Old Norwood Road is one of three roads connecting Television Road to Ashburnham Drive the City of Peterborough has closed to through traffic until Parks Canada completes construction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Parks Canada has announced the reopening of the Warsaw Road Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East in Peterborough to vehicles and pedestrians has now been delayed until at least Saturday, August 7th.
“All mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components are onsite,” Parks Canada states in a media release. “However, issues related to the installation of the components have delayed the bridge testing and commissioning work to next week.”
“If the testing and commissioning goes well, the bridge is expected to reopen on August 7th,” Parks Canada adds. “If additional adjustments or modifications are required as a result of the testing, the bridge opening will be delayed until they are completed.”
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Parks Canada also says that, immediately following the reopening of the bridge, short intermittent delays can be expected for operational testing. Traffic control measures will be in place.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1956, was closed in October 2020 to replace the steel swing bridge structure, to repair the concrete abutments, and to replace mechanical and electrical operating systems. The bridge is now capable of handling full highway loading.
The bridge was originally scheduled to reopen in spring 2021. In May, Parks Canada announced the reopening of the bridge would be delayed until early July. During the closure, local traffic has been detoured along alternate routes.
Jillian Harrington, president of the board of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, and Joe Grant, chair of the board of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, explain the proposal to merge the two chambers in a video to members. (Screenshot by kawarthaNOW)
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism have announced plans to merge into a single organization under the proposed new name Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
According to a consolidation proposal distributed to members of both chambers on Wednesday morning (July 28), the boards of directors of both chambers have been exploring opportunities to collaborate over the past few months, with both boards unanimously approving a decision to pursue the consolidation of the two chambers.
The 830 members of the Peterborough Chamber and the 300 members of the Kawartha Chamber will be asked to vote on the consolidation proposal this fall, following information meetings in September.
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The decision to pursue consolidation was prompted by the impact of the pandemic on local businesses.
“As the world begins to repair itself, it’s important more than ever that we share a common voice — a common ground together,” says Jillian Harrington, president of the board of the Kawartha Chamber in a media release.
“We’re very excited about this opportunity to join forces,” adds Joe Grant, chair of the board the Peterborough Chamber.
VIDEO: Proposal to merge the Peterborough and Kawartha Chambers
The consolidation proposal states that a single and larger chamber will be more advantageous, with a stronger influence on government policy, a wider of member services, better training and programs, and cost savings on overhead costs such as insurance and software.
If approved by members, the consolidated chamber will ultimately result in higher membership fees for existing members of the Kawartha Chamber, as the new chamber will adopt the fee structure of the Peterborough Chamber. However, costs will be reduced for the 70 area businesses that currently belong and pay membership fees to both chambers.
The consolidated chamber would retain the Peterborough Chamber’s office and staff at 175 George Street in Peterborough and, in Lakefield, the Kawartha Chamber’s ServiceOntario building and staff at 133 Water Street, as well as the Kawartha Chamber staff currently in the municipal building at 12 Queen Street.
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“We are very excited about the opportunities that a consolidated chamber will present,” says Stuart Harrison, president and CEO of the Peterborough Chamber. “Whether we are putting on a networking event or lobbying city or county council, there is strength in numbers. This is one marketplace and we are committed to strengthening businesses in the entire county.”
With the senior managers of both chambers about to retire in the next 18 months, a merger will also allow for the consolidation of senior management.
“Knowing that retaining local identity will be a priority, I am confident that when I depart at year’s end, the new Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce will be an accessible and effective voice for all businesses throughout the city and county,” says Sherry Boyce-Found, general manager of the Kawartha Chamber.
Victoria Park Beach in Cobourg. (Photo: Town of Cobourg)
The popular Victoria Park Beach in Cobourg is now open on weekends and statutory holidays, just in time for the Civic Holiday long weekend.
At its regular meeting on Monday (July 26), town council voted to fully reopen the beach after a lengthy discussion.
The beach has been open only on weekdays since last September, following a closure for the entire summer of 2020 because of the pandemic.
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Council passed a motion to immediately reopen the beach in a 6-to-1 vote, with deputy mayor Suzanne Seguin voting against the motion.
