Any threats made against local public health staff will be taken “extremely seriously” warns Peterborough’s new medical officer of health.

During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Thursday (December 2), Dr. Thomas Piggott said while just a “small minority” of people have threatened staff, it simply can’t continue.

“Everyone has the right to free speech and to protest but these cannot be allowed to compromise our staff’s safety or our response to the ongoing pandemic,” said Dr. Piggott, not specifying if the threats received have been made in person, by email, by phone, or by a combination of all three.

“We will be collaborating with police and ensuring any threats against safety will be investigated to the full extent of the law,” Dr. Piggott added. “I have zero tolerance for this. We have been working tirelessly for nearly two years. This is the last thing we need as we continue our work of protecting the population.”

Turning his attention to the emerging omicron variant, Dr. Piggott acknowledged “there certainly are more questions than answers at this point,” particularly about the effectiveness of current vaccines against the variant.

“What’s important is to assume and behave as if this variant is already in our region,” he said. “If there’s a silver lining, I think it’s that we’re hearing about this before the holiday season — before we have a number of gatherings. Had this information come to light only a few weeks later, the consequences could be much more dire and concerning.”

As the omicron variant takes hold in more countries each day, including Canada, local COVID-19 infection numbers are rising at a “concerning” rate, according to Dr. Piggott.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, there were 45 active cases in the region with 345 close contacts of cases being monitored. Both these numbers are up dramatically from the last briefing two weeks ago, when 21 active cases and 108 close contacts were reported.

To date this week since Monday morning, 12 new local cases have been detected. This follows a week that saw 45 new cases emerge — the highest weekly new local case total seen since the week of September 6 when 49 new cases were confirmed.

Meanwhile, the total number of local COVID-related deaths reported since the pandemic’s onset remains at 24. As for outbreaks, two are ongoing: one at Holy Cross Secondary School, which remains open with additional measures in place, and another at Rhema Christian School, which has transitioned to online learning.

The news is more encouraging on the vaccination front, with all numbers showing an uptick.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, 87.6 per cent of eligible residents aged 12 and older have received one dose, while 85.1 per cent have received two doses. In the age 12 to 17 group, 88.1 per cent have received one dose while 83.2 per cent are now fully immunized.

As for booster shots, 5.8 per cent of eligible residents aged 18 and up have rolled up their sleeve for a third time. That number jumps to 15.4 per cent for the more vulnerable aged 70 and up age group. Those seeking a third shot can book an appointment online at covid19.ontariohealth.ca or by phone at 1-833-943-3900. Walk-ins will not be accommodated.

With the Ontario government having announced on Thursday the expansion of booster shots to include those 50 years old and older, Dr. Piggott assured local clinics will be ready to accommodate the higher number of those seeking a third shot.

“The team is constantly planning and anticipating the next step to ensure we’re hitting the ground running,” he said.

Meanwhile, the vaccination of local children aged five to 11, Dr. Piggott reported that close to 300 children have received a first shot, with another 2,300 children booked for their initial dose. With no walk-ins being taken, parents and guardians must book a vaccination appointment through the provincial booking system. Visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/clinics for a listing of locations and times of clinics.

On the enforcement front, Peterborough Public Health environmental health manager Julie Ingram said the Section 22 Order closure of the White House on Charlotte Street a few days after it was fined $880 resulted from “a greater risk in the extent of non-compliance primarily relating to overcrowding and overcapacity, as well as the nature of the activities taking place” such as dancing and the removal of masks by patrons.

Meanwhile, the situation at Peterburgers on George Street North continues to be closely monitored. To date, the business has received three fines of $880 each, and also received a Section 22 Order warning of closure if the business continues to ignore public health measures.

“I know the community has been watching as events transpire and we’ve being receiving a lot of calls,” Ingram said. “There are processes that need to be followed and we will take any action that we need to take.”

Also in attendance for Thursday’s media briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, Hiawatha First Nation Chief Laurie Carr, Curve Lake First Nation Chief Emily Whetung, and Board of Health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.

