For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

May 1, 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 41 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 212 probable cases, with 20 lab-confirmed cases having recovered and 4 deceased.
    • Approximately 2,846 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with a 1.6% positivity rate.
    • Facilities experiencing COVID-19 outbreak can be found online.
    • More details are available on our website hpePublicHealth.ca.
  • In Canada, there are 53,657 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in 3,223 deaths. To date, over 832,222 individuals have been tested.

Summary of cases of COVID-19: Ontario, January 15, 2020 to April 30, 2020

  Number      Percentage
Number of cases 16,608 N/A
Change from previous report 421 2.6 increase
Resolved 10,825 65.2
Deceased 1,121 6.7
Demographics    
Male 6,917 41.6
Female 9,538 57.4
19 and under 384 2.3
20-39 3,786 22.8
40-59 5,004 30.1
60-79 3,673 22.1
80 and over 3,753 22.6
Testing    
Total tests completed 294,054 N/A
Total tests completed in the previous day 16,532 N/A
Currently under investigation 11,975 N/A
Hospitalizations    
Number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 1017 N/A
Number of patients in ICU with COVID-19 225 N/A
Number of patients in ICU on a ventilator with COVID-19       175

N/A

Note: 153 cases did not specify male or female. Eight cases had an unknown age.

  • There are 16,608 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario reported to date. This represents an increase of 421 confirmed cases from the previous report.
    • 41.6% of cases are male, 57.4% are female.
    • 44.7% of cases are 60 years of age and older.
    • Greater Toronto Area public health units account for 59.5% of cases.
    • 11.7% of cases were hospitalized.
  • 1,121 deaths have been reported (please note there may be a reporting delay for deaths in iPHIS). This is an increase of 39 deaths from the previous report.
  • 198 outbreaks have been reported in long-term care homes. This is an increase of 8 outbreaks from the previous report.
  • 541 deaths have been reported among residents/patients in long-term care homes. This is an increase of 11 deaths from the previous report.

Federal

Prime Minister Trudeau Speaks with Premiers

  • Prime Minister Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland spoke with Premiers yesterday to discuss the evolving COVID-19 situation.
  • The Prime Minister updated Premiers about the release of the most recent federal modelling data about the spread of COVID-19. He underscored how the collective measures being taken by Canadians are working, and leaders agreed that continued collaboration is needed to ensure all Canadians are safe and healthy, especially the most vulnerable.
  • All First Ministers reiterated the importance of a Team Canada effort in addressing the challenges of COVID-19. The Government of Canada is taking a whole-of-government, comprehensive, and coordinated approach to respond to COVID-19.

Provincial

Re-opening the Provincial Economy

  • Premier Ford emphasized yesterday that he knows "how much people want to get back to work... and back to normal. I hear it, I see it and I feel it." He further said, "Today we are on the path to reopening the economy because that curve is flattening. That surge in our hospitals, we avoided it, and that trend is going down... and I am laser focused right now on opening things up as quickly as we can, in a safe and measured way."
  • The Premier has asked employers to "get ready... we're getting closer [to reopening the province]."
  • The Premier also hinted that "good news" is coming soon for gardening centers, acknowledging that gardening is good for one's mental health, especially in the face of these challenging times.
  • When asked about separating the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from the rest of the province for the reopening, the Premier said that it is difficult since there is no specific border around the GTA; if rural areas are opened first, then urban residents may head there. Thus, he said, "we will have to do it as a province all together."

Workplace Safety Guidelines for Employers

  • The Premier released some sector specific guidelines to support workplace safety.
  • These new sector-specific guidelines provide direction to those working in manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurants and food services, and the agricultural sector.
  • They outline recommended actions for employers including:
    • Ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing (e.g. eliminating pay-at-the-door options, holding team meetings outdoors, staggering shift times and using ground markings and barriers to manage traffic flow).
    • Changes to the workplace (e.g. installing plexiglass barriers, increasing the air intake on building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to increase air flow, and using boot sanitizing trays).
    • Promoting proper workplace sanitation (e.g. providing personal protective equipment, substituting dry dusting with vacuuming, ensuring customer-facing staff are given hand sanitizers, proper disposal of sanitizing wipes, and enforcing handwashing before and after breaks).

Additional Provincial Labour Inspectors

Today Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development McNaughton announced that his ministry will be adding 58 new provincial labour inspectors starting this week. These inspectors would carry out roles such as:

  • Communicating COVID-19 related safety guidelines.
  • Enforcing emergency measures (e.g. physical distancing; and the closure of non-essential businesses).
  • Issuing fines of up to $750 to those companies not complying with the new safety guidelines.

New Posters for Promoting Physical Distancing and Sanitation

  • New posters have been issued to promote a variety of useful safety tips, such as advice on physical distancing and sanitation.
  • They are downloadable from the Ontario.ca website so employers can print and post them in their workplaces.