After a discussion on whether to reopen the beach on weekends on August 3 and whether to take down the rented fencing from the beach perimeter, but to keep it on hand in case it needs to be reinstalled for emergency reasons, council decided to immediately open the beach on weekends but to keep the fencing up until September 7 to help manage crowding on the beach.
Town of Cobourg by-law enforcement and Cobourg police will also retain the authority to temporarily close the beach if an emergency is declared.
While it was open during the week, a 1,200-person capacity limit was in place at the beach. Last Wednesday (July 21), the town closed the beach when the capacity limit was exceeded by about 400 people.
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When asked what the new capacity limit will be with the beach fully opened, town clerk Brent Larmer was unable to provide a specific number.
“We really know what congestion looks like and how it feels on the beach,” Larmer said, adding that enforcement officers also listen to members of the public who feel the beach is too crowded. “Our officers have pretty good judgment, so when they can’t move or they’re rubbing shoulders with people, that’s a good indication there may be too many on the beach.”
Larmer added the town would also follow provincial rules on capacity limits as well as physical distancing requirements.
The Town of Cobourg is encouraging beachgoers to follow rules and safety protocols, including maintaining physical distancing and not playing organized team sports such as beach volleyball.
The town’s website states the beach “may close at any time if rules and safety protocols are not being followed.”
The beach is now open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 129 new COVID-19 cases today, with 4 of Ontario’s 34 health units reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (22), Hamilton (15), Waterloo (14), and Peel (13) — and 12 reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases remains unchanged at 157.
Hospitalizations have increased by 29 to 125, but part of this increase may be a result of underreporting as more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census yesterday. The number of ICU patients has decreased by 4 to 127, and the number of patients on ventilators has increased by 2 to 81.
Ontario is reporting 5 new COVID-related deaths today, with none in long-term care homes.
Over 19.1 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 92,035 from yesterday, with over 8.7 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 76,179 from yesterday, representing almost 59% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 26 – July 26, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 26 – July 26, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 26 – July 26, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 3 new cases to report in Peterborough.
Numbers are unavailable for Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings Prince Edward as the respective health units only issue reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Numbers for Tuesday will be included in Wednesday’s update.
An additional 3 cases in Peterborough have been resolved, leaving the number of active cases unchanged at 5.
As of July 26, there are 30 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Peterborough, 3 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West, 1 in Belleville, and 1 in North Hastings), and 3 in Haliburton. There are no active cases in Northumberland.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,632 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,605 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,158 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,094 resolved with 58 deaths), 946 in Northumberland County (929 resolved with 17 deaths), 125 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,146 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,132 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
As a pandemic project, Peterborough housemates Tiphaine Lenaik and Rosemary MacAdam launched a series of porch concerts at their Bonaccord Street home last summer. Tiphaine organizes the concerts, while homeowner Rosemary emcees. The series, called 'Waiting for the right porch', is returning this summer with a porch concert every two weeks. Pictured is the July 23, 2021 concert, which featured LA Alfonso, Jake Bartoli, River Jensen, and Kalen Davidson. (Photo courtesy of Tiphaine Lenaik)
A Peterborough porch has been transformed into a centre for music, art, and community throughout the pandemic. This summer, housemates Rosemary MacAdam and Tiphaine Lenaik are continuing to host a series of porch concerts at their Bonaccord Street home in Peterborough.
The idea for the series, which they’ve called “Waiting for the right porch”, was hatched during a conversation last spring between Tiphaine and former housemate Andy. According to Tiphaine, she and Andy were sitting on their front porch discussing how they would entertain themselves over the summer with COVID-19 restricting their options.
“We have this beautiful home with a huge front porch, so we thought maybe we could host something socially distanced from the porch,” Tiphaine recalls. “We then heard live music happening on our street, so we walked over to it. It was these teenagers practising their instruments. So we asked them if they wanted to play our first porch concert.”
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That first concert was small and intimate, with an audience of fewer than 10 people. Tiphaine and Rosemary began garnering a larger audience through email invites to friends and family and by inviting their immediate neighbours.
