville, Ont. care home
- If asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 not done carefully, more issues could arise, experts say
- MPs debate as Liberals, with NDP support, aim to suspend Parliament until Sept. 21
National news
- Saskatchewan reports eighth death from COVID-19
- Nova Scotia records 59th death related to COVID-19 pandemic, and two new cases
- Manitoba premier says cheques will be sent out to low-income disabled persons
- Public health officials report one new case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick
- Ontario reports 287 new COVID-19 cases, 21 more deaths
- Heat wave forces cities to rethink how to offer heat relief under COVID-19
- Military reports 36 cases of COVID-19 in members working in nursing homes
- P.E.I. legislature set to resume for first time since pandemic began
- Toronto to test new distancing measures at Trinity Bellwoods
International News
- Boris Johnson facing scandal after standing by Dominic Cummings in pandemic travel controversy
- WHO executive director warns first wave of coronavirus pandemic not over
- Germany reportedly planning to ease physical distancing measures, lift European travel warning
What is the reopening plan in my province? A guide
3:55 p.m. EDT
Saskatchewan reports eighth death from COVID-19
Health officials say an eighth person has died in Saskatchewan from COVID-19, while another death is under investigation.
The province says the resident was in their 50s and lived in the far north region.
It had no new cases of COVID-19 to report, so the provincial total remains at 634.
Officials say 77 of the cases are active, with all but one in the north and far north.
So far, 549 people have recovered from the virus.
Five are in hospital, with three of those in intensive care.
- Canadian Press
2 p.m. EDT
Nova Scotia records 59th death related to COVID-19 pandemic, and two new cases
Nova Scotia has reported another death related to COVID-19 and two new cases of the viral infection.
Health officials say the province’s death toll has risen to 59 after a woman in her 80s with underlying medical conditions succumbed to the illness.
In a brief statement, the province says the woman was not a resident of a long-term care home.
The province’s worst outbreak has been at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax, where 52 people have died.
As of Tuesday, Nova Scotia had recorded 1,052 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Seven people were being treated in hospital — three of them in intensive care — and 976 have recovered.
- Canadian Press
1 p.m. EDT
Manitoba premier says cheques will be sent out to low-income disabled persons
The Manitoba government is sending out another round of $200 cheques to help people deal with the economic consequences of COVID-19.
Premier Brian Pallister says this time the one-time payments will go to people living with disabilities and who are on social assistance.
Pallister says the money will help cover extra costs, such as food and prescription drug delivery, during the pandemic.
The Progressive Conservative government has already issued $200 cheques to seniors, regardless of income, that were accompanied by a letter signed by the premier.
Pallister says the new cheques, to be mailed in June, will also come with a letter signed by him.
He says it’s not a political move, because the next election is three years away.
- Canadian Press
12:50 p.m. EDT
Public health officials report one new case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick
Public health officials are reporting one new case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick.
The new case is a person over the age of 90 in the Campbellton region in the north of the province.
There have been 122 cases in New Brunswick and 120 of those have recovered.
There are no cases in hospital, and the province has had no COVID-19-related deaths.
Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, says every New Brunswicker must remain vigilant and should limit their contacts to prevent the chance of spreading the virus.
So far, 22,920 tests have been conducted in the province.
- Canadian Press
10:50 a.m. EDT
Ontario reports 287 new COVID-19 cases, 21 more deaths
Ontario is reporting 287 new COVID-19 cases today, and 21 more deaths.
It’s the first time in more than two weeks that the number of new cases has been lower than 300.
The previous five days had seen more than 400 new cases, in a rising trend.
There have now been 26,191 total cases in Ontario, a 1.1 per cent increase over the previous day, which is the lowest growth rate since early March.
Testing levels remain relatively low, with 9,875 tests completed during the previous day, despite a provincial capacity of doing nearly 25,000 per day.
The numbers of people in hospital with COVID-19, in intensive care, and on ventilators all decreased.
- Canadian Press
8:40 a.m. EDT
Heat wave forces cities to rethink how to offer heat relief under COVID-19
A heat wave engulfing large swaths of Ontario and Quebec is forcing cities such as Toronto to rethink how they offer relief in light of restrictions meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Libraries, community centres and pools — spaces where residents can traditionally go to cool down — remain closed due to COVID-19-related health measures as temperatures are expected to soar above 30C for several days.
In Toronto, where hundreds of such spaces were identified as a heat relief network last year, officials say they will open six emergency cooling centres across the city.
They say the centres are meant as a “last resort” for residents who don’t have access to a cool space, adding strict infection prevention and control protocols will be in place.
The city says more spaces will be designated as emergency cooling centres soon as it announces its full, adjusted heat relief strategy.
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for much of southern and eastern Ontario, as well as special weather statements related to heat for parts of the province and most of Quebec.
- The Canadian Press
8:15 a.m. EDT
Military reports 36 cases of COVID-19 in members working in nursing homes
The Canadian Forces say 36 members working in long-term care homes in Ontario and Quebec have now become sick with COVID-19.
That’s up from 28 cases of the novel coronavirus among those troops less than a week ago.
The military has been deployed to nursing homes in the two provinces to reinforce workers overwhelmed by the illness, unable to keep up with residents’ needs because of all the protective measures they need to take, or off work because they’re ill themselves.
Much of their work is tasks such as food service and moving and maintaining equipment, with some medical staff also serving in the homes.
Fourteen of the military members with COVID-19 are in Ontario and 22 of them are in Quebec.
When the Forces started reporting the number of positive cases, they said they’d update the figures every two weeks but have revised that plan to give new numbers every day.
- The Canadian Press
4 a.m. EDT
P.E.I. legislature set to resume for first time since pandemic began
Members of the Prince Edward Island legislature will meet today for the first session of the house since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
They are expected to debate a number of pieces of legislation related to the novel coronavirus.
The Island has had just 27 cases and all have recovered.
Sessions of the legislature are being held in the smaller Coles Building while a major restoration continues in historic Province House, where room was already at a premium.
Desks have been moved apart to allow proper physical distancing and there will be no seating available for media or the public.
The spring session was originally set to begin April 7, but was postponed by the pandemic.
The New Brunswick legislature is also scheduled to sit Tuesday, with legislation that would make vaccinations mandatory for children in schools and daycares expected to be up for debate.
The legislature is scheduled to sit Tuesday to Thursday for four weeks.
- The Canadian Press
3:30 a.m. EDT
Toronto to test new distancing measures at Trinity Bellwoods
Officials in Toronto say they are exploring the idea of painting circles on the grass at city parks to help with physical distancing.
The city says the method, which has had success elsewhere, will be piloted in Trinity Bellwoods.
Thousands of people flocked to the downtown park on Saturday in apparent disregard of measures aimed at slowing the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Canadian Press
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