For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

August 11, 2020

To ensure everyone has current information during this quickly evolving outbreak, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health will be providing regular COVID-19 updates over the next several weeks.

For more information please review our website or call 613-966-5500.

Updates

Epidemiological

• Hastings and Prince Edward Counties is reporting 44 cumulative lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 38 having recovered and 5 deceased. Over 19,290 tests have been completed to date.
  • There are no local facilities experiencing COVID-19 outbreak; additional outbreak details can be found online.
  • More information is available on our website hpePublicHealth.ca.

• In Canada, there are 120,132 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in 8,987 deaths. To date, over 4,505,218 individuals have been tested.

Summary of cases of COVID-19: Ontario, January 15, 2020 to August 10, 2020

Federal

Government of Canada Invests in Tourism in Central Ontario

• Central Ontario’s tourism industry has been hit hard by COVID-19. Local microbreweries, wineries and craft cider producers have all felt the impact, with a significant drop in revenues.
• The Government of Canada has implemented a series of significant measures to help these businesses keep their employees, pay rent and get access to capital, and remains committed to helping them support jobs and opportunities as our economy reopens.
  • Potter Settlement Artisan Winery – Located in Tweed, received $100,000 to expand their tourist season by improving their buildings and property.
  • Kings Mill Cider – Located in Stirling, received $75,000 to expand its operations into shoulder seasons and improve the tourist experience.
  • MacKinnon Brothers Brewing – Located in Bath, received $75,000 to attract more visitors by enhancing their property and hosting events.

Government of Canada Temporarily Sets Minimum Unemployment Rate

• This week, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced that effective August 9, 2020 a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1% will be applied temporarily for all EI economic regions across Canada.
• When individuals begin transitioning off of the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) back to EI regular benefits at the end of this month, those living in EI regions with an unemployment rate lower than 13.1% will have their EI benefits calculated on the basis of the 13.1% rate, while individuals living in regions with a higher unemployment rate will have their benefits calculated using the actual rate for that region.
• This temporary measure will establish minimum entry requirements for EI eligibility across the country for Canadians to access the income support they need now or might need later as we continue to deal with the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Government of Canada Announces Steps in Treating and Preventing COVID-19

• The Government of Canada is aggressively pursuing the purchase and development of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and related supplies to protect Canadians and is working to strengthen Canada’s biomanufacturing sector.
• This includes engaging with international and domestic scientists and with businesses and manufacturers that are stepping up to fight COVID-19.
• The Government is negotiating and signing agreements with a number of leading pharmaceutical companies to establish a guaranteed supply base of potential vaccine candidates.

New Measures to Support Air Access to Remote Communities

• The Government of Canada is working with partners, including provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous partners and the air industry to address the unique needs of the remote communities.
• The new measures to support essential air access to remote communities include:
  • Seeking bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to ensure continuity of service for at least six months.
  • Establishing a $75M funding program for the federal contribution for the first six months and maintaining these essential services through an investment of up to $174M over 18 months, if needed.

Provincial

Windsor-Essex to Join the Rest of Province in Stage 3

• In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the local Medical Officer of Health, other health experts, and local authorities, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will enter Stage 3 on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
• The decision was based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing.

Historic Agreement Delivers Over $230M for Child Care

• The provincial government, in partnership with the federal government, is providing $234.6M in funding to keep children and staff safe in child care and early years settings.
• This funding will help support enhanced cleaning costs as well as health and safety requirements set out to support the reopening of licensed child care and early years programs.
• The additional funding will help child care operators, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and First Nations Child and Family Programs increase cleaning and infection control, ensure staff have access to personal protective equipment, promote physical distancing, purchase additional cleaning supplies, and support staffing needs.

Ontario Continues on the Path of Renewal, Growth, and Economic Recovery

• Last week, Statistics Canada released its monthly employment numbers, which showed an employment increase in Ontario of 150,700 in July and follows gains of 377,900 jobs - 66,200 of them manufacturing - in the month of June.
• While these numbers are an indication that the economy is continuing to find its footing, the road of recovery will be a long and difficult one. As the province gets back on the job, they are committed to working with businesses to develop a comprehensive safety plan to better protect workers, customers and clients.

Investing in the Future of Ontario's Tourism Industry

• The provincial government is investing $1.5M through the new Tourism Economic Development Recovery Fund and offering promotional incentives at provincial attractions to help the province's tourism industry and welcome back visitors after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The fund will support projects that develop innovative tourism products and experiences, drive private sector tourism investments, workforce development, and support tourism operators to learn more through tourism industry associations.
• To apply for Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund, please visit the Application Guide. For a list of promotional incentives at provincial attractions, please visit the media release.