As the series continued throughout last summer, audiences grew through word of mouth while maintaining an intimate neighbourhood vibe. Up to 25 people brought their lawn chairs and sat physically distanced on the property. Beyond that then-permitted audience size, passersby were invited to watch from the sidewalk.
The variety of performers grew along with audience size. With their connections to the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, Rosemary and Tiphaine invited some circus performer friends — such as fire performers and clowns — to perform.
“We had such an awesome time last year, and it snowballed into something that we got really excited about,” Tiphaine reflects. “We got a lot of new performers and connections through people who were already performing.”
In addition to being a fun and entertaining project for Tiphaine and Rosemary throughout the summer months, the porch concert series supports local performing artists during the pandemic. At each concert, a donation bucket is circulated, with all proceeds going directly to the artists.
Tiphaine and Rosemary also post performers’ emails on a poster board so audience members can e-transfer donations to them after the concert.
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“The performers seem really grateful and happy to have a place to perform,” says Tiphaine. “It’s nice because they pull in everything that comes their way in donations, since we’re not an actual venue taking a cut.”
Since indoor performance venues have been closed for most of the past 16 months of the pandemic, those in the performing arts industry have been especially hard hit. Tiphaine and Rosemary feel passionate about ensuring artists are sustained throughout this challenging time.
Tiphaine, a teacher, has a passion for the arts due to her background in visual arts and painting.
Last summer, ‘Waiting for the right porch’ was permitted to have 25 physically distanced audience members seated on the property, with others asked to stay by the sidewalk. Although capacity limits have increased in step three of Ontario’s reopening plan, hosts Rosemary and Tiphaine will continue to limit audience size. (Photo courtesy of Tiphaine Lenaik)
“I was involved in a lot of community art and music events in Toronto in my 20s,” Tiphaine explains. “I would volunteer at music festivals and have my own art shows for painting. Lately, I’ve been doing murals with Love for the Boro with the DBIA.”
Although she is not an artist herself, Rosemary also has a passion for art. As a social worker, she thinks art is vital for mental well-being, especially during the pandemic.
“Even though I work in a different career path, I want art around me,” Rosemary says. “I think art makes a community beautiful, and I want to support the people who create that for me. The performances, art, and festivals make a community vibrant, and we need that in Peterborough. Arts and artists need our support.”
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“As we’re recovering from this time, I just want to share how important the arts are for people’s mental health,” Rosemary adds. “Many folks have been isolated, and it’s been an anxious time — I just want to share how important I think the arts are to recovery.”
The two housemates are excited to launch their second season of porch concerts this summer. The concerts are organized by Tiphaine and emceed by Rosemary and run every second Friday this summer.
Tiphaine and Rosemary held their first summer concerts on July 9 and 23 and have three more scheduled for the Fridays of August 6, August 20, and September 3. Each show will start at 7 p.m. and run until about 10:30 p.m.
Tiphaine and Rosemary have loved watching the Bonaccord neighbourhood children get involved with the porch concert series. Pictured are children acting out animals as a part of Indigenous hand drummer Janet McCue’s performance last summer. (Photo courtesy of Tiphaine Lenaik)
Step three of Ontario’s reopening plan means outdoor gathering limits have increased far beyond the capacity of their yard. Nevertheless, Tiphaine and Rosemary hope to keep audience sizes relatively small and always physically distanced.
This summer’s porch concert series is also exciting for Tiphaine and Rosemary’s Bonaccord street neighbours, who loved the series last year and have been inquiring about its return ever since.
“The neighbourhood seems really supportive,” Tiphaine remarks. “A lot of neighbours have been asking when we’re doing it again, saying it really brought them a lot of joy last year.”
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Both Tiphaine and Rosemary’s favourite part of the concert series is how it brings people together.
Tiphaine says she loves it when performers call for audience participation. At one concert featuring Indigenous drummer Janet McCue, children were called on stage to act out animals during the performance.
“It’s been a really wonderful touchstone to connection and community during the pandemic,” Rosemary says. “We have fewer opportunities to connect to people — especially to people who aren’t our immediate friends and family and aren’t the immediate bubble we might be in. Connecting to the wider community has been really important to my mental health.”
