March 17, 2020

March 17th is the 77th day of the year. There are 289 days remaining until the end of the year.

The Government of Canada is asking all Canadians currently returning from any travel abroad to self-isolate for 14 days.

The request has been issued in order to help limit the spread of COVID-19, which is transmittable even by some people who are not experiencing any symptoms.

Expectations for returning travellers and others who are self-isolating include:

• Staying home from work and school
• Avoiding public transportation
• Arranging to have supplies such as groceries dropped off at their doors
• Especially avoiding elderly people and anyone with compromised immune systems or chronic conditions
• Keeping any unavoidable interactions with other people brief, maintaining at least two metres’ distance from them and wearing a mask

SCAM ALERT: There is no door-to-door COVID-19 testing being done in our community.

Should you receive a similar call, please do not provide them with any personal or medical information.

If someone attends your home, please do not let them in. Ask them to leave and call police.

Galen Weston of Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart released a statement assuring that they will remain open, and that the food chain is in a good position. Prices will not be raised. He’s asking customers to practice social distancing. Some stores are offering dedicated hours for seniors and those living with disabilities to shop before the crowds. Online ordering and pick up has spiked, and they are ramping up their systems.

Cineplex will close theatres until April 2nd.

Tim Horton’s and McDonald’s have closed their dining rooms. Drive thru’s remain open. Other fast food restaurants are following suit.

Amazon is warning people that deliveries are going to be delayed and items like toilet paper and hand sanitizer will frequently be out of stock. But they’re also planning to hire 100,000 new workers and raise pay to handle the surge in demand.

NASCAR postpones all races through May 3rd.

The Kentucky Derby has been postponed until September.

The UFC has canceled the next several weekends of live events, but Wrestlemania 36 is still a go for April 5th, but there will be no fans.

The NFL plans to televise their draft on April 23rd through the 25th in Las Vegas. No fans will be allowed at the draft.

Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium had to shut down. So the zookeepers have been letting some of the penguins walk around and see the other animals.

This is what we need right now.

Some of the penguins went on a field trip to meet other animals at Shedd. Wellington seemed most interested in the fishes in Amazon Rising! The black-barred silver dollars also seemed interested in their unusual visitor. pic.twitter.com/KgYWsp5VQD

— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 15, 2020

It’s St. Patrick’s Day!

The Irish national holiday began as a ‘solemn religious observance’ to honor St Patrick (389-461 AD), patron saint of Ireland. It’s a public holiday in Ireland, Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Some facts …

• It’s been an Irish holiday for 1,500 years.
• The world’s largest St Patrick’s Parade is in NYC where over a million spectators and 100,000 participants take part (but not this year) A tradition since 1762, the 2-mile parade lasts about 6 hours.
• It was first celebrated in Canada in 1765 in Québec City QC.
• Since 1965, the Chicago River has been dyed green for the “Chicago St Patrick’s Parade”, an idea conceived when a plumber was observed using green dye to trace leaks from a building.
• Green is associated with St Patrick’s Day because it’s the color of Spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.
• Ireland is closing all of its pubs on St Patrick’s Day because of the coronavirus. People are being urged to celebrate the day by drinking at home alone.

Categorised in: 5 Things You Need To Know

This post was written by Chris McLeod