ontario Ontario releases new COVID-19 projections as it sees 1,478 more cases, 21 more deaths Province also reported 21 more deaths linked to the illness, new modelling expected Thursday Long-term care deaths and intensive care occupancy rates continue to rise in Ontario, according to new provincial modelling released Thursday. At a Thursday afternoon news conference, Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, said key indicators for the pandemic are flattening in some regions, but the virus's impact still varies widely across the province. Brown said Ontario hasn't turned a corner yet, despite some slight flattening of the curve. In Ontario's last round of modelling, officials said the province was looking at a growth rate of between three and six per cent. In the last few days, that growth rate has been between zero and one per cent, Brown said. "It is best described as a fragile or precarious situation," he said. us U.S. Supreme Court rules against limits on religious services in NYC virus hot spots Court voted 5-4 to grant requests from Roman Catholic Diocese and 2 Orthodox Jewish congregations The U.S. Supreme Court late on Wednesday backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship challenging New York state's latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots. The court on a 5-4 vote granted requests made by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and two Orthodox Jewish congregations. The order marked one of the first consequential actions on the court of President Donald Trump's new appointee, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who cast a deciding vote in favour of the religious groups. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the court's three liberals. An Oct. 6 decision by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down non-essential businesses in targeted areas where infections have spiked, including some Brooklyn neighbourhoods. It limited gatherings at religious institutions to 10 people in some areas and 25 in others.

alberta Leaked recordings show politicians ignore medical advisors. "Alberta's top doctor calls secret recordings of pandemic meetings a 'betrayal' of trust" Government to launch internal investigation into leaked recordings. (don't hold your breath on that one though) Alberta's chief medical officer of health Thursday said she feels personally betrayed after CBC News reported the contents of secret recordings that revealed disagreements and, at times, political interference in the province's pandemic response. A previous statement emailed to CBC News from a spokesperson for Premier Jason Kenney said it is the job of elected officials to make decisions and there was no political interference.