‘Waiting for the right porch’ concerts feature performers with a wide variety of experience. According to Tiphaine, the porch concerts are open to everyone and she encourages anyone who has something to share to get in touch with herself and Rosemary through their Instagram account. (Photo courtesy of Tiphaine Lenaik)
The housemates also love how the concerts provide a safe place for amateur performers to share their talents for the first time.
As well as professional musicians (such as 14-year-old fiddling sensation Amelia Shadgett, known by her stage name Irish Millie, who recently released her first record), the series has featured retirees who’ve never performed outside of their own homes, and children performing in public for the first time.
“Porch concerts are open to everyone,” Rosemary notes. “You can come up and sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ or you could be the most accomplished musician who has travelled around the world.”
VIDEO: Irish Millie performs “Trundles” at Bonaccord Street
Tiphaine is inviting anyone who has something to share to come out and try it at a ‘Waiting for the next porch’ concert.
“We want to encourage people to keep creating because we need them,” she says. “We are encouraging anyone, even if they don’t think they’re ready — because maybe they are.”
If you are interested in performing at a ‘Waiting for the next porch” concert, Tiphaine and Rosemary ask you to follow and message them on Instagram @ptbonaccord, where you’ll also find information about attending a concert.
If you plan to attend one of the upcoming porch concerts, Rosemary and Tiphaine ask that you bring your own chair — and make sure to use your own bathroom before you come since none are available during the concert. You can find free parking on Bonaccord Street.
The vaccination clinic at the Evinrude Centre in Peterborough will be moving back to the multipurpose room (pictured in May) effect August 3, 2021. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Peterborough Public Health and Peterborough Regional Health Centre have announced several upcoming changes to COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Peterborough-area residents, reflecting a shift to more targeted delivery of vaccines as the demand declines — despite 37 per cent of eligible residents not yet being fully vaccinated.
The clinic at the Evinrude Centre will be closed from Friday (July 30) to Monday (August 2) for a move from the ice pad back to the multipurpose room. The clinic will reopen on Tuesday (August 3) for appointments and walk-ins.
Peterborough Public Health will also be offering three walk-in clinics during August in three selected communities in Peterborough County for residents 18 years and older.
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An Apsley clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3 at the North Kawartha Community Centre (340 McFadden Road). A Buckhorn clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 7 at the Buckhorn Community Centre (1782 Lakehurst Road). A Millbrook clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17 at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre (986 Peterborough County Road 10).
These clinics will offer both first and second doses of mRNA vaccines, with no appointment necessary.
“There are still approximately 15,000 eligible local residents who are unvaccinated,” says Dr. Rosanna Salvaterra, Peterborough’s medical officer of health, in a media release. “We still have a long way to go before we reach herd immunity in Peterborough. By bringing the vaccine to our rural communities through these walk-in clinics, I’m hoping we can make it even more convenient for county residents to get the added protection of a two-dose summer.”
To encourage people to get vaccinated, the health unit will be running a weekly raffle at the pop-up clinics, as well as at the Evinrude Clinic. Two winners will be drawn every week over the next four weeks, with each winner receiving a $50 gift card from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA) that can be redeemed at downtown Peterborough businesses.
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Meanwhile, Peterborough Regional Health Centre announced it is scaling back the operation of the hospital’s vaccine clinic.
After Wednesday (July 28), the clinic will only be operating from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the following dates: Thursday, August 5; Tuesday, August 10; Thursday, August 12; Tuesday, August 17; and Thursday, August 19.
On these dates, the clinic will continue to offer vaccines for people who have scheduled appointments through the provincial booking system and for walk-ins aged 12 and older.
“As vaccination rates have continued to rise across the province and the country, Peterborough Regional Health Centre has seen activity in its COVID-19 vaccine clinic continue to steadily decrease,” the hospital writes in a media release.
As of last Wednesday, 82,941 residents of the Peterborough area have received two doses of vaccine, including 65.7 of adults and 25.8 per cent of youth aged 12 to 17. This represents 63.3 per cent of all those eligible for a vaccine and 56 per cent of the area’s total population.
