Jukasa News Update – Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Health officials in Brant County are warning residents after a mosquito pool tested positive for West Nile virus in the village of St.George.
This is the first West Nile positive pool in the region.
The West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans after mosquitos feed on the blood of birds carrying the virus. While most people do not become sick, it can cause severe illness in people with underlying conditions.
Six Nations is reporting a spike in local COVID-19 cases with 10 new infections reported and 1 person in hospital. A boom of 65 people are now in isolation. No word from Ohsweken Public Health if any of the cases are the highly contagious and more serious Delta variant — however data shows that variant now makes up about 90% of cases in North America.
The sudden spike in local cases puts Six Nations with one of the highest case counts per 100,000 in the province.
An education advocacy group has asked Ontario to add COVID-19 vaccinations to the list of immunizations required to attend school in the province.
Annie Kidder, executive director of People for Education, wrote to Education Minister Stephen Lecce with the request on Sunday.
She said that it’s “vital” to require COVID-19 shots for eligible students as fewer than 70 per cent of those aged 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated, with school set to begin in two weeks.
Her letter suggested that COVID-19 be added to the list of diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, which covers other conditions including polio, measles, mumps and whooping cough.
She said her organization also agrees with demands to make COVID-19 shots mandatory for school staff, and calls for provincial proof-of-vaccination certificates.
One of the top epidemiologists from Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table has resigned.
Dr. David Fisman submitted his resignation, saying he was uncomfortable with the way provincial politics are influencing the data that is being released to the public.
His resignation comes just two days after he posted to Twitter that new data projections show a “grim fall” season ahead for COVID infections, and claims the province is not releasing that data.
The last data released by the province was put out in June and predicted a Delta variant driven fourth wave was unlikely in Ontario.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath says Premier Doug Ford immediately needs to address the situation and speak to why updated COVID modelling is being ignored.
- Previous Jukasa News Update – Monday, August 23, 2021
- Next Jukasa News Update – Wednesday, August 25, 2021
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