From Ontario’s stay-at-home order being extended, to celebrating Asian Heritage Month, here is what we saw in the news this week.
Stay-at-home order extended until June 2
Due to the spread of more contagious variants of COVID-19, the Ontario government has extended the stay-at-home order until at least June 2 and will also be continuing to enforce measures related to the provincewide emergency brake.
The decision was made in consultation with the chief medical officer of health, and during the extension the provincial government hopes to administer Pfizer vaccines to the remainder of the unvaccinated population including youths between the ages of 12 and 17.
With a decrease of 14.8 per cent in provincial cases from May 2 to 8, public health and safety measures have contributed to mitigating the consequences of a third COVID-19 wave. However, a news release from the Ontario government claims there are “key indicators” that suggest more time should be given to further control the pandemic.
Key indicators from May 3 to 9 included high case rates of 134.9 cases per 100,000 people, a positivity percentage above the “high alert threshold” of 2.5 per cent, and heightened hospitalization and ICU admissions.
The provincial government will continue to monitor the impacts of its public health and safety measures as well as COVID-19 trends, and it will discuss the reopening of outdoor recreational amenities with health officials on June 2 with consideration of these factors.
The release states that youths can expect to book an appointment for their first dose as of May 31, and public health units as well as the Children’s COVID-19 Vaccine Table will support and inform this rollout.
Ontario pauses AstraZeneca vaccine rollout
Following a growing rate of uncommon yet deadly blood clots, Ontario has paused the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
According to a May 13 news release from the Ontario government, “the decision was made out of an abundance of caution.” A number of AstraZeneca vaccine recipients have developed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), a blood clotting condition.
Up until May 8, the rate of VITT occurrence was recorded at 0.9 out of 100,000 doses. However, the rate has increased to 1.7 out of 100,000 doses in only the last few days. Data from the United Kingdom also suggests that VITT is more common with the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine than the second.
According to Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, the decision to postpone AstraZeneca administration was also influenced by the successful rollout and increased supply of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which are not mentioned in relation to any cases of VITT in the release.
As of yet, the province maintains that those who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine “did absolutely the right thing to prevent illness, and to protect their families, loved ones and communities,” and states in the release that the risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization in Ontario is much greater than that of VITT.
According to CBC News, in addition to 50,000 doses of the vaccine currently left in the province, the Ontario government is set to receive more than 250,000 doses next week, and is now reviewing data and considering whether to use the vaccines for second doses for those who have already received their first. It has also consulted Health Canada and the National Advisory Committee of Immunization regarding the interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, and is waiting on guidance.
“The health and safety of Ontarians remains our top priority,” said Williams in the release. “Ontarians are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. The right thing to do to protect yourself and those around you is to get vaccinated with the vaccine you were eligible to receive.”
Agri-food innovations to be pitched at the Gryphon’s LAAIR
Back with an all-new interactive virtual setting, the University of Guelph’s agri-food pitch contest invites community members to participate and vote in the Gryphon’s LAAIR.
According to a U of G news release, the Leading to the Accelerated Adoption of Innovative Research (LAAIR) contest is welcoming a new selection of innovators who will present their agri-food products, services, or ideas to a panel of industry judges for the chance to win up to $10,000 for marketing and development.
Unlike years before, contestants will be sending their pitches ahead of time via a five-minute video for judges and audience members to review. One video pitch will be released every day of the week until 5 p.m. on May 15 when community members will vote for their preferred recipient for the people’s choice award of $2,500.
The host for this year’s contest will be Dan Clapson, Eat North founder and Globe and Mail columnist, and judges will select the winner of the $10,000 while all other contestants will receive $1,500 each.
LAAIR’s 2020 winner was Harvest Genomics, a genetic testing and analysis company for growers. This local business has since seen inquiries from Mexico, South America, and Europe.
“This competition showcases the incredibly innovative people and start-ups that have come from the University and helps them scale up by encouraging partnerships with industry, government, investors and others,” said New Venture Creation Director Dana McCauley in the release.
“As Ontario emerges from the pandemic, it is even more important to encourage these globally relevant concepts and bolster the provincial economy.”
This year’s contestants include:
- Astra Redex Inc., which is building portable sanitation systems that can disinfect everything from phones to fruit to reusable plastic containers.
- BioFerm Functional Foods Inc., which creates nutrient-packed, dry baking mixes for breads, cakes, and other products.
- DigiTrack Systems Inc., which is developing cloud-based software for food and agricultural product recalls that will connect manufacturers, distributors, and merchants.
- Guelph Petrographic Imaging, which offers industries new technology to understand and quantify geological properties.
- Obi Veterinary Education Inc., which is a comprehensive, online continuing education community for veterinary professionals.
Voting will end at 12 p.m. on May 19, and the finale goes live at 1 p.m. that day to announce the winners.
Tickets to attend are free, and registration for the event is done online at eventbrite.ca.
Celebrating Asian Heritage Month this May
As prejudice and violence make themselves known during these times of uncertainty, it remains crucial to not only acknowledge but also respect Canada’s diverse population. Asian Heritage Month marks an opportunity for learning and inclusion this May.
This year’s theme is “Recognition, Resilience, and Resolve,” and calls “all Canadians to come together to combat all forms of anti-Asian racism and discrimination,” according to the Government of Canada website.
Locally, efforts are already being made by Dr. Elaine Chang, who works in U of G’s School of English and Theatre Studies.
Chang delves into the ways film simultaneously explores many cultures and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes.
With a specialty in anti-colonial and Asian North American cultural studies, Chang edited Reel Asian: Asian Canada on Screen and studies the effects of stereotypical Asian representation in film.
“Images have a way of finding reference in the real world, even if they are tremendously phony, exaggerated and caricatured,” said Chang in a U of G news release.
“A lot of Asian-Canadian kids who, like me, were bullied on the basis of our race, were often confronted with the mimicking of thick accents or slanted eye gestures that were part of the popular culture … We learn to absorb the insults and it takes the form of a kind of internal racism or self-hatred.”
Anti-Asian prejudice has always existed, but during the pandemic racial violence and racist sentiments against East and Southeast Asians have been on the rise in Canada. The catalyst lies in the circulation of racist terminology such as the ‘China flu,’ which former U.S. President Donald Trump would use, said Chang.
To participate in Asian Heritage Month 2021, check out related events such as:
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