Peterborough resident Eileen Kimmett had a close encounter with a busy beaver on the trail in Jackson Park. The beaver, which was harvesting a branch from a downed tree, went about its business while Eileen captured some video and photos. (Photo: Eileen Kimmett / Facebook)
Peterborough resident Eileen Kimmett loves nature, and nature loves her right back — judging from her recent experience with a determined beaver in Jackson Park.
Eileen, who is known for sharing photos on social media of her monarch butterfly nursery, was cycling on the Trans-Canada Trail near Parkhill Road West on Monday (July 26) when she encountered a beaver harvesting a branch from a tree downed by high winds.
“It was a tough bike home from work today,” Eileen writes on Twitter, referring to the poor air quality from forest fires in northwestern Ontario. “But then this happened. No words. Nature is pretty amazing.”
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Eileen posted some close-up videos and photos of the beaver, who was so focused on getting the branch that it didn’t seem to mind the attention.
At one point in the video, another cyclist rides by the busy beaver without stopping — as if to say “Just another day in Peterborough.”
Eileen’s Twitter video has attracted a lot of likes, including from The Weather Network which will be sharing it with Eileen’s permission.
It was a tough bike home from work today. The air is terrible.
The beaver made quick work of the branch, gnawing through it in a matter of seconds before carrying it away.
Canada’s largest rodent, the beaver was an important animal for Indigenous peoples, who ate their meat and used their fur and teeth. When European settlers arrived, the beaver became the primary animal of the fur trade which, at its peak, saw 100,000 beaver pelts shipped to Europe each year (mainly for fur hats).
While there were an estimated six million beavers in Canada before the start of the fur trade, the beaver was close to extinction by the mid-19th century. Fortunately for the beaver, the European interest in fur hats declined and the demand for beaver pelts plummeted. With conservation efforts, the beaver is now alive and well across Canada, and was given official status as an emblem of Canada in 1975.
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As for Eileen’s monarch butterfly nursery, you can follow her on Twitter @EileenKimmett to keep up to date on the progress of the monarchs from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.
Eileen, who is also a marathon runner, participated in the inaugural Monarch Ultra Relay Run in 2019, an epic 4,300-kilometre run across North America (Canada, United States, and Mexico) to raise awareness of the plight of the monarch butterfly.
The Monarch Ultra Relay Run returns in September, with a 1,800-kilometre relay run from Peterborough to Barrie.
3 more ?? beauties – yesterday Ultra – our 1st boy emerged into the world. Yes named after @monarch_ultra
Twins – Q (Girl) & Rocky (Boy) must have emerged this morning due to the smell of my coffee.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 119 new COVID-19 cases today — the same number of cases reported a year ago today.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 4 are reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (22), Hamilton (15), Waterloo (14), and Peel (13) — and 12 are reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 2 to 157.
Hospitalizations have increased by 8 to 96, but more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census yesterday so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of ICU patients has increased by 4 to 131, and the number of patients on ventilators has decreased by 2 to 79. Ontario is reporting 3 new COVID-related deaths, including 1 in a long-term care home.
Over 19 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 65,920 from yesterday, with over 8.6 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 56,180 from yesterday, representing over 58% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 25 – July 25, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 25 – July 25, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 25 – July 25, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 9 new cases over the past 3 days, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Haliburton, and 1 in Peterborough. There have been no new cases over the past 3 days in Northumberland or Hastings Prince Edward.
An additional 7 cases in the region have been resolved over the past 3 days, including 6 in Hastings Prince Edward and 1 in Peterborough.
Regional active cases have increased by 6 in Kawartha Lakes and by 2 in Haliburton, decreased by 6 in Hastings Prince Edward, and remain the same in Peterborough.
There are currently 30 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 2 since July 23, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Peterborough, 3 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West, 1 in Belleville, and 1 in North Hastings), and 3 in Haliburton. There are no active cases in Northumberland.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,629 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,602 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,158 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,094 resolved with 58 deaths), 946 in Northumberland County (929 resolved with 17 deaths), 125 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,146 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,132 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
Ron Armstrong of Woodville received his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the drive-through vaccination clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition on July 13, 2021. The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is asking all residents who have second-dose appointments scheduled for August through November to rebook their appointments to an earlier date or to visit the drive-through clinic or a walk-in clinic to get their second dose without an appointment. (Photo courtesy of Ross Memorial Hospital)
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has announced it will be cancelling appointments for second doses of COVID-19 vaccine that have been booked for after the Civic Holiday long weekend at vaccination clinic sites in Minden, Cobourg, Fenelon Falls, and Campbellford.
