Once again, I would like to give MPP Steve Clark credit for making this one stop web portal a reality. I spoke to him about it just 10 days ago and it is now available. Great work MPP Clark.
If you have questions about the funding announcements from the provincial government or other questions about COVID-19, pls go the link below.
TORONTO — To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of people across the province, the Ontario government has extended all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until April 23, 2020, including the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and the prohibition of price gouging.
In addition, new measures have been introduced to address surge capacity in retirement homes, restrict recreational camping on Crown land, and allow the repurposing of existing buildings and temporary structures. All of these actions are based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
“I understand the actions we are taking are affecting the lives and livelihoods of people across the province, but these are extraordinary times and we need to do whatever we can to keep individuals and families safe and stop the spread of this terrible virus,” said Premier Ford. “We all must continue to do our part by staying home and practicing physical distancing. With the proper precautions and additional measures we’re taking today, I am confident we will get through this together and stronger.”
Ontario introduced the following new steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The government is:
Making it easier to repurpose existing buildings and put up temporary structures, like tents, so communities can meet their local needs quickly. This will reduce pressure on health care facilities, where needed, and help shelters provide more space for sleeping to maintain the physical distancing requirements to reduce the spread of the virus.
Temporarily enabling hospitals to increase their capacity by using the beds and services of retirement homes without certain labour relations implications during the declared provincial emergency.
Prohibiting recreational camping on Crown land as of April 9, 2020. Under the emergency order, no individual can camp on Crown land, including the placement of tents or other camping structures, while the order is in effect. The government will continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate if further actions are required.
Supporting construction workers and businesses with emergency action to help improve cash flow in the construction industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will lift the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act and allow the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors.
The following emergency orders have been extended until April 23, 2020:
Temporary facilities must be designed and reviewed by qualified professionals (such as licensed architects and professional engineers) and municipal Building Officials must inspect the facilities to ensure they are safe.
The Construction Act is intended to regulate how payments are made, to help ensure that workers who have provided services or materials during a construction project are paid for their work.
A friend of mine and her family live in a rural community and her RN daughter works in the ICU at a major city hospital.She nurses covid-19 patients every shift. The daughter needs to decon when she leaves work and stays in self-isolation in another part of the residence.The family is required to Face Time to chat.Their new normal.Such is the dedication and sacrifice of our front line health care workers.
This is the story my friend shared with me this week.
“The neighbourhood organized a tribute to my daughter tonight. At 8:30 as she drove along our road coming home from work she was greeted by cars, people banging pots and any noise maker they could find. Cars honking horns all along her drive in. People from the other neighbourhood roads drove to a location on our road where she would she them. I could hear her progression along the road by the noise.
She didn’t see a thing, but by the second group of people she clued in and barely made it home through the tears.It was a complete surprise.
Other nurses she works with have been shunned in their neighbourhoods so we have kept where our daughter works quiet. Our neighbours and friends rose to the occasion tonight.”
Front line health care workers are right in the thick of this war against the COVID-19.Let’s not forget their courage fighting for our safety.
We also have our own front line workers here in the Village.We know who they areThey keep food on our tables, supply our medicines and provide us with many other essential services while protecting us and our homes.When we are isolating at home, they continue to go to work each day.
The bells at St Ed’s and St Paul’s will be ringing at noon Easter Sunday. (reminder that gathering in groups larger than 5 people is not allowed under the Provincial Emergency orders) While the bells ring, let our own community rise to the occasion and pray or hold in your thoughts the front line – and recognize their courage and sacrifice.
Many people are taking advantage of the decision by restaurants to offer take-out meals. Public Health Inspectors with the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit have worked with each restaurant to ensure they adhere to safe food handling practices. The Public Health Inspectors have also suggested ways to minimize the contact with the public as people pick up their food – keeping the duration of contact to a minimum, maintaining a distance of 6 feet, and washing hands or using hand sanitizer between exchanges of food with the public. People who pick up food should wash their hands before they eat the food.
If an employee of a restaurant has lab confirmed COVID-19, then the Health Unit will follow up to assess whether the public was at risk from contact with this individual.
The Health Unit has staff answering COVID-19 related questions and concerns for the public from 8:30 to 4:30 every day at 1-800-660-5853 x2499. Public health inspectors are also available to discuss environmental health concerns. You can also get more information about COVID-19 by visiting www.healthunit.org/coronavirus or by connecting with LGLHealthunit on Facebook and Twitter.
Robin, The Mayor 
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