The LocalSKIM for Friday, August 6
- Ontario has now been in the third step of its pandemic reopening plan for the past 3 weeks but it has yet to hit the vaccination targets set for restrictions to roll back further. The province had previously progressed through earlier phases of its reopening within the 3 week timeframe but a drop-off in vaccinations is slowing progress. (Thorold News)
- The Niagara real estate market is cooling down as the number of real estate listings and the number of homes sold continued its downward trend in July. As well, for the first time in 15 months, the average selling price decreased slightly from the previous month. (St. Catharines Standard)
- The Hamilton-bound QEW will be fully closed from North Shore Boulevard to Eastport Drive for roadwork beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6 until 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 9. (Inside Halton)
- Dr. Mustafa Hirji said the recent “slow gentle increase” in COVID-19 cases in Niagara, which included 11 new cases on Friday, is likely the result of moving into Step 3 of the province’s pandemic reopening plan. (St. Catharines Standard)
- Delays at the Canada-U.S. border have slowed commercial crossings to a crawl, as Canadian border staff begin work-to-rule strike action in the midst of contract negotiations with the federal government. (Reuters)
