New Headlines – 26,March,2021
Several airlines, including Air Canada, have started offering refunds to travelers for their canceled flights. Sandeep Brar, from All Link Travels and Tours, said that a dull response (or no response) about refunds from Air India and Alitalia is very disappointing. Mr. Brar also advised people to avoid cash air ticket purchases. He added that travelers should not hesitate to buy sufficient insurance coverage for their foreign trip so that they are covered for costs in any emergency situation.
-Payments to the parents through the ‘Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit’ will begin today. The Parents are entitled to a payment of $400 per child, and $500 for any child and youth up to age 21 with special needs. The government is automatically providing this round of payments to recipients who received Support for Learners payments, and money will begin to be transferred on April 26th. Parents who have not received their payments by May 10 should contact the call centre for further information at 1888 444 377
-The parents, who did not apply for the Support for Learners program, can apply for the new funding from May 3 to May 17, 2021. Applications will be available here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-ontario-covid-19-child-benefit
-Five international flights landed at Toronto Pearson Airport from abroad between April 19 and 22 that have at least one or more COVID-19 positive travelers. 2 passengers arrived in (AI 187) Delhi to Toronto flight who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 19, 20, 21, and 22. Air Canada (AC 43 and AC 45) carried positive passengers from Delhi to Toronto and Delhi to Vancouver on April 19 and April 21. Pakistan International Airlines’s (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Toronto were also adding positive cases on April 20. Air India’s Delhi to Vancouver flight (AI 185) had one positive case on April 19.
-Canada’s temporary 30-day ban on flights from India and Pakistan went into effect on April 22, 2021.
-Toronto and Peel (Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon) are still hotspots of COVID-19 in Ontario. The 3rd wave is proving to be a rapid spread of COVID-variants. Toronto crossed a terrible mark of 3000 COVID-19 deaths during the weekend. Peel has lost at least 688 lives during the past 13 months of the pandemic.
-Brampton’s total COVID-death number is at 274, including a 13-year-old girl, Emily Viegas, who died with coronavirus and pneumonia in the hospital. There are still at least 3385 active patients in the city.
-Effective May 1 and May 8, two community COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Peel will remain open for additional hours each day, resulting in an increase of 750 appointments per day. As of May 1, the Save Max Sports Centre (Soccer Centre) clinic location in Brampton will open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. This location had previously been open from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. As of May 8, Paramount Fine Foods Centre in the Mississauga location will open from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
-There is reportedly constant high demand for vaccination appointments from the residents in Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon. Appointment availability depends on the vaccine supply, which is expected to increase from next week.
-The vaccination clinic in Caledon will get an expansion in early May, allowing for an increase of 650 appointments per day at the Caledon East Community Complex.
-Currently, there are a total of 11 community vaccination sites operational throughout Caledon, Brampton, and Mississauga, in partnership with William Osler Health Services and Trillium Health Partners. 144 pharmacies are offering vaccinations for adults over 40 in these cities.
-Canada’s national committee of immunization revised, once again, on Friday, its recommendation about the AstraZeneca Vaccine and confirmed that this vaccine is safe for people 30 years of age and older. Until now, it was recommended for the 55+ age group. Health Canada has already approved AstraZeneca for everybody 18 years or older.
-Government of Ontario continues to offer AstraZeneca for the people 40+ until supply betters and the eligible age group can be lowered.
-OPP officers arrested Gurpreet Hehar (37) and Gurvinder Singh (27) on Friday in the area of Mayfield Road and Bramalea Road in Brampton from a stolen vehicle. A third occupant escaped on foot during the police chase. Police say the suspects were involved in several thefts in the town of Caledon with their stolen vehicle. Heroin was also recovered from the suspects’ possession. Gurpreet was driving the vehicle without a driving license, and he was also in violation of his probation order. Gurvinder and Gurpreet will have to appear in Orangeville Court on July 5.
-People in India are going through a very tough time during the rising COVID-19 cases and deaths. The total death toll has crossed 195000 with a record 2812 COVID-19 deaths today, including 31 deaths in Patiala within 24 hours. More than 353000 people were tested positive during the day on Monday. Nearly 8400 COVID-19 patients have died in Punjab until now.
