The declaration of the COVID-19 virus a pandemic by the World Health Organization is spreading to not only travel, but also the sports world and Hollywood.
Wednesday night, President Trump put a halt to air travel from Europe to the states for 30 days, except for the UK.
In sports, the NBA has suspended all games until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive. The NHL has stated it’ll update what it plans to do soon, such as playing games without fans. The World Figure Skating Championships scheduled for next week in Montreal have been cancelled.
In Hollywood, actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have tested positive.
The W-H-O says there are now more than 118,000 cases of COVID-19 in 114 countries and over 4,300 people have died. In Canada, there are over 100 cases, with one death reported.
In Thunder Bay, the President of St. Joseph’s Care Group says even though there are no current cases of COVID-19 in this city, many measures are being taken. Tracey Buckler points out screening measures at its hospitals and seniors homes have increased. Visiting restrictions are in place at Hogarth Riverview Manor and Bethammi Nursing Home, limiting visitors to one person to one resident.
The Sudbury Public Health Unit has reported a case for that city, after an individual attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada 2020 convention in Toronto on March 1-4, 2020. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is advising those who attended the convention to self-monitor until March 18.
The Thunder Bay airport is also keeping an eye on the COVID-19 pandemic by talking to all stakeholders. The airport has increased the number of hand sanitizers throughout the terminal.
