Sick workers in Foxconn’s Zhengzhou, China-based iPhone factory are reportedly being asked to show up for shifts and avoid taking COVID-19 tests.
The details come from Rest of World (via 9to5Mac), which spoke with seven workers that joined the factory this month and contracted COVID. Rest of World said that employees were given N95 masks to wear while on production lines, but the workers say it’s still easy to catch COVID while inside the on-site dorm rooms, where eight people sleep in close proximity.
One employee told Rest of World that his supervisor advised workers not to get tested so they could continue working instead of quarantining. Another said that their supervisor seemed sick and couldn’t even walk steadily.
The report comes after Foxconn suffered a significant COVID outbreak in October, which led to workers breaking out of the plant and protests. The Zhengzhou lockdown ended about three weeks ago, but Foxconn was labelled ‘high risk.’ 9to5Mac reports it was obliged to keep using closed-loop production, which involves keeping workers in factory campuses.
Foxconn is responsible for producing iPhones, notably Apple’s top-line iPhone 14 Pro series. 9to5 notes that Foxconn is likely under immense pressure to get production back on track following the earlier disruptions. Apple previously sent a team to investigate what was happening at Foxconn.
So far, Rest of World appears to be one of the few publications covering the story. Although not the most well-known publication, Viola Zhou, who wrote the piece, previously covered Chinese politics, society, and internet culture for Vice World News and at the South China Morning Post.
Ontario’s Peel Region is warning residents that a new COVID-related phishing message is circulating.
‼️ Important ‼️
It's come to our attention that spam/phishing text messages are circulating, falsely claiming that recipients will get paid for their COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Region of Peel has turned to Twitter to notify residents of a phishing/spam text circulating that claims recipients can get paid for COVID-19 vaccinations. The region warns recipients not to open links or send personal information to these texts.
The texts are fake, and you will not get paid for COVID-19 vaccinations.
This isn’t the first COVID-19 scam we’ve experienced. Back in 2021, the Canadian Centre of Cyber Security noted that many cybercriminals used the ongoing pandemic as a way to lure victims to visit fake websites, apps and open email attachments.
The federal government is planning to end a host of COVID restrictions at its boarders.
As reported by The Globe and Mail, the government will drop vaccination requirements for people entering the country, along with random testing and the mandatory use of ArriveCan, by the end of the month.
Various other media outlets have reported the same thing, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. However, Health Canada is yet to make an official statement.
“There have been no decisions made,” the agency told CP24.
“[Any changes] would be informed by the best practices, latest scientific evidence, data and domestic and international epidemiological situation and in close consultation with our provincial, territorial and international partners, including industry stakeholders.”
Many people have complained about the COVID restrictions Canada still imposes, which were adopted alongside airports in many other countries. However, most of those countries have dropped these restrictions, but Canada didn’t follow suit.
Apple is planning to slow down on its internal hiring and spending. As concerns of an impending recession continue, the tech giant hopes to be cautious of spending as a hit to the economy may rear its ugly head.
Those familiar with the matter state that Apple will remain cautious about hiring staff for roles in certain departments. From the sounds of it, a pause in hiring isn’t a company-wide policy. Instead, it looks like it will be on a more case-by-case basis.
Interestingly enough, news of this comes following Apple’s strong endurance throughout COVID-19. Other tech companies and businesses faced difficulties throughout the pandemic. However, Apple was able to continue launching products and new devices.
Since the slowdown has been reported, Apple has seen its shares drop as much as 2 percent to $147.20 USD (roughly $191.07 CAD). Over the course of 2022, Apple’s stock has dropped roughly 17 percent. Though, the company is not alone in this trend. Competitors and other major tech companies are also facing declines.
Apple’s decision to slow down on spending is echoed across companies such as Amazon, Meta and Google. Each is said to be looking at reducing its own hiring and spending as well in the event that a recession impacts the economy.
Within Apple, each division is typically given an annual budget to spend on research, development, resources, and hiring. When looking at 2023, reports indicate that the company will be giving select divisions a lowered budget. For example, some teams won’t be able to increase staffing in 2023. Typically, many divisions see a 5 to 10 percent increase in a year.
