For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

May 26, 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 have 43 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 183 probable cases, with 32 lab-confirmed cases having recovered and 5 deceased.
  • Approximately 7,021 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with a 0.6% positivity rate.
  • Facilities experiencing COVID-19 outbreak can be found online.
  • More details are available on our website hpePublicHealth.ca.

• In Canada, there are 85,700 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in 6,545 deaths. To date, over 1,482,468 individuals have been tested.

Summary of cases of COVID-19: Ontario, January 15, 2020 to May 25, 2020

Note: 226 cases did not specify male or female. 16 cases had an unknown age.

• There are 26,191 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario reported to date. This represents an increase of 287 confirmed cases from the previous report.
  • 43.1% of cases are male, 56% are female.
  • 40.7% of cases are 60 years of age and older.
  • Greater Toronto Area public health units account for 65.1% of cases.
  • 12.6% of cases were hospitalized.
• 2,123 deaths have been reported (please note there may be a reporting delay for deaths). This is an increase of 21 deaths from the previous report.
• 297 outbreaks have been reported in long-term care homes. This is an increase of 2 outbreaks from the previous report.

Federal

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

• The Prime Minister reminded Canadians that starting today commercial landlords can begin applying for the CECRA program as a means to reduce the rent owed by small business tenants by 75 percent for April, May and June.

Business Resilience Service Hotline

• The federal government launched, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, a new customized financial advice service to help small businesses recover from the pandemic.
• A business resilience service hotline is being made available to help vulnerable businesses with pressing financial needs navigate tax regulations and government supports to plan a path to recovery.
• This free hotline 1-866-989-1080 is being serviced by 125 business advisers and chartered accountants seven days a week.

Federal Government's Support towards Recovery

• Prime Minister Trudeau reviewed the three steps he described last Friday that are needed to successfully reopen the economy and adjust to "our new normal". The federal government is providing logistical support to the provinces and territories so that they can:
  • Scale up testing and quickly identify new cases and isolate them.
  • Accelerate the ability to do contact tracing.
  • Share data between provinces and territories that is being collected across jurisdictions.

Paid Sick Leave

• Prime Minister Trudeau spoke to the important role played by sick leave. He stressed that "nobody should have to choose between taking a day off work due to illness, or being able to pay their bills... that's why the [federal] government will continue discussions with the provinces, without delay, on ensuring that as we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic, every worker in Canada who needs it has access to ten days of paid sick leave a year."

Mobile Applications for Managing the Spread of COVID-19

• When asked about the mobile applications being developed for COVID-19, the Prime Minister indicated that the federal government is working closely with Apple and Google to develop an app by the beginning of June that will help manage the spread of COVID-19.

Provincial

Cases, Testing and Social Gatherings

• Yesterday, for the fifth day in a row, Ontario reported more than 400 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day. Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Dr. Williams, and Health Minister Elliott both speculated that that the current increased number of cases may be connected to people getting together over the Mother's Day weekend.
• Dr. Williams shared his concern that the Victoria Day long weekend may result in additional cases.
• The CMOH and the Health Minister indicated that they might have an announcement on expanded social gatherings "later this week, or next week" depending on the number of cases. This recent spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases may have prompted the province to delay lifting restrictions on social gathering limits.
• Premier Ford said that the province will be going to hotspots and large offices to test people for the virus. He will make an announcement about a new testing strategy soon.
• Given the special appeal he made to Ontarians on Sunday to get tested, the Premier said that he was pleased to see the new line-ups at assessment centres.

Hospitals Assume Management of Two Long-Term Care Homes

• The Ministry of Long-Term Care has issued Mandatory Management Orders appointing local hospitals to temporarily manage two long-term care homes for 90 days, or longer if needed, to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and assist in returning these homes to normal operations. Under this arrangement:
  • Southlake Regional Health Centre will temporarily manage River Glen Haven Nursing Home in Sutton.
  • Humber River Hospital will temporarily manage Downsview Long Term Care in North York.

Gratitude for Ontarians who Helped During COVID-19

• Premier Ford and his team thanked those Ontarians who raised their hands to join the fight against COVID-19.
• The SPARK Ontario website has had over 54,000 visitors interested in learning how they can volunteer. Some 3,500 Ontarians have signed up to volunteer, and over 3,100 have contacted community organizations regarding a volunteer opportunity.
• 141 community organizations have registered for volunteer matching and more than 100 COVID-19-related volunteer opportunities have been posted online.
• After the launch of the Ontario Community Support Program, over 500 meal referrals were received and over 2,000 essential supply referrals for deliveries were made to those in isolation, low income seniors, and people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions.

Relaxed Liquor Laws to Continue Post COVID-19

• Premier Ford indicated that his Cabinet will have a conversation about making some of the relaxed liquor laws in Ontario that the government introduced during the pandemic, permanent. He called it the "new way of doing business."

Local

• The City of Quinte West advises that the Regular Council Meeting previously scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2020 has been cancelled. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kevin Heath, City Clerk, at 613-392-2841 or mailto:kevinh@quintewest.ca.

• The City of Belleville has extended residents’ March parking and bus passes until the end of June, at which time the situation will be assessed and further action determined.

• Loyalist College is offering 12 Free Employment and Small Business Webinars, June 4 to July 9 to help plan for the future. The webinars will assist residents in gaining new skills as part of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery in the region.

• ALCDSB is committed to recognizing Grade 12 graduates in a different fashion this spring. Although it may look different at each school, each of the board's five secondary schools will be celebrating grade 12 graduates and their accomplishments. ALCDSB secondary schools are looking to host a graduation ceremony in the Fall of 2020. This ceremony will depend on public health requirements. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

• Grace Inn, Belleville Homeless Shelter is seeking assistance in providing bottles of cool water to those in need in the community. The shelter is seeking donations of water by the case or a gift card to assist in purchasing the large supply of bottled water that is needed.

• Military families have begun receiving posting messages. The Trenton MFRC's Special Needs Inclusion Team is hosting a webinar to help families prepare for posting, specifically for families with children with special needs. The webinar will include tips for advocating and important information and documents to gather. Register by emailing brittany.b@trentonmfrc.ca. 

Public Health

• High heat and humidity are expected today through Thursday. Although warmer weather is most welcome, it can pose a greater risk early in the season when people are not acclimatized. Watch for symptoms of heat illness, protect yourself from the sun, stay cool, stay hydrated, and check on vulnerable neighbours and friends while maintaining physical distancing.

• HPEPH issued a release this morning about the recent expansion of the COVID-19 testing  referral process in accordance with the provincial directive aimed at supporting all interested individuals to access testing by appointment. Individuals who are concerned they have or may be exposed to COVID-19 but who have no symptoms of the illness are requested to contact their local assessment centres directly to book an appointment for testing. Those with symptoms or questions regarding COVID-19 should contact the HPEPH COVID-19 information line, 613-966-5500, 7 days a week.

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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