For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

July 7, 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 continue to have 43 cumulative lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 37 having recovered and 5 deceased. There are 181 probable cases, with 178 having recovered. Over 11,515 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 105,935 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in 8,693 deaths. To date, over 2,975,711 individuals have been tested.

Summary of cases of COVID-19: Ontario, January 15, 2020 to July 6, 2020

Severity

Number

Percentage

Number of Cases

36,060

N/A

Change from previous report (new cases)

112

0.3 increase

Resolved

31,603

87.6

Change from previous report

177

0.6 increase

Total number of deaths

2,691

7.5

Total tests completed

1,559,529

N/A

Total test completed in the previous day

15,112

N/A

Currently under investigation

12,625

N/A

 

Federal

  • Nothing to report

Provincial

Government Proposes Made-in-Ontario Plan for Growth, Renewal and Economic Recovery

  • The Government of Ontario has developed a made-in-Ontario plan for growth, renewal and economic recovery. This plan includes measures that would make it easier and faster to build provincial highways, major transit infrastructure projects and quality, affordable housing, while ensuring there are meaningful opportunities for community consultation and input.
  • As part of this plan, the government would also enter into new commercial agreements with partners to build transit-oriented communities that allow for the development of more housing around transit in an integrated manner, putting more job opportunities within the reach of more people.

Ontario Launches Online Training to Promote Safe Workplaces

  • The Ontario government is investing $3 million to provide free online health and safety training for the first time. These virtual courses will make it easier for job seekers and workers to get essential qualifications, while practising physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
  • Up to 100,000 job seekers can now take free online workplace health and safety training through Employment Ontario. There are 10 courses on offer, which include topics such as infection control, conducting health and safety incident investigations, ladder safety, slips, trips and falls prevention, and preventing workplace violence and harassment.
  • Job seekers should contact an Employment Ontario service provider in their area to enroll.
  • In addition, worker and employer members of Joint Health and Safety Committees can now use video conferencing to take training in real-time with qualified instructors from training providers approved by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer.

Canadian Armed Forces Depart Ontario Long-Term Care Homes

  • The Ontario government expressed its gratitude to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who went above and beyond the call of duty to temporarily support high-priority long-term care homes during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. The final team concluded its work last week.
  • Under Operation LASER, the Canadian Armed Forces deployed teams consisting of nurses, medical technicians and additional personnel. They have been working in Ontario long-term care homes since April providing staffing support and helping with infection prevention and control, and other duties such as cleaning and food preparation.
  • The government recently announced the launch of an independent, non-partisan commission into Ontario's long-term care system beginning in July 2020. Details of the commission are now being finalized, including the terms of reference, membership, leadership of the commission and reporting timelines.

Province Supporting Restaurants as Province Safely Reopens

  • The Ontario government is helping restaurant and bar owners reopen and safely serve more customers by issuing a new emergency order and amending another under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which will allow municipalities to quickly pass temporary bylaws for the creation and extension of patios and allow covered outdoor dining areas to serve customers.
  • The government also amended an emergency order to clarify that outdoor dining areas can open if they have a roof, canopy, tent, awning or other covering. At least two full sides of the outdoor dining area must be open to the outdoors and must not be substantially blocked in any way. If the outdoor dining area has a retractable roof, the roof must be fully open and at least one full side must be open to the outdoors and must not be substantially blocked in any way.

Province Provides Additional Funding to Support Municipalities and Urban Indigenous Community Partners

  • The Ontario government is providing municipalities and urban Indigenous community partners with an additional $150 million to continue to protect vulnerable people from COVID-19 by improving homeless shelters and creating opportunities for longer-term housing.
  • This investment more than doubles the funding currently flowing to local municipal service managers and urban Indigenous program administrators through the Social Services Relief Fund.
  • Municipalities and urban Indigenous community partners will be able to use this funding for long-term, innovative housing solutions resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. They can renovate shelters or purchase new facilities that will help with physical distancing in the short term and support longer-term, more sustainable solutions to homelessness. In addition, this funding could also be used to provide vulnerable people with food, shelter and supplies.

Local

  • The City of Belleville has announced that the City's splash pads are now open. Enjoy free outdoor fun at the West Riverside, Parkdale and Kinsmen splash pads from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm daily all summer long (weather permitting).
  • The City of Belleville has activated the public cooling centre at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre for those needing relief from the heat. Based upon the current weather forecast the centre will be open from July 6 until July 10 inclusive. Visitors are asked to enter the cooling centre through the doors facing Cannifton Road (on the building’s west side).
  • The Municipality of Tweed has opened a municipal cooling station during regular business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday during the current heat wave. Water is available in the Council Chambers lobby for any member of the public that needs to cool off during this Heart Warning.
  • As the province has moved to the Stage 2 reopening, Addictions and Mental Health Services HPE have concluded the AMH Pandemic Helpline. Those in need of addictions or mental health supports can connect with the central intake line 613-310-OPEN (6736). For mental health crisis support, contact the Crisis Intervention Centre at 613-969-7400 ext. 2753.
  • The Quinte West Front Street Farmer’s Market has reopened on Saturdays only between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm. There is a designated entrance and exit with one-way foot traffic through the Market. Staff will limit the number of people in the market area to allow for safe physical distances between people. Anyone uncomfortable shopping in person is encouraged to visit the Front Street Farmers' Market online.
  • The Trenton Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is happy to announce that they can officially take July Good Food Box (GFB) orders! Please follow the safety protocols set in place by the MFRC staff when you pick up your order. The cost of GFB is now $10 for a vegetable bag and $5 for a fruit bag. For any questions, please email kameel.s@trentonmfrc.ca.
  • North Hastings Children's Services is offering a Virtual School Readiness Program Via Zoom for families with children entering Kindergarten in September 2020. The first session will run from July 13 to 17 from 10:00 am-11:30 am and the second session will run from August 17 to 21 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. To register, please contact Nicole Beaudin at nbeaudin@nhcs.ca or call 613-334-2941.

Public Health

  • On Friday, July 2, HPEPH issued a health heat warning, which has now been extended until at least Friday, July 10. Review the notice for more information about heat illness and tips to avoid it.
  • HPEPH's Acting Medical Officer of Health has issued a message to the community regarding local COVID-19 risks and precautions.
  • HPEPH’s Acting Medical Officer of Health has issued a class order under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. This order has been implemented at the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario, with an aim to protect the health and safety of individuals employed at local farms. The Section 22 order enables Hastings Prince Edward Public Health to enforce certain requirements for employers of farm workers.
  • HPEPH continues to encourage anyone visiting Hastings and Prince Edward Counties to register on our Digital Guestbook, which is private, confidential, and requires only basic information such as an individual’s name, contact details, and nature of their visit. This additional measure will supplement existing processes in place to conduct contact tracing across health unit boundaries, as well as requirements for certain industries to keep detailed logs of clients or patrons.

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

You have received this email at kkhani@hpeph.ca from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health as a result of a request you have made or due to a service/subscription that you are registered for. While you may discontinue your subscription to this mailing at any time by pressing the unsubscribe button below, this bulletin will be used to provide important updates about COVID-19 in our community.