It’s worth noting that Apple is said to be expanding into new ventures in 2023 with the launch of its long-reported mixed reality headset. However, due to the company not offering a comment on the matter, it remains to be seen if this division is being affected.
Earlier this year, Apple surpassed Wall Street’s predictions, earning $97.3 billion USD (roughly $124.6 billion CAD) and $25 billion USD (about $32 billion CAD) in net quarterly profits in Q2 2022. This was largely in part due to iPhone sales and services. Analysts expect Apple to report roughly $83 billion for Q3 2022. These results will be reported on July 28th.
Valve is once again delaying the launch of its Steam Deck dock. After pushing the release past the handheld’s official launch, Valve says that COVID-19 is affecting its release.
Much like the Nintendo Switch, the Valve Steam Deck is designed to be used as a handheld. However, also supports a docking station to be connected to a TV or monitor. Initially, Valve intended to launch the Steam Deck with its own docking station as a separate purchase. Upon its launch of the first orders of the Steam Deck in February, Valve pushed its launch.
Now, the company informs the community that COVID-19-related supply shortages and work stoppages have caused further delays. Unfortunately, with the latest delay, Valve isn’t providing a new release window. However, the company claims it is “working on improving the situation.”
The Steam Deck dock enables connectivity between the handheld and a display, streamlining the port access. However, outside of the official dock, there are third-party USB-C hubs and external displays. Valve itself is also open to users tapping into the power of other USB-C hubs. In fact, the company is “continuing to work on improving the docked experience.”
As far as what this means for current customers waiting for their Steam Deck order to ship, Valve claims this has no effect. Valve confirms that it’s leaning on different parts and different factories to produce the Steam Deck and its docking station. Therefore, “this has no effect on [the] production schedule and reservation windows for Steam Decks.”
Have you been dreaming about owning a waterfront property in the Outaouais region? A short drive from the nation’s capital, it offers cottage owners (and renters) vast outdoor spaces, waterways, recreational activities and access to cities and towns.
The Outaouais is a year-round destination. In the winter, it’s home to ski resorts, in the summer months, cottage rentals are popular, and the beaches can be busy.The area is 33,000 square kilometres in size and has more than 15,000 lakes and about a dozen rivers. This makes the opportunity for waterfront property seem even more accessible, although it also means buyers have had to act quickly to buy property because of demand.
The Outaouais area has seen significant growth in a hot market. John Macintyre, a veteran Century 21 real estate agent in Chelsea, Que., knows the region well.He noticed the increase in demand even before the pandemic, but it continues to grow. “Those nice properties that everybody wants on the big lakes, with the good waterfront and the great views, those places are always scarce,” he says. “So even going into the pandemic, the market was very strong.”
And while the location is accessible from Montreal, Kingston, and even Toronto, most buyers are from the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Most buyers are looking for a property within an hour and a half or less. Are you willing to drive up to two hours? Mcintyre says you’ll have more options.
These properties don’t last long, so decisions are being made quickly.“It doesn’t matter how motivated you are. The property is likely going to sell in three days. The logistics of trying to get here and look at a property are tough,” says Macintyre. “People buy recreational properties first with their heart and then with their head. They fall in love with the view, the waterfront, the privacy, the connection to nature somehow.”
We can’t overlook that the pandemic has caused the increased demand. “Lifestyle is a big driver. People don’t have to commute to work, and they can spend more time at their recreational property.” He added that the lack of vacation and travel options in these recent pandemic years are a factor as well.
Whether you’re just visiting or thinking about buying in the area, here’s what to do in the Outaouais:
Visit Parc Omega
With over 2,000 acres of land, Parc Omega is a living museum, home to Canadian wildlife in their own habitats. Drive through, take a walk through the trails, or visit the historic farmstead.
Go golfing
Break out the clubs and hit the greens at one of the local golf courses set against the area’s scenery. Some are within minutes of downtown Ottawa.
Hit the slopes
Ski resorts are inviting for novice and experienced skiers alike during the winter months, and there are no shortage of après-ski opportunities to enjoy as well.
Relax at Nordik spa
The Nordik Spa in Old Chelsea, Que. features heated outdoor pools, cooling tanks, saunas, fireplaces, and lounge chairs. After you relax, grab a bite to eat at one of their on-site restaurants.
