COVID-19 LOCAL UPDATE

(Updated Monday, June 8th 9:20 am)

The latest stats from the Health Unit, as of Friday afternoon, show 27 of the 29 total COVID-19 cases in the district have been resolved. There has been one death and one person is in hospital. Updates can be found here: https://www.myhealthunit.ca/en/health-topics/coronavirus.asp
 

Stage one of the province’s reopening is underway. Details on stage two are expected to be announced this afternoon. For more information check out ontario.ca/covid-19

The Capitol Centre is closed to visitors. All shows and events through the end of August are either postponed or cancelled, including their annual golf fundraising tournament. The 2020-21 season launch is expected in the fall.

There will be no Mattawa River Canoe Race this year due to COVID-19. The next race is scheduled to be held on July 24, 2021.

Mattawa Voyageur Days is being cancelled this summer because of COVID-19. Officials say afte monitoring the situation they have determined, along with government mandates, it’s no longer safe to move forward with the July festival this year. They will be back for 2021. For now they say the safety and well-being of fans, artists, staff, vendors and everyone in the community is their top priority.

COVID-19 has resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 Northern Football Conference season. Officials say the teams, including the North Bay Bulldogs are planning for a strong comeback in 2021. Clubs may hold football camps and inter team scrimmages later in the summer, if fields become available and intercity travel is deemed safe by the province.

Due to COVID-19 and the importance of physical distancing the city has decided to cancel the events planned for Armed Forces Day on June 10th. Officials say health and safety are paramount to the organizers, so the decision was made to protect the public, volunteers and the Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds, SkyHawks parachute team and the CF-18 Demonstration Team.

Air Canada is extending the suspension of local flights to and from Toronto to the September 7th. Back in March, the service was put on hold until the end of April because of COVID-19, but was then extended another month, and further extended through the summer. The North Bay route is one of 160 impacted at Air Canada.

Officials with North Bay Pride 2020 say this summer’s events have been postponed because of COVID-19. They also say it cannot be the same event they had planned for July 22nd to 25th and they’ll adjust events to meet the needs of the community and protect the health of everyone. Further updates will be made soon.

The North Bay Food Bank says clients can call 705-495-3290 to have food hampers delivered to them. Non-perishable food donation pick-up can be arranged by calling Crystal at 705-474-0626 x2329 or crystal.mcleod@cityofnorthbay.ca

The Near North District School Board has closed all school playgrounds and other amenities, including sports fields and access to school board property until further notice. It all has to do with provincial advice and orders around reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Council for the Municipality of Callander has decided to cancel the annual FunFest event due to COVID-19. The decision was made at a Special Council Meeting last Tuesday. The event was slated to take place on June 27, 2020. The Family Board Games meeting, Arbour Day and Evening of Appreciation, all scheduled to take place in April, have also been cancelled. Callander council also passed a resolution to close all Callander outdoor recreational amenities, following the Province of Ontario’s recent mandate.

The City of North Bay is operating a community hotline for residents looking for information and services on those impacted by COVID-19. Call 705-474-0400 and then press 2. You can also send an email customerservice@cityofnorthbay.ca The Customer Service Centre is operating Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Ontario Northland has suspended the Polar Bear Express passenger train service between Cochrane and Moosonee. Freight service between Cochrane and Moosonee will continue as scheduled.

The city is making  staff available to deliver groceries and other essential items to seniors, people with disabilities and others who may be without someone to assist them.   The service is available from 10 am to 1 pm Monday-Friday and the groceries must be pre-paid.  You’ll need to provide your name, address, phone number and grocery store location  Those in need can contact Crystal at 705-474-0626, ext. 2329, or e mail crystal.Mcleod@cityofnorthbay.ca.

This year’s Northern Ontario Open Country Singing Contest has been cancelled. Officials made the announcement on their website www.thenorthernopen.com saying “with heavy heart and with the safety of the public” the board has decided to CANCEL the 2020 event. Refunds are being sent out. The event was planned for July 31st to August 2nd.

The local Student Nutrition Program is now offering food to children, youth and families. Officials say with schools closed and children and youth still hungry, they want to meet the needs of the community in these uncertain times. Register by emailing studentnutrition@communityliving.org

Officials with the Kiwanis North Bay Triathlon say given current health concerns, and out of an abundance of caution, this summer’s Triathlon has been cancelled. They will be contacting everyone who registered over the next week or so for refunds or a credit towards next year, if interested.

