For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

Jul 14, 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 13,331 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 108,155 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in 8,790 deaths. To date, over 3,257,608 individuals have been tested.

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

Federal

CERB and COVID-19 Leave Extended from 16 to 24 Weeks

• The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) has been extended from 16 weeks to 24 weeks for workers who:
  • stopped working due to COVID-19; or
  • are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits; or
  • have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular benefits or Employment Insurance fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020.
• To support federally regulated workers who need additional time off to take care of their loved ones affected by COVID-19 or to recover from the disease, the Government of Canada has extended the maximum allowable length of the leave related to COVID-19. Employees can now take up to 24 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.

 COVID-19 Website for Kids

• Health Canada has created a web page specifically for children with COVID-19 information and resources focusing on understanding coronaviruses, wearing masks, preventing the spread of the virus, getting back to normal and talking about the effects of the pandemic on the lives of kids and their families.

Provincial

Nearly All Businesses and Public Spaces to Reopen in Stage 3

• Yesterday, the Ontario government announced that nearly all businesses and public spaces will reopen in Stage 3 of the province's reopening framework with public health and workplace safety measures and restrictions in place.
• As part of the Stage 3 reopening, Ontario will be increasing gathering limits for those regions entering the next stage to the following:
  • indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people;
  • outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people;
  • gathering limits are subject to physical distancing requirements.
• For more information on the restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, as well as the public health guidance necessary to keep the people of Ontario safe, visit Ontario.ca/reopen.

Ontario Focusses on Renewal, Growth and Economic Recovery

• Yesterday, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, stated “Today's employment numbers are an indication that Ontario's economy is beginning to stabilize as we continue to safely and gradually reopen the province.”
• According to Statistics Canada, employment in Ontario increased by 377,900 in June, including an increase of 66,200 manufacturing jobs.
• The Ontario government announced last week the launch of the Ontario Made program from Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME).
• Funding for Ontario Made is made possible through the $50 million Ontario Together Fund launched on April 1, 2020. This funding will be used to help retailers and consumers identify local products by:
  • creating a new Ontario Made logo that manufacturers can use to help consumers identify their made-in-Ontario products. CME will also meet with major retailers to promote Ontario Made products in-store and increase visibility for customers;
  • launching a new SupprtOntarioMade.ca website that will connect consumers and supply chain partners to manufacturers of made-in-Ontario products through one directory;
  • pormoting Ontario Made through a digital newsletter to raise awareness of Ontario goods and products online and through social media.

 Ontario Expanding Access to the Modern Digital Economy

• The Ontario government is expanding access to reliable broadband and cellular service in underserved and unserved parts of the province.
• The application intake for the $150 million Improving Connectivity for Ontario program (ICON) opened July 9.
• Any areas across Ontario - mostly in rural, remote or northern areas - that do not meet the national standards for broadband speeds are eligible for provincial funding.
• Telecommunication service providers, municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profits are invited to submit innovative proposals and lend their investment, expertise and experience to improve connectivity in communities across Ontario. The preliminary application deadline for the first intake of the ICON program is August 21, 2020.

Ontario Starting Down the Path to Growth, Renewal and Economic Recovery

• On July 8, the province of Ontario introduced the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act. This proposed legislation lays the foundation to restart jobs and development, strengthen communities, and create opportunity for people in every region of the province.
• If passed, the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act will:
  • Restart jobs and development by getting key infrastructure projects built faster, attracting more jobs and investment, and cutting red tape to help businesses adapt to the new environment.
  • Strengthen communities by ensuring municipalities are equipped with the tools they need to continue to provide the critical services people rely on every day, including allowing municipalities and their local boards to continue to choose to hold meetings electronically at any time and putting in place a new community benefits charge to help municipalities pay for the infrastructure and services needed for growing communities.
  • Create opportunity for people as they recover their lives and livelihoods by protecting consumers, modernizing services, improving the education system and removing the social and economic barriers that stand in the way of success for young people.

Local

• Prince Edward County has issued a by-law whereby all individuals must wear a mask or a face covering when inside enclosed public places and at outdoor markets or farm stands, as of Friday, July 10. All individuals must wear a mask or other face covering, such as a bandana, scarf, or other fabric that goes over their nose, mouth, and chin. A face shield is permitted for people for whom a cloth face covering is not possible or practical.

• The Community Care for Seniors office in Picton is now open to the public by appointment only. Visitors are reminded that they must wear a face covering to enter.

• The City of Quinte West has complied a list of local businesses that sell non-medical face masks for residents wishing to purchase them.

• In Tweed, the Emily Trudeau Splash Pad is opening soon, 7 days a week, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. There are COVID-19 measures in place to minimize the risk of transmission and time on the splash pad may be limited.

Public Health

• Last Thursday, July 9, Dr. Ethan Toumishey hosted the COVID-19 Facebook Live update. Anyone unable to participate in the live event can still view the video by going to the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Facebook page facebook.com/hpepublichealth. The next COVID-19 update is planned for August, with the date to be finalized.

• HPEPH Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Alexa Caturay, issued instructions mandating the wearing of non-medical masks or face coverings in all indoor commercial settings in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. The instruction went into effect on Friday, July 10. The complete letter to businesses, frequently asked questions, and well as additional information about how to wear a mask safely, is available on the HPEPH website, hpePublicHealth.ca.

• On July 10, Dr. Caturay issued a letter to businesses providing additional guidance regarding the new face mask instructions. The instructions stipulate that businesses are required to make a policy regarding the use of face coverings inside their premises and that “best effort” shall be made to only allow entry to persons wearing a non-medical mask or face covering. The letter also requests that the instructions be carried out with compassion and kindness and that HPEPH does not expect the establishment to turn away patrons who can not wear or procure a mask.

• Updated instructions from Dr. Caturay related to Stage 3 of reopening will be made available to the public and the media tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15 on the HPEPH website, hpePublicHealth.ca. Mandatory mask instructions will continue to remain in effect into Stage 3. Please review this important local information for additional clarity and support related to reopening the economy.

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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