In a media release issued Monday (July 26), the health unit is asking all residents with second-dose appointments for August through November made through the provincial booking system at those clinics to immediately rebook their appointments to an earlier date or to visit a walk-in clinic to get their second dose.
“With ample COVID-19 vaccine supply and many vacant appointments this week, we are asking people not to delay getting their second dose,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, the health unit’s medical officer of health.
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As of Monday (August 3), the health unit will cancel all second-dose appointments from the provincial booking system made for August, September, October, and November at its COVID-19 vaccination clinic sites in Minden, Cobourg, Fenelon Falls, and Campbellford.
The health unit states it is urging anyone age 12 years and older to get their second vaccine dose as soon as possible, since the more infectious delta variant is now the most common strain of COVID-19 in Ontario.
“As fall arrives, we expect to see an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in our area,” Dr. Bocking says. “People who have not received both doses of their COVID-19 vaccine will be most at risk, so the sooner everyone is fully vaccinated, the better our communities will be protected.”
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The health unit states residents have a number of ways to get their second dose:
Reschedule your second-dose appointment using the provincial booking system online at ontario.ca/book-vaccine or by calling 1-833-943-3900. The health unit has many appointments available for the rest of July and more appointments are being posted for August. All clinics will be offering both types of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna).
Walk in to a health unit COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Cobourg, Minden, Fenelon Falls, and Campbellford. A drive-in vaccination clinic is also offered at the Lindsay Exhibition site in Lindsay run by Ross Memorial Hospital. No appointment is necessary for these clinics. For locations and dates, visit hkpr.on.ca/2021/04/30/vaccination-clinics/.
Sign up for a standby list at health unit COVID-19 vaccine clinics and you will be contacted if there are extra COVID-19 doses available near the end of the day at a clinic. Visit hkpr.on.ca/2021/06/27/covid-190-vaccine-standby-list/ for full instructions.
Check with your primary care provider to see about getting vaccinated. Many family health teams and community health centres in the area are providing doses.
Contact a local pharmacy to get vaccinated. Select pharmacies in the area are offering mRNA vaccines, and appointments can be made directly with the pharmacy. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations to search pharmacies by town, postal code, and vaccine type.
“We appreciate everyone’s understanding to rebook second dose appointments earlier or walk in for a vaccine,” says Dr. Booking. “Getting needles into more arms as quickly as possible is the best way to fight COVID-19 and the delta variant.”
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 172 new COVID-19 cases today, with 4 of Ontario’s 34 health units reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (48), Peel (23), Durham (11), and Hamilton (11) — and 8 reporting no new cases at all.
The seven-day average of daily cases remains unchanged at 159.
Hospitalizations have fallen by 37 to 88, but more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of ICU patients has decreased by 5 to 127, and the number of patients on ventilators has decreased by 5 to 81. Ontario is reporting 2 new COVID-related deaths, with none in long-term care homes.
Over 18.9 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 103,812 from yesterday, with over 8.5 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 88,991 from yesterday, representing almost 58% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 24 – July 24, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 24 – July 24, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 24 – July 24, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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Numbers for the greater Kawarthas region are unavailable on weekends as no health units in the region publish reports on Saturdays or Sundays.
However, the Ontario data indicates that, for July 24, there were 5 new cases in Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge, 1 new case in Peterborough, and 1 new case in Hastings Prince Edward. Actual cases for regional health units will be confirmed when the health units issue their reports on Monday.
As of July 23, there are 28 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 9 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West, 1 in Belleville, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 1 in Prince Edward County, 4 in Central Hastings, and 1 in North Hastings), 5 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton. There are no active cases in Northumberland.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,627 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,601 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,152 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,094 resolved with 58 deaths), 946 in Northumberland County (929 resolved with 17 deaths), 123 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,146 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,126 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
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