Hands The Family Help Network has changed the way it serves clients, moving the majority of its services to online and telephone support and that includes counselling services and walk-in clinics. All of the offices are closed. Check out thefamilyhelpnetwork.ca for information on contacts for their programs and services.

The city is asking residents to bag all garbage before placing it in your trash bins on garbage day. Officials say the request is being made for the safety of those collecting the garbage. They say it means no loose garbage should be placed in the bins. Officials are also asking anyone with symptoms to hang onto their recyclables.

Meantime, a list of resources and a hot line for local businesses to call has been put together by the city. The hot line will be answered by a staff representative Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The hotline number is 705-474-0626 x 2417, or email invest@investinnorthbay.ca.

United Way Centraide North East Ontario has established a Community Response Fund during the COVID-19 crisis. The fund will provide emergency grants to local charitable organizations working to meet the basic needs of individuals disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Donations to the Community Response Fund can be made at uwcneo.com

The North Bay Regional Health Centre and the foundation are asking for the public to donate personal protective equipment supplies. Needed are gowns, gloves, masks and eye protection in high quantities. Items can be dropped off at the receiving department of the hospital from 7 am to 3 pm daily.

The North Bay & District Trappers AAA Hockey Association is suspending all operations until further notice. This will include tryouts for the coming season, coaching announcements, the Annual General Meeting. It says once the NOHA and Hockey Canada has approved the return to regular hockey operations the NBDTHA will begin to plan for the 2020/21 season.

The Ontario Hockey League has announced the cancellation of the 2020 playoffs while the CHL also announced the cancellation of the 2020 Memorial Cup. Both the J. Ross Roberton Cup and the Memorial Cup will not be awarded this season. Officials say they continue to monitor the public health developments around COVID-19, but given the troubling state of our global climate and public welfare, they say there is still too much risk and uncertainty to move forward in good conscience. Meantime, the North Bay Battalion will pick first overall in the OHL Priority Selection in early April. The Troops finished with 38 points and will have the first selection in the April 4th draft.

TP North Bay cancelled their May Campaign, due to the Covid-19 virus. They’re looking at hold the campaign in September.

The North Bay and Area Community Foundation and Rotary Club of North Bay have launched a combined effort called the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. The goal is to support local organizations and projects in the areas of healthcare and food security. For information go to www.nbacf.ca/covid-19-emergency-relief-fund/

22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay is limiting access to only those personnel required for essential services, families living on the base and contractors.
The following services are closed to the public: The Ayr Mess, the Wing Chapel, the CANEX and the Subway restaurant. The following services are closed to all including military members and dependents: 22 Wing Fitness & Wellness Centre, Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defense, North Bay Military Family Resource Centre and Little Wings Childcare Centre.

All North Bay YMCA services are closed including the Health, Fitness & Aquatics Centres. On the weekend, the YMCA cancelled all land-based programming like group fitness classes, gymnastics and youth programming along with swimming classes. They also announced all of their child care centre are closed and March Break camps are cancelled.

The 22 Wing Fitness and Wellness Centre has reduced services and is now closed to the public. The facility is only open to the Military and members. Their Facebook page says swimming lessons, public swims, group fitness classes, movies and March Break camps are cancelled.

The Rotary Club of North Bay has announced ‘Kevin’s Longest Morning’ fundraiser for Rotary4Kids on KiSS 100.5 is being postponed.  The event was scheduled to take place March 26th and 27th at Canadian Tire on McKeown Avenue.  Officials say the move is being made as a result of the escalating threat posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and with a concern for the well-being of the radio team, families and Rotary volunteers.  A rescheduled date has yet to be determined.  Donations can still be made online at anytime, at www.rotary4kids.ca

The Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste Marie Roman Catholic Church has announced that, until further notice, all Masses, weekday and weekends, as well as Sunday liturgies of the Word are cancelled. Churches remain accessible for personal visits during usual mass times.

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League has cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 season. This includes the rest of the NOJHL playoffs, the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Region event and the Centennial Cup, Canadian National Jr. A Championship.

Ontario Soccer says all sanctioned soccer activities in the province are being suspended until further notice, because of the Coronavirus outbreak. This after discussions with the national governing body, input from relevant government agencies and medical experts. It affects all Ontario Soccer sanctioned activities including competitions, training, coach and match official education and team building activities.

CORONAVIRUS NATIONAL UPDATE

The latest on the coronavirus will be posted on this page every day: https://www.680news.com/2020/03/10/coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know-today/ <