Tag Archives: Mayor Robin Jones

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Health Unit Issues Class Order to Contain Community Outbreak in East Lanark County

MEDIA RELEASE:

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

March 6, 2021

In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases in east Lanark County, Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health at the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit has issued a Class Order pursuant to Section 22 of the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990. 

“The purpose of this Class Order is to help contain the community outbreak of COVID-19 that is occurring in the eastern portion of Lanark County,” explains Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health. “Everything that each and every one of us does makes a difference in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in households and the community. This Class Order will reduce opportunities for people to gather and have close unprotected contact with others outside their household in public and private facilities.”

This class order effective from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2021 until rescinded by the Health Unit is issued to owners and operators of public and private facilities that operate in the Municipalities of Mississippi Mills, Carleton Place and Beckwith where the public may gather, including but not limited to: indoor sports venues, places of worship, banquet halls, wedding venues, dining and drinking establishments, clubs and or organizations that may have meeting facilities that can be rented to the public.

In accordance with this order: 

·         Sports facilities must close and cease operations, including curling rinks, privately owned arenas, and indoor sports venues that offer facilities for sports such as soccer, lacrosse, tennis, squash, pickle ball, etc.

·         Facilities operated by clubs and organizations must cease rentals for private social gatherings.

·         Places of Worship may operate in accordance with the requirements of 364/20 with additional restrictions related  to social events in their meeting spaces.

·         Banquet halls and wedding venues may operate in accordance with the requirements of Ontario Regulation 364/20, and only events that are hosted, organized, and managed by the venue are permitted, with additional restrictions.

·         Dining and Drinking Establishments may operate in accordance with the requirements of Ontario Regulation 364/20 with additional restrictions,  including that patrons/guests seated at a table must be part of their own household, requirements for logs to record contact information, and requirements for personal protective equipment for employees.

Any failure to comply with this Class Order can result in fines of up to $5000 for every day or part of each day on which the offence occurs or continues.

The Class Order is posted on the Health Unit website, https://healthunit.org/coronavirus/ along with the most up to date information on COVID-19. You can also call 1-800-660-5853 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @LGLHealthunit for information.

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WARNING! New Variant of COVID-19 found in LGL Region

MEDIA RELEASE:

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

March 3, 2021

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit was notified by Public Health Ontario that a resident of the area has been identified to have screened positive for a variant of concern (VOC).  This is the first person in the community to have a COVID-19 variant of concern.

Effective February 3, 2021, every new COVID-19 positive specimen has been screened for known VOCs in Ontario. Those specimens that screen positive go on for further testing to confirm which mutation lineage has been found. 

 “The news of a screened positive variant of concern locally reinforces how important it is to continue following public health guidance very carefully.” said Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paula Stewart. “It is important that we remember that we are all in this together. If our community is safe our schools will be safe. We must all continue to work together, stay vigilant, and follow the public health measures to keep COVID-19 from spreading in LGL.”

All public health measures are key to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and variants:

  • Stay home as much as possible and to limit close contact (no masks and closer than 2m) to your own household (the people you live with)
  • Stay local and avoid travel outside the region
  • Wear a face covering: Minimum of 2 layers of material; 3 will provide further protection.
  • Stay 2 metres apart from others, especially in large stores like grocery stores
  • Wash your hands Twenty (20) seconds for regular hand hygiene or use hand sanitizer often
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes into a tissue or your arm
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
  • Work from home, if possible
  • Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19: See the list of symptoms on the assessment tool.

While research suggests that VOCs are more transmissible and may have the potential for more severe illness, so far the evidence suggests that the Health Canada-approved vaccines will still be effective against them.

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Embrace winter with free outdoor adventure kits from Foley Mountain


WESTPORT, March 1, 2021 – Get out and enjoy everything winter has to offer with a free outdoor adventure kit from Foley Mountain Conservation Area.

Beginning March 2, families can pick up one of 100 kits from any open Rideau Lakes or Westport library branch.

