From the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, to Ontario’s COVD-19 reopening roadmap, here is what we saw in the news this week.
Tokyo Olympics set to take place despite growing COVID-19 cases
Despite pushback due to surging cases of COVID-19 in Asia, this year’s Olympic Games are set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from July 23 to August 8 after being postponed for a year.
According to Global News, over 80 per cent of the Japanese population is against the Games being held this year due to a “jump in infections” and limited hospital capacity, prompting online petitions with more than 350,000 signatures, open letters to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and calls for cancellation from Japanese newspapers.
Infection Control Epidemiologist Colin Furness told Global News, “I think the worst thing you could possibly do during a global pandemic is get a whole bunch of people from all over the world to travel to one place, mix in close quarters and then go back again.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has assured that there will be health safety precautions taken during the Games. Namely, there will be no foreign spectators allowed, and athletes will be tested for COVID-19 daily and be required to wear a mask at all times except when training, competing, or attending interviews.
As a result, IOC Vice President John Coates said in a separate article the Olympics will “absolutely” take place even if Tokyo is under a state of emergency. He stated that over 80 per cent of Olympic Village residents would be vaccinated and that additional medical staff would be present during the Games.
However, these precautions “fail to distinguish risk levels faced by athletes or the limitations of temperature screenings and face coverings,” reported CTV News, and epidemiology professionals such as Michael Baker suggest that this year’s Olympics is “definitely not going to [be] a COVID-19 free event” with only the current measures in place.
Prime Minister Suga recently announced an extension to Japan’s current state of emergency in Tokyo and eight other metropolitan areas that would see safety measures in place until June 20.
The murder of George Floyd: One year later
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, sparking worldwide protests against police brutality and anti-Black racism.
A year later, a “Celebration of Life” was reportedly held in honour of Floyd in Minneapolis at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, otherwise known as George Floyd Square. The festival hosted musical talent, food trucks, an inflatable bouncy castle, and a vaccination stand. Art and signs from protests were on display, and an open mic was held, prompting panel discussions on racial discrimination.
Miles away at the intersection where Floyd died, dozens reportedly knelt in silence by a sculpture of a steel fist, a symbol representing the Black Lives Matter movement. Family members of Floyd also attended, and a candlelight vigil was later held in honour of Floyd.
However, approximately 30 gunshots erupted near the intersection before festivities began, damaging local property and injuring at least one bystander. No arrests have been made as of this time.
Family members of Floyd who did not attend festivities in Minneapolis instead visited Washington to meet with United States President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to advocate for legal changes to policing.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Biden had urged congress “to pass legislation aimed at overhauling the policing system by the first anniversary of Floyd’s death.” However, he has still yet to sign any bills at this time.
CTV News reports that Canada has made “little progress” in defunding the police and redistributing funding to other community supports, though some cities have taken alternative measures to hold police accountable.
For example, in April it was announced that Edmonton city administration will “work with police to review and develop a strategy for implementing recommendations from the city’s Community Safety and Well-Being Task Force,” following a unanimous vote in favour by council.
On Facebook, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take action against systemic racism in Canada.
Guelph Transit route changes and university pass to be implemented in 2022, awaiting feedback and negotiations
Starting in 2022, the City of Guelph plans to implement a full operational route review of its transit system, inviting community members to provide feedback on the proposed alterations.
The review was approved by the City Council in 2019 and was informed by data collection including ridership and stop activity data, and on-time performance.
Currently, Guelph Transit operations require that riders must often transfer between buses at a “central hub,” but with the proposed review, routes will follow a “grid-like system with direct routes” which will include transit hubs, express routes, and routes that run along the city’s “spine” as well as its outer perimeter.
According to the City of Guelph, the reviewed transit system will provide “a more competitive, convenient, and reliable transit system” which will “[improve] connectivity to the whole transportation system.”
The implementation plan will take place over 10 years and will include changes such as the addition, discontinuation, and splitting of various routes. These changes will result in a 30 per cent increase in service and a 40 per cent increase in the number of stops.
Further, Guelph Transit is also negotiating the return of the universal bus pass at the University of Guelph with the Central Student Association (CSA).
Due to the pandemic, remote-learning, and lack of students on campus, the CSA chose to opt-out of the pass for fall 2020 and winter 2021. However, if the university holds an in-person fall 2021 semester — which they are currently planning for — students could expect access to the pass by January.
The proposed changes to the transit system are part of the Guelph Transit Business Service Review and can be viewed online on the City of Guelph website. Guelph Transit members are urging Guelph residents to provide feedback on the proposed system.
To provide feedback, a survey can be taken online at haveyoursay.guelph.ca. Alternatively, community members can also email transit@guelph.ca, call 519-822-1811, or attend a virtual town hall meeting. Information on how to attend town hall can be found here.
The survey closes on June 20, and City Council approval of the proposed route changes is expected to follow.
Ontario’s reopening set to begin in June, doing away with colour-coded COVID-19 response framework
On May 20, the Ontario government consulted with the chief medical officer of health and released a three-step roadmap to safely reopen the province once the emergency brake restrictions are lifted.
Each step will remain in place for at least 21 days as the government uses vaccinated population numbers and public health indicators to evaluate whether it is safe to proceed to the next step.
Premier Doug Ford claims the roadmap is influenced by the “steady improvement” of ICU and hospital numbers as well as the successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
As a result, outdoor amenities have already been allowed to reopen with restrictions as of May 22, though publicly-funded and private elementary and secondary schools will continue under teacher-led remote learning. Further, Ontario will not be returning to the colour-coded COVID-19 response framework once the reopening process begins, according to Global News.
Step one of the roadmap, estimated to begin the week of June 14, 2021, includes resuming low-risk outdoor activities and some retail services with restrictions. At least 70 per cent of adults must be vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses to proceed.
Step two will expand outdoor and indoor activities with fewer restrictions, but still require face masks to be worn. To proceed to step three, 70 to 80 per cent of adults must be vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent must be vaccinated with two doses.
For step three, indoor settings will be expanded with fewer restrictions including where there are large amounts of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Nicola Mercer said in a news release from WDG Public Health that the community has made “great progress,” and urges residents to continue following health measures as the province reopens.
When enough of the local population is vaccinated, Mercer says a “summer of seeing friends and family in outdoor settings … [will be] within our grasp.”
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