Enjoy the beach
There are beaches and lakes to enjoy throughout the Outaouais area. Choose a quiet spot or find a bustling beach filled with activities, such as kayaking or beach volleyball.
A new report sent to the House of Commons ethics committee has revealed that Canadians’ movements were tracked by the government via their smartphone amid the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to The Canadian Press’ reporting, outbreak intelligence analyst BlueDot created reports for Public Health Canada using anonymized movement data pulled from Canadians’ smartphones. The public health agency then utilized this anonymized data to gain an understanding of Canadians’ travel patterns during the height of the pandemic in an effort to better manage its response.
The report goes on to reveal that the data included trips to the grocery store, visits to family and friends, time spent at home and movement outside of provinces and the country. Members of Parliament that are part of the ethics committee stated that they were surprised by the amount of detail included in the report.
“Questions remain about the specifics of the data provided, if Canadians’ rights were violated, and what advice the Liberal government was given,” said Damien Kurek, Conservative MP for Battle River-Crowfoot, Alberta, in a statement to The Canadian Press.
Public Health Canada says that it took protecting the privacy of Canadians seriously and emphasized that the analysis of the data wasn’t focused on individual citizens’ activities and instead was focused on “understanding whether the number of visits to specific locations have increased or decreased over time.”
The data given to BlueDot didn’t include names or identifying personal information, said Public Health Canada.
The committee says that in the future the government should inform Canadian if it is collecting data about their movement and allow them to opt-out.
As Canada opts to maintain mask mandates on planes, trains and other forms of transit, Uber Canada has decided to drop mask requirements.
This means that drivers and passengers in Ubers in every province and territory except Quebec, will be able to ride/drive mask-free starting Friday, April 22nd.
However, there’s a catch. Drivers hold the power to choose if they want to drive in a maskless car and still have the right to refuse rides if they feel unsafe.
According to CTV, Uber is still encouraging users to wear masks and is following Health Canada’s guidelines. Uber also told CTV that riders can message drivers through the app and ask can if the driver is wearing a mask or to put one on.
As COVID-19 case counts continued to rise across the country, Quebec is the only province that still has its mask mandates in place until April 30th. Therefore, Uber is still required to follow the province’s restrictions.
Competing ride-sharing service, Lyft, is still enforcing mask-wearing in its vehicles across Canada.
As the recent spring COVID spike affects more than 7,000 people per day, Canada’s top doctor, Theresa Tam, still urges Canadians to wear masks.
CTV also notes that Toronto is enforcing mask mandates within taxis and ridesharing vehicles. However, I noticed that the page with this information was only updated in January of 2022. After making calls to the city and Ontario health officials, I learned that this regulation is likely no longer in place since Toronto follows Ontario’s health guidelines, which no longer require masks to be worn in Taxis and Ubers.
Spring in Toronto means the blooming of cherry blossoms at High Park, and for the first time in two years, residents will be able to witness one of the city’s best features.
The City of Toronto announced Tuesday Sakura trees would be open for viewing for the first time since 2019.
The park was closed to the public during the 2020 blooming season because of the pandemic. Advice from public health saw the trees fenced off in 2021 to discourage people from gathering.
The city created a Bloom Cam that allowed the public to watch the cherry blossoms bloom in real-time. It was active over the past two years and will be going live this year as well.
“Thanks to the progress we have made confronting COVID-19, everyone will be able to come out and enjoy the cherry blossoms when they bloom this spring,” Toronto Mayor John Tory said.
“When the peak bloom begins, I encourage you to rediscover the cherry blossoms in High Park and in cherry blossom locations across the city.”
Here at Cottage Life, we realize how hard the COVID-19 pandemic has hit local businesses. To do our part, we’ll be highlighting the stories of different businesses in cottage country. This week, we spoke with Kelly Bell, the owner of Whimsy Beaverton in Beaverton, Ont.
What is Whimsy Beaverton?
Whimsy is a friendly, small-town shopping experience that offers tasteful home accents and a treasury of special gift pieces to suit every occasion. Located in beautiful downtown Beaverton through the historic double doors of the 1883 John McRae building, we’re the place to stop if you’re looking for carefully curated collections of fashion accessories for both you and your home.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Bell
How did the business get started?
