Vital updates:

• Ontario reported an additional 119 cases of COVID-19 today, with a firm majority once again in people under 40 years old. If the province is to remain at Stage 3 of the provincial re-opening framework, it is crucial that all of us exercise vigilance and follow public health guidelines. Maintain a 2-metre physical distance wherever possible. Exercise scrupulous hand and face hygiene. Wear masks and require their use in your business. Record the names, contact information, and time/date of visit for your customers and guests. Work remotely if you can. Do not take unnecessary risks. Niagara was one of the last regions to reach Stages 2 and 3, and it is possible that, in the event of a surge in cases, it would also be one of the first to be rolled back again. It is incumbent upon all of us to prevent that from happening.
• Ontario Craft Wineries has launched a petition to scrap the 6.1% tax per bottle of VQA wine sold at their own wineries, which hurts Niagara’s wine industry. Canada’s taxes on wine are already some of the highest in the world. Each bottle of VQA wine sold generates an economic benefit of $98.20 to the Ontario economy. We hope you will join us in signing this petition.
• The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, is providing up to $4 billion in urgently needed one-time assistance to Ontario’s 444 municipalities. Of the $4 billion, $777 million will be provided by the Government of Canada and $1.22 billion from the Government of Ontario to financially assist social infrastructure such as homeless shelters, women’s shelters and food banks. The balance will be provided in equal part by both governments, and will go to funding public transit systems that have seen steep revenue declines.

Reading recommendations:

• Every Decision Is A Risk. Every Risk Is A Decision, Maggie Koerth, FiveThirtyEight
• A Vaccine Reality Check, Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic