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GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, OTTAWA

So it has come to this already: when do we reopen the world?

In Gatineau, the Province is allowing elementary schools and daycares to reopen May 11 but high schools and post-secondary will remain closed until late August.

In Ontario, the Province has created a document that outlines the stages. [PDF]

Paraphrased, it‘s:

  1. Stage One
    Opening select workplaces that can meet public health guidance (e.g., curbside pick-up or delivery). Open some outdoor spaces like parks and allow for a greater number of individuals to attend some events, such as funerals.
     
  2. Stage Two
    Based on risk assessments, some service industries, and additional office and retail workplaces, more outdoor spaces and allowing some larger public gatherings.
     
  3. Stage Three
    Opening all workplaces responsibly. Further relaxing the restrictions on public gatherings. Large public gatherings such as concerts and sporting events will continue to be restricted for the foreseeable future.

What is lacking in this roadmap are specific dates, which is as it should be.

Premier Doug Ford has said that stage one won't be implemented until COVID-19 cases consistently go down over two weeks, and all contact testing can be done within 24 hours, which is not the case right now.

So when do we reopen the world? Unless we remain at home and physical distance when outside, we won’t get a date anytime soon.

We’ll see you tomorrow — Martha and Darren

 

STATS

Weather: Sunny, high of 14°

Number: 50. The per centage of restaurants that may not reopen again. One Ottawa restauranteur says that prices will rise as diners must bear the true cost of food when they reopen [Ottawa Citizen]

Ottawan of the Day:  Diana Dwerryhouse, who discusses living with diabetes under threat of the Coronavirus  [Capital Current]

Quote: “The sidewalk [is] 1.8m, maybe 2m in some cases–so absolutely not adequate for several people being able to pass. Even two people passing each other, if you’re walking up from behind someone and pass them, that’s a slow pass” – Councillor Catherine McKenney pointing out that the City is not prioritising pedestrians and forcing people into the street to social distance  [Centretown Buzz]

 

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

There have been 1,154 confirmed cases of COVID‌-19 in Ottawa, an increase of 44 since yesterday, and 59 deaths, an increase of 7.

As COVID-19 is shown to be affecting Black Americans particulary hard, Councillor Rawlson King wants Ottawa to start collecting race-based data [CBC]

Ottawa Public Health says outbreaks in care homes are driving new cases [CBC]

+ Related Nora Leto's Canada COVID-19 List which shows that 83% of deaths are from long-term care, retirement, prison, adult living or rehab centre

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam discussed what went right and wrong with Canada's response [CBC]

Tell us about PPE supply, say doctors [CBC]

Family told relative died of pneumonia, later inforned it was COVID-19 [Ottawa Citizen]

Ontario’s Patient Ombudsman wants to hear about long-term care experiences [Ottawa Citzen]

10,000 businesses apply for Federal wage subsidy in the first 24 hours [Toronto Star]

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IN OTHER NEWS

Today is the National Day of Mourning for for persons killed or injured in the workplace
Flags on Federal, Provincial, and Civic buildings will be flown at half-mast until sundown.Over 1,000 people die in Canada due to workplace injuries but it is felt that this is underreported and the real number is ten times larger. [CBC]

$40,000 in mushrooms destroyed by Osgoode farm because of lack of markets
Cross country, over 200,000,000 pounds of potatoes, much of it french fries, are frozen in place. [The IFP]

Pedestrian walk buttons won't change because City staff believe that drivers will complain
Councillor Shawn Menard asked staff to investigate changing pedestrian walk signals to always be on if an intersection was requested by a Councillor. Staff rejected the idea as not driver friendly.  [Centretown Buzz]

Mayor Jim Watson says Farmers Markets can reopen this summer
Exact dates to be determined [CBC]

Carleton not reducing tuition despite calls from students
‘We're still supplying most stuff, so pay up’–Carleton [CBC]

People on Federal Disability received a maximum of $1387 per month
Why is $2000 considered a reasonable amount for idled workers but not disabled people, asks Ottawa prof [Ottawa Citizen]

K9 finds suspect hiding under deck
He was suspected of breaking into a shed in Tanglewood. The man, not the dog.  [Ottawa Citizen]

Mounties want new tools to mine individuals' internet use
We know they know how to use Twitter, at least [Toronto Star]

Cop accused of planning ATM heist
He is one of the OPS officers accused of taking kick-backs from towing companies [Ottawa Citizen]

LRT contractors may stop work citing ‘force majeure’
And should the City force them to work at all if they don't feel safe? [Ottawa Citizen]

 

LIVESTREAM

? 8 pm  Open Mic by The Elgin live on Instagram. Free to watch, DM to participate (early!)  [Facebook Events]

 

GET ORGANIZED FOR MOTHER’S DAY (MAY 10)

Wow! ottawan readers love their mums or have a lot of unresolved guilt! We haven't had such great click-through on the Things To Do section before. 

So here are some more gift ideas, all sourced in Ottawa:

?For the sewing Mum, Canadian fabric shop Mulberry & MacNab has all the supplies she’ll need to create exclusive clothing, from chambray to Tencel. They’ve got gift cards, too. [Mulberry & MacNab]

? Ottawa doughnut specialists SuzyQ mini doughnuts are available around town, for example, as an add-on to your Uber Eats order from Flapjack’s Canadian Diner, or you could give her a gift certificate to buy the doughnuts of her dreams once the lockdown is done. [SuziQ]

?️ If none of the above grabs you, Hintonburg’s Flamingo Boutique covers all the bases with Canadian-made soy candles, gift baskets in a multitude of themes, comfy loungewear, and more. Free shipping on orders over $49 or free contactless store pick up  [Flamingo Boutique] 

Cut us and we bleed Ottawa. Reply back to us with your comments or suggestions. We read every single email. hello@theottawan.com