I worked in the social service sector for 17 years before I reached a career turning point. Both my brother and my father passed away from cancer within seven months of one another. That’s when I decided I needed to make a change. I needed to heal myself. So, I bought Whimsy. It’s such a happy place. I love going to my store.
I purchased the business on March 6, 2020 after seeing it for sale online. It was love at first sight, for myself and my partner Jason. The business had already been operating as a home décor store, but we imagined a new look and a subtle change of focus for the store offerings. Our goal was to focus on a selection of exclusive brand lines featuring unique products with high quality and a range of price points.
But we opened just as the first impacts of COVID were being felt. Very quickly I learned the importance of social media and the impact of marketing through photos. Fortunately, the items we carry are extremely photogenic and business continued even though the doors were temporarily closed.
What inspired the name?
Whimsy means playfully quaint or fanciful. The name was already established with the previous owner, but the theme of whimsy suited the new lines of products we were introducing. Visitors are often attracted to the store by the original bay windows flanking the front door. From Valentine’s Day to Remembrance Day, we create seasonal and special occasion themed displays in those windows that showcase what’s inside the store. We try to make the displays unique and whimsical to match the name. Many of the main street shops also follow this approach, making the Beaverton main street fun to explore even after closing time.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Bell
What are your most popular products?
We’re situated on the shores of Lake Simcoe, so our lakeside-living-inspired home accent line is a best seller. We carry stunning tableware pieces from Mudpie that include whimsical messages, like a tea caddy that reads: “It’s a brew-tea-full day”. Another favourite is the Wrendale line where delightful animal characters grace the cards and tableware. And we offer IHR’s eco-conscious cocktail and table napkins.
Our home décor offerings include Michel Design Works soaps, sourced from the top soap makers and fragrance houses around the globe. Little Beausoleil Candle Company features handcrafted candles made from quality ingredients, including North American premium soy wax, essential oils, and fragrance. And our Badgley/McMillan Designs candles offer an environmentally-friendly touch with non-carcinogenic, soy wax candles hand-poured in small batches in Hamilton, Ont.
In terms of fashion accessories,K Carroll’s vegan leather handbags are amazing. They feature a built-in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) protective lining that helps prevent identity and credit card theft. And then we offer iconic jewelry from Kenneth Bell Designs. I only bring in one or two of his designs, so you really are getting an original piece for our area.
Finally, I started carrying Chef Laura’s Spices and Simple Syrups from Vancouver. She offers spice blends with unique flavour profiles and great cocktail mixes.
How do you choose the type of decor you sell?
I really look for unique and whimsical gifts for people. The product line has to fit with that. I love when people come into the store and have a lot of passion. When I choose to stock a product, my goal is to make people happy when they see it in the store. Whimsy is a magical place with unique items. That’s why I stock so many special, one-of-a-kind pieces. I want the customers to feel like they’re the only ones in the area that have it.
Photo Courtesy of Kelly Bell
How has the pandemic affected your business?
The lockdowns during the winter months post Christmas were challenging. We purchase stock one to two seasons ahead, before the current stock is sold, so it was hard to know how much to order and whether it would sell. I did receive some government assistance, about $5,000 in the first few months. But to be eligible for the major small business grants, you had to have a business licence or a business bank account by March 1, 2020. Since I opened Whimsy on March 6, I wasn’t eligible. I’ve had to do it all on my own.
The lockdowns did give me time to research additional, unique lines for the business and consider new layout arrangements, though. So, I am feeling a renewed energy this year.
Photo Courtesy of Kelly Bell
What does the future look like for Whimsy Beaverton?
I’m looking forward to the return of busy streets in Beaverton, especially in the spring to fall months. I really appreciate my faithful customers who shopped as often as they could through the past two years. Their friendly faces and messages kept me going. It is exciting to see how Beaverton is growing. The housing developments combined with cottage visitors and day-trippers will bring new faces through our doors. Otherwise, we’re always looking to expand our product lines. I already have plans to add an eighth line with Canadian Candles.
I’ve also found that retail in small, rural communities is increasingly about collaborative efforts. I try to support local organizations and community initiatives as often as I’m able, and am always happy to participate in joint marketing campaigns, promotional initiatives led by the Board of Trade, or by simply tagging another business when our products complement each other. When businesses work together the whole community benefits.
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