Each took a few minutes to warmly welcome Dr. Piggott, who officially assumed the medical officer of health position on Wednesday. He was previously the medical officer of health of Labrador-Grenfell Health in the northern regions of Labrador, where he also served as the executive lead for population health and rural and remote health in the region.

With Ontario reporting 959 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday (December 2) and the potential threat of the omicron variant, the provincial government has announced Ontarians aged 50 and over will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses starting on Monday, December 13.

The announcement comes five days after the the first two cases of the potentially more transmissible omicron variant were confirmed in Ontario. Since then, another three cases in Ontario have been confirmed.

Booster dose appointments will be booked for around six months (168 days) after the second dose was administered. That means Ontarians 50 or older who received their second dose on June 28 or earlier would be eligible to receive their booster dose in the month of December.

“If you are eligible for a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please book your appointment as soon as you can to provide yourself with an extra layer of protection,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, in a media conference on Thursday afternoon.

“If you have not yet received the vaccine, please do so today. This includes vaccinations for children aged five to 11. Achieving the highest vaccination rates possible remains our best tool to protect us, reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, and fight the significant surge of new cases and the new omicron variant.”

The expansion of eligibility means around 4.6 million additional Ontarians are now eligible to receive a booster dose of the vaccine, for a total of about 5.7 million. To date, Ontario has administered more than 696,000 third or booster doses, including to 20 per cent of people aged 70 and over.

Beginning in January, Ontario will further expand eligibility for booster doses based on age and risk, with an interval of six to eight months from the second dose.

Dr. Moore said the province is staging the expansion of eligibility based on the capacity of the system to deliver booster doses and that, if that capacity isn’t being used, may expand eligibility to younger age groups.

“We want to able to provide the third doses in a timely fashion before the immunity fades, especially as we’re seeing an increase in cases related to delta and the potential threat of omicron to our communities as well,” Dr. Moore said.

In addition, the province is expanding eligibility immediately for people receiving dialysis, if it has been 56 days since their second dose. Also effective immediately, the province is recommending re-vaccination with a new COVID-19 vaccine primary series post-transplantation for those who receive hematopoietic stem cell transplants, hematopoietic cell transplants, and recipients of CAR-T-cell therapy, due to the loss of immunity following therapy or transplant.

The provincial government is also making a limited supply of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine available immediately. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available to adults aged 18 and over who have an allergy or contraindication to mRNA vaccines, or at the request of those who have not yet been vaccinated by contacting their public health unit.

Ontarians aged 50 and over will be eligible to schedule their booster dose appointments starting at 8 a.m. on December 13 through the COVID-19 vaccination portal at covid19.ontariohealth.ca, by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, and at select pharmacies and primary care settings.

Derek Banville has won a $500 Boro gift card for shopping in downtown Peterborough, as part of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s annual Holiday Shopping Passport program.

For ever $10 people spend at any of more than 150 participating downtown business, they receive a stamp in their holiday shopping passport. When a passport is filled with 20 stamps (representing $200 in spending), the completed passport is entered into a draw for three $500 early bird prizes and a $1,500 grand prize.

Banville’s passport was drawn as the winner of the first early bird prize on Wednesday (December 1) at The Pasta Shop at 165 Sherbrooke Street in downtown Peterborough.

Banville completed his winning passport when he purchased a new bike for his son’s birthday in November at Wild Rock Outfitters at 169 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough, where co-owner Scott Murison presented him with his $500 Boro gift card. Boro gift cards can be redeemed at any of the participating businesses in downtown Peterborough.

“My family loves shopping at Wild Rock — it’s our go-to place for camping gear,” Banville says in a media release. “We are so grateful to win the first Holiday Shopping Passport draw of the year and can’t wait to add a little more adventure under the tree this holiday season with our prize money.”

The two remaining $500 early bird prizes will be drawn on the next two Wednesdays in December (December 8 and 15), with the $1,500 grand prize to be drawn on Wednesday, January 12th.

You can get a holiday shopping passport at any of the participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in downtown Peterborough. Visit theboro.ca/holiday-shopping-passport/ for a list of all the participating businesses.