The kits include materials to identify animal tracks in the snow, explore the wonderful world of snowflakes, do an experiment with a jello mouse, create a backyard birdfeeder, make snow ice cream and more.

“This is just another way we’re keeping connected with local families and promoting outdoor education,” said site supervisor Rebecca Whitman. “We hope people will be inspired to get outside more and enjoy all the fun winter has to offer.”

 The kits were made possible through generous donations from Friends of Foley Mountain and the Township of Rideau Lakes, support from Kudrinko’s grocery store in Westport and distribution services from the libraries.

“This is the first time we’re doing this and we’re thrilled to have so many partners involved to keep families engaged while they’re at home,” Whitman said.
The kits can be adapted for all ages; parents can modify the activities as needed to engage both younger and older kids.

While signs of spring are starting to appear, there could still be another six weeks of winter – and this is the time when families start to feel the fatigue of the coldest months.

“I’m hoping these kits will help families pull through the last stretch of winter and keep the wonder of nature and the great outdoors at their fingertips,” Whitman said.

Questions about the kits can be sent to rebecca.whitman@rvca.ca. More “Fresh Air Fun” activities can be found at www.rvca.ca and on our YouTube channel. 
 
                                                                   -30-
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Leeds, Grenville and Lanark HEALTH UNIT COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan

I spoke to the Health Unit last week and requested that Westport be selected for a vaccination site. I was informed that a mobile site will be set up at the Community Centre (arena) – likely in July.

The availability of vaccines remains a challenge for the federal government. We are all watching the reports and waiting for some positive signs that large amounts of vaccine are arriving in Canada.

The Ministry of Health has set a 3 phase strategy and within each phase has identified priority populations. The Health Unit has taken these phases and groups and developed a six stage roll out plan for our area.

Stage 1: Long-Term Care Homes/High risk Retirement Homes Staff, Residents and Designated Essential Care Givers

Stage 2: Highest priority and very high priority Health Care Workers (HCW) and Adults (80+)

Stage 3: High priority Health Care Workers, residents and staff of congregate living facilities (such as group homes, shelters, low risk retirement homes), all Indigenous adults, adult recipients of homecare

Stage 4: Moderate priority Health Care Workers, Essential Workers (first responders, teachers, food industry, etc)

Stage 5: High Risk population (to be defined by Ministry of Health) and beginning of age cohorting (ages 60+ to start)

Stage 6: All others in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark that are 16 + and would like the vaccine

Here is the Health Units’ tentative schedule. If shipments from the manufacturer are delayed, timelines will be pushed back.

  • Stage 1:
    • January – February: First dose*
    • February – March: Second dose*
  • Stage 2:
    • February – March: First dose*
    • March – April: Second dose*
  • Stage 3:
    • March – May: First dose*
    • April – June: Second dose*
  • Stage 4:
    • March – June: First dose*
    • April – July: Second dose*
  • Stage 5:
    • March – August: First dose*
    • April – September: Second dose*
  • Stage 6:
    • July – onward: First dose*
    • August – onward: Second dose*

Individuals who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in each stage will be notified by public health. For the first 4 stages (Long-Term Care Homes, High Risk Retirement Homes, Health Care workers, residents and staff of congregate living facilities, and essential workers) this notification will happen through the facility or workplace. For those 80+ in stage 2, and those in stage 5 and 6 (high risk population, and age cohorts), the Health Unit will be communicating widely on social media sites, its website, through local radio and newspaper, as well as through their healthcare and community partners. The Health Unit will continue to update the public about its progress, including which stage they are in and which priority population is receiving vaccine and which priority population is next to receive vaccine.

All vaccinations will require an appointment and I was assured that there will be lots of “help desks” available to provide support in making these appointments.

Here is the Health Unit’s web site. Please watch it for updates.

Home
https://healthunit.org/health-information/covid-19/protection/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-administration-roll-out-plan/

https://healthunit.org/health-information/covid-19/protection/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-administration-roll-out-plan/