Ontario Supporting Non-Profits as Province Recovers from COVID-19

• The provincial government is investing $83M through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to provide grants to help eligible non-profit organizations, including food banks, child and youth programs and Royal Canadian Legion branches, recover from COVID-19 and continue the delivery of vital programming in their communities.
• For more information, visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation website on eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Ontario Provides More Supports for Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum

• The provincial government is providing families in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) with services to support their child's ongoing learning and development. Foundational family services such as family and peer mentoring, caregiver workshops and coaching will be tailored to the unique regional and cultural needs in different communities.
• These services will build on existing virtual and remote options introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak. The first phase of foundational family services is part of the ongoing implementation of the new needs-based, sustainable and family-centred OAP.

Province Supporting Innovative Made-in-Ontario Technology to Sanitize PPE

• The provincial government is providing Clean Works Medical and Pure Life Machinery with $2M from the Ontario Together Fund to help manufacture a one-of-a-kind, sanitizing device called the Clean Flow Healthcare Mini. This Ontario-made device can decontaminate up to 800 N95 masks per hour along with other personal protective equipment.
• The device is a Health Canada-approved innovation based on existing technology designed to disinfect fresh produce. The technology uses UV light, hydrogen peroxide and ozone to decontaminate surfaces. The technology can destroy up to 99.99% of pathogens and viruses on surfaces, making them as sterile as an operating room.

Local

• The City of Belleville has launched new, up-to-date and accessible website. The new main site along with the Glanmore National Historic Site, Community Archives and the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre (QSWC) microsites provide residents with a more efficient way of accessing City services and include exciting new features such as improved searchability, online ticket booking and payment options, fillable forms and more.
• The City of Belleville has activated the public cooling centre at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre from August 11 to August 14. Visitors are asked to enter the cooling centre through the doors facing Cannifton Road (on the building’s west side).
• Belleville Art Association’s One by One Art Show starts Wednesday, August 12. With over 100 pieces of original art to choose from, visitors will be able to find a special piece that speaks to their own style, in their chosen medium and with a subject that touches their heart! Visitors are reminded to wear a mask and follow all the protocols in place during their visit to the gallery.
• The burn ban in Quinte West has been lifted. Residents wishing to burn must obtain a permit. More information on who is allowed to burn and what can be burned can be found by visiting their website.
• Prince Edward County OPP is the latest detachment to unveil Project Safe Trade. The designated "community safe zone" at the detachment parking lot is one of ways to make online transactions safer for buyers and sellers.
• Prince Edward County Public Library is reminding residents to return any over due books. There will be no late fees. Residents needing more information or a list of their checked out items can call 613-476-5962 and library staff will assist them. Drop boxes are available at every branch.
• The Municipality of Centre Hastings is starting a Summer Staycation campaign which features a free Staycation Passport with a number of tasks not only to make your days enjoyable, but to encourage you to support our local businesses and organizations.
• Quinte Ballet School of Canada continues to host their Dancing With Parkinson's classes online via Zoom every Thursday from 11:00 am to noon. To register, email danceparkinsonsqbsc@gmail.com or call 613-962-9274 ext. 25.
• Quinte Waste Solutions would like to remind residents that epi pens are considered medical waste and do not belong in the blue box or at local hazardous depot. Please dispose of epi pens in a sharps container provided for free at your local pharmacy.
• The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is encouraging all parents/guardians of students to take some time to complete a questionnaire about returning to school. The answers you provide will assist the school board in finalizing its re-opening plans. The questionnaire is open until Monday, August 17at 4:00 pm.
• North Hastings Children Services (NHCS) is looking forward to receiving operating guidelines and funding support for the licensed child care programs from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Once more information is available from funding partners, NHCS will be able to provide the safe, viable, affordable and high-quality child care in September that the community is expecting.

Public Health

• Healthy Smiles Ontario services are now available by appointment at HPEPH. Many clients have been waiting for these services and it will be great to be able to help meet the dental needs of our clients once again. To book at an appointment, please call the Oral Health Program at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803 ext. 680.
• HPEPH monitors bathing beach water quality at designated public beaches within our jurisdiction. Bathing beach water quality is monitored by the collection and analysis of water samples. Currently, Frankford Park – Trent River and Tweed Park – Stoco Lake beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming.
• An updated class order issued under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act has been posted on our website.
• This Sunday marked International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This year’s theme was COVID-19 & Indigenous Peoples' Resilience. HPEPH is encouraging everyone to take time to learn about the strength and adaptability of Indigenous Peoples to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• HPEPH continues to remind residents that COVID-19 testing is available. Individuals who are concerned that they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms should contact their health care provider, TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, or their local COVID-19 Assessment Centre. Individuals who are concerned about accessing an assessment centre or who have questions about COVID-19 are encouraged to call the HPEPH COVID-19 information line at 613-966-5500 / 1-800-267-2803. Visit our Getting Tested web page for more information.
• HPEPH would like to remind local businesses and tourist establishments to make visitors aware of the HPEPH Digital Guestbook, as part of regular registration, welcome, or payment procedures, to help improve infection control efforts. The Guestbook can be accessed at hpePublicHealth.ca/guestbook

We want to ensure this bulletin is as useful as possible. Please send your questions, comments and suggestions to klarose@hpeph.ca

Contact Information: 

To give us your comments: klarose@hpeph.ca

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