To start off your holiday shopping passport with no purchase necessary, you can get complimentary stamps at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.), the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitors Centre (270 George St. N.), and the Boro Holiday Hub (373 George St. N.).

Ren’s Pets, which is soon opening its first store in the Kawarthas, has pledged $25,000 worth of support to the Peterborough Humane Society’s new animal care centre.

The donation includes an annual contribution of $3,000 for five years towards the capital campaign for the new facility, currently under construction on Technology Drive, along with $10,000 worth of grooming equipment and supplies for the facility once it opens in October 2022.

Founded in 1975 in Oakville, Ren’s Pets is Canada’s largest independent retailer of pet supplies. On Tuesday (December 7), the company is opening its new store at 871 Rye Street in Peterborough, located in the Boston Pizza Plaza opposite Best Buy.

“Our support of the capital campaign to build the Peterborough Animal Care Centre is really meaningful to us,” says Scott Arsenault, chief executive officer of Ren’s Pets, in a media release. “Ren’s is here for your pet’s best life, and the Peterborough Humane Society shares that sentiment in giving pets their best to live happy, healthy lives.”

In recognition of the company’s support, the Peterborough Humane Society will name the grooming room of the new centre after Ren’s Pets.

“We’ve been looking to open a Ren’s store in Peterborough for quite awhile now,” Arsenault says. “We love becoming part of the pet community where we have stores, and our relationship with the Peterborough Humane Society will be central to that with our new store opening soon in Peterborough.”

Earlier reports that Ren’s Pets would be opening a store at Lansdowne Place Mall, in the new building where Sears was previously located, were incorrect. The company never intended to open a store there.

For more information about the new Peterborough store, including grand opening promotions, visit renspets.com/pages/peterborough-grand-opening.

Peterborough resident Mary Overholt is the latest lucky winner of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation’s 50/50 lottery.

Overholt won the November grand prize of $39,855 when her ticket number B-2740006 was drawn on Tuesday (November 30).

“I can’t believe it, I have tears in my eyes,” Overholt said when she received the call from PRHC Foundation staff. “Wow, thank you so much. Thank you for all the work that you do.”

Overholt also had the choice of a bonus prize of either a $2,500 Resorts of Ontario gift certificate or an additional $2,000 in cash. She chose the cash bonus prize, making her total winnings $41,855.

There were also two early bird winners during the November lottery, with Ruth Passant and Rebecca Schillemat each taking home $1,000 in cash.

Tickets for the December 50/50 lottery are now on sale at prhcfoundation5050.com, where you can buy 10 tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, 160 tickets for $40, or — in a special holiday deal — 750 tickets for $75 (350 more tickets than in previous months).

VIDEO: PRHC Foundation staff call Mary Overholt

The December lottery runs until Wednesday, December 29th with the grand prize winner drawn the following day. Two early bird draws will also be held on “WINter Wednesdays”, where a total of four winners will each receive $500 in cash.

Ticket buyers must be 18 years of age or older and in the province of Ontario to play.

Half of all the ticket sales in the 50/50 lottery go the PRHC Foundation to support equipment and technology at the hospital that the government doesn’t fund.

With more packages being delivered during the holiday season, Peterborough police are cautioning residents to be on the lookout for porch pirates.

Early Tuesday evening (November 30), officers were notified of an incident in the Ravenwood Drive and Parkhill Road area in Peterborough, where it appeared a vehicle was following a delivery van.

At one point the driver of the vehicle hopped out and stole a package that had just been delivered.

In a YouTube video, community services officer Jason Cannon provides some tips for preventing the theft of delivered packages.

Cannon recommends making sure your porch area is well lit and to be available when the package is being delivered, or to make arrangements for a friend and neighbour to collect it.

Police also recommend using delivery notification options so you know when a package is being delivered, and to report any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood.

VIDEO: Holiday Deliveries 2021

You can report suspicious activity by calling police at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

You can also make a report online at the Peterborough Police Service’s website at www.peterboroughpolice.com