Former bar destroyed

A one-time favourite watering hole in Dalhousie Station, Chez Paul later known as the Pit Stop, was destroyed by fire Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the flames that consumed the recently renovated residence.

Stéphane Brunet photo

The number of active cases in the region served by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit has risen by 39 since Tuesday, bringing the total to 260. 

The biggest spike was reported in Cornwall, where 31 new cases have been recorded between December 8 and 9, according to the health unit.

Eight patients have been hospitalized. None is intensive care.

Plus, resilience, letters, accolades

The News of December 2 also has letters, sports and good causes.

A case of COVID-19 has been detected Tagwi Secondary School in Avonmore.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is working closely with the school and is actively communicating with all individuals who have been identified as possible close contacts through high-risk exposures, says the Upper Canada District School Board. Both the school and health unit are taking all necessary steps to prevent the further spread of the virus in the school and in the community. 

No change to the school schedule or daily operations are required.

The driver of this tractor was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the tractor flipped when it collided with a truck on Concession 8 near Green Valley earlier today

A huge loss, food and toy campaign, we're Yellow again

A fire has destroyed a building at the XL Wood Products plant south of Green Valley. Firefighters are battling the blaze which began at around 4 p.m.

The Eastern Ontario Heath Unit region is now "Orange restrict" under the Ontario government's COVID-19 response framework, after being labelled "Yellow-protect" last week.

The designation, meaning that stricter measures will be implemented in our region, was changed despite a decrease in active cases in the EOHU jurisdiction.

"These adjustments are necessary to respond to the latest evidence we're seeing and we are prepared to make further adjustments as the health experts continue to review the current public health restrictions. We must do whatever it takes to stop our hospitals from being overwhelmed and protect our most vulnerable," said Premier Doug Ford.

The latest modelling shows that if the number of new cases continues to grow at its current rate, the province could register up to 6,500 new cases per day by mid-December. Within the next two weeks the province will likely exceed its intensive care threshold of 150 beds, under any potential scenario.

The framework changes are in response to the current data and trends, and will lower the threshold for each of the five levels for: weekly incidence rates, positivity rate, effective reproductive number (Rt), outbreak trends and the level of community transmission.

Here is a summary of guidelines for the Orange zone.

General public health measures (gatherings, workplace requirements and face coverings)

• Events and social gatherings
  • 10 people indoors
  • 25 people outdoors
• Organized public events and gatherings:
  • 50 people indoors
  • 100 people outdoors
• Religious services, weddings and funerals:
  • 30% capacity indoors
  • 100 people outdoors
• Requirement for workplace screening
• Face coverings required in:
  • indoor workplaces
  • indoor public spaces, with limited exemptions
• Where patrons without face coverings are within two metres of workers, workers must use additional protections such as eye protection
• Workplaces must develop and implement a communication/public education plan (highlighting risk)
• Physical distancing must be maintained
• Non-essential travel from areas of high-transmission to areas of low transmission should be avoided

There are some encouraging numbers on the COVID-19 front.

The number of active cases in the region served by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit dropped by 17, to 152, between Thursday and Friday.

There are now 15 active cases in Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, a drop of two cases since yesterday.

Cornwall has 54, six less than Thursday, while Prescott-Russell has 74, nine less than yesterday, and the northern portion of Akwesasne has nine cases, unchanged from Thursday.

In The News of November 11, we meet a war veteran, chronicle the ordeal faced by a Nazi work camp survivor, recount the memories of a proud family, update the COVID-19 pandemic, and serve up a wide range of views.

Two people were seriously injured, and a horse killed, when a truck struck a horse-pulled buggy on Fairview Driver in Avonmore shortly after 4 p.m. November 4.

A passenger vehicle was travelling westbound on Fairview Drive when, for reasons under investigation, struck a buggy being pulled by two horses.

Two passengers on the buggy were taken to hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries. The two horses suffered serious injuries in the collision; one has died, reports the Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry Ontario Provincial Police detachment.

The News of November 4 has fire, warnings, a COVID-19 update, a look back at The Great War, and much more.

The westbound 401 near Summerstown is now open.

Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Ontario Provincial Police officers are investigating  a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 401, between Summerstown and McConnell Avenue exit, in South Glengarry Township.

Shortly before 6 a.m., multiple tractor trailers left the roadway and entered the median westbound on Highway 401. Two passenger vehicles also left the roadway in the same area.  

There are no reported injuries.

SD&G OPP, assisted by local tow companies continue to process the scene to remove vehicles.

Highway 401 is closed to westbound traffic with indicated detours in place. Re-opening time unknown.

The number of people at the Prescott-Russell Residence in Hawkesbury to die from COVID-19 has increased to nine.

There were at last report, 72 active cases, including 45 residents and 27 employees.

To date, 21 people in the region served by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit have died due to the coronavirus.

There are currently 203 active cases in the region; eight patients are hospitalized; two are in intensive care.

The number of COVID-19-related deaths at the Prescott-Russell Residence in Hawkesbury has increased to seven, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell confirmed October 29.

There are now 72 active cases, including 45 residents and 27 employees.