Monday, January 18, 2021.

A crazy COVID week in Niagara

Local

The Niagara region had a rollercoaster ride this week when it came to the COVID-19 pandemic and all that surrounds it. Emotions went from frustration to jubilation to disappointment and even anger.

The feeling of frustration could be felt throughout Niagara from public health officials to frontline healthcare workers to politicians and regular taxpaying citizens as residents watched the daily COVID-19 case numbers climb well into the hundreds with constant reporting from public health of more citizens dying due to the virus. Yesterday’s numbers were 136 new cases with 1,538 active cases across the region.

Niagara now has the dubious distinction of being ranked in the top five of public health units with the highest weekly cases per 100,000 ahead of Toronto and behind only Windsor, Lambton and Peel.

Gale continues to probe procurement at Region

Local

It may be a new year but that isn’t stopping Niagara Falls Regional Councillor Bob Gale from continuing his laser focus into Niagara Region’s procurement regime.

Unleashing Ontario’s auto sector

Business

It’s been a banner season for Ontario’s auto industry and its workers.

Time for some tough love

Opinion

This week marked nine months since Ontario and Canada began shutting down in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lockdown!

Provincial

The best that can be said about this week’s “stay at home” order and the invocation of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act by the Ontario government is that it could have been worse.

Canada’s immigration about to increase to record level

National

Canada will welcome a record number of immigrants in 2021 – perhaps the largest number in our country’s history.

TNI Weekly News Roundup

Weekly Roundup

The weekly news roundup is out, have a read.

League Standings

Niagara is ready for arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine

Local

Niagara residents have been waiting for the arrival of the vaccine. That wait is supposed to end today.

Billed by Niagara Health and Niagara Public Health as a “turning point in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Niagara” the Pfizer vaccine will be administered shortly after arrival. “We expect delivery of the Pfizer vaccine in Niagara on Tuesday or Wednesday, and we are prepared to get doses into arms as soon as the shipment arrives,” said Niagara health officials in a statement released yesterday.

Niagara Health (NH) and Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services (NRPH&ES) have been working together on the region’s vaccination plan, starting with priority populations identified by the Ontario government for Phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccinations.

YMCA Niagara Falls not financially fit to stay open

Local

It’s no secret that YMCAs have struggled to adapt their business model in order to compete with the numerous fitness clubs that pop up on a regular basis in cities and towns across the country.