Another day of rapid fire updates on the coronavirus and its effects across the continent. 
In Ontario, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced that public and English Catholic schools will remain closed for two weeks following March Break, on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and other medical experts.
17 new cases were confirmed in Ontario yesterday alone, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 59. The majority of those are in the Toronto area – there are still no confirmed cases in Chatham-Kent.
Among the new cases confirmed yesterday is Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. The Prime Minister’s wife is staying in isolation at home for the time being, and the PMO says she’s feeling well and her symptoms remain mild. Trudeau has no symptoms so far, and is self-isolating for the next two weeks as a precaution.
Fears of COVID-19 have hit the court system as well, with Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice announcing the suspension of jury selection. Jury trials currently in progress will continue, unless the trial judge orders otherwise.
But amid all of that news, a spark of hope as a research team in Toronto has isolated the virus responsible for the outbreak.
The discovery will help researchers across the world develop better testing, treatments and vaccines.