New Tool to Support Trucking Industry

  • The Ontario government is offering a new, free Ontario 511 app which will provide truck drivers with access to information they need to stay safe, fed and rested while delivering essential goods during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ontario 511 app:
    • Provides images from over 600 cameras and includes up-to-date highway information on construction, collisions and road closures.
    • Identifies open rest areas and locations throughout the province that offer food and fuel.
    • Includes an easy to use map view and features a drive mode that provides hands free audio alerts.

Insurance Relief

  • When asked about relief from insurance companies, the Premier urged these companies to lower their rates as people aren't driving. He said, "the risk to the insurance companies is much lower, but you (insurance companies) keep taking their (Ontarians) cheques. Start lowering the rates for these people... you need to pitch in too."

Ontario Health Personal Protective Equipment Hub

  • To improve access to personal protective equipment (PPE) supply information in South East Ontario, Ontario Health launched a centralized East Region PPE Information Hub webpage. There, you will find important information, including:
    • Conservations strategies
    • Actions and process for PPE inventory management
    • Online links for submitting urgent requests for critical PPE supplies

Local

  • Neighbouring health unit, KFL&A Public Health, shared a positive graph on Twitter detailing the incidence of COVID-19 infection in the Eastern Ontario region. The graph shows that HPEPH and surrounding areas are flattening the curve on the spread of the virus.
  • Warden Rick Phillips offered remarks at yesterday’s Hastings County Council meeting, reviewing the impact of COVID-19 on Hastings County staff, businesses and residents and applauding their collective efforts to respond to the unprecedented challenge posed by the pandemic.
  • Prince Edward County enacted a by-law yesterday to temporarily prohibit garage sales or yard sales, as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and encouraging physical distancing. Municipal by-law officers will enforce the measure, which is punishable by fines starting at $750. Residents who need to sell or give away items are encouraged to create ‘online garage sales’ through platforms like Kijiji and Facebook MarketPlace and coordinate contactless sales and pick-ups.
  • Prince Edward County has announced the launch of its new online community engagement platform. HaveYourSay.TheCounty.ca offers a variety of engagement tools to keep the public up to date about municipal projects and initiatives. It also allows the public to provide input on those projects in a controlled and moderated environment. The municipality is launching the consultation tool with two initiatives:

    • To support public consultation on planning applications once a file comes before the County for municipal review
    • To provide a resource for County businesses looking to access resources and information for both immediate response and longer-term recovery from COVID-19
  • Prince Edward County non-profit organizations are being asked to share with the County Foundation their challenges and current state of operations during the COVID pandemic. A summary of responses will be included in a forum hosted by the Chamber, BIA and The County, as they look to advocate and support NFPs in the recovery. Please complete this short survey by noon Monday, May 4.
  • The City of Belleville also reminds residents that there are to be no yard sales this spring and that no yard sale permits will be issued until further notice.
  • The City of Belleville’s Parks and Open Spaces department has reopened the Parkdale Veterans Park online “open house” and survey for two weeks following a submission error. Residents who have already cast their votes are encouraged to revisit the site with the new entry and re-vote before the survey closes on May 14.

  • The City of Quinte West reminds residents that the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home. Despite the start of the fishing season tomorrow, City of Quinte West public boat launches remain closed. Shore fishing on City property is not encouraged but permitted unless otherwise posted. Camping of any kind is also prohibited on City property.
  • The Frankford Yard Waste drop off depot has temporary additional hours. Starting Monday, May 4, the schedule is: Mondays and Wednesdays 8am - 4pm and Saturdays 8am - 2pm. Drop-offs are FREE and don't need to be bagged. Stay home whenever possible.
  • The Bancroft Community Trust is offering free grocery deliver to residents of North Hastings 55+ who have no other supports in place. Residents can call 613-334-2385 for free home delivery service.
  • Yesterday, the Town of Bancroft announced the cancellation of the 2020 Rockhound Gemboree. The uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to plan the event with any sense of sureness
  • May is Sexual Violence Prevention Month. Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District's Crisis Line volunteers are always available for support by calling 1-877-544-6424.

Public Health

  • Since public beaches are currently closed due to the COVD-19 pandemic, HPEPH is suspending beach water quality testing originally scheduled to begin mid-May. Water testing will begin once public beaches are re-opened for community use.
  • Next week is Mental Health Week and HPEPH is encouraging all residents to stay connected and #GetReal about their emotions and mental health as we all go through this challenging time #TogetherApart.
  • With support from Community Living Ontario and the City of Belleville, HPEPH has posted an accessible COVID-19 document on our COVID-19 web page to provide important information about the pandemic in simple, plain language with corresponding images.
  • A new COVID-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) will open on Monday, May 4 for the residents of the Quinte West area. The Trenton CAC will provide assessments and/or testing by appointment, Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm. Community members who are experiencing symptoms compatible with COVID-19 are encouraged to call their health care provider, HPEPH COVID-19 intake lines or the COVID-19 CAC hotline at 613-961-5544 to book an appointment.

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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