As warnings of a coming fourth wave of COVID-19 become louder and more frequent, Peterborough’s medical officer of health says the fourth wave is already here.

“We’re certainly feeling the surge,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra during a Peterborough Public Health media briefing on Thursday (September 9), noting a sharp increase in the number of close contacts being monitored as just one indicator of that.

In the Peterborough region, as of late yesterday afternoon, 36 active cases were reported with 179 close contacts being followed. To date this week, 18 new cases have emerged — a sizable increase from the five new weekly cases reported just a month ago.

“These numbers are tracking significantly higher than two weeks ago,” Dr. Salvaterra said, adding “the delta variant continues to be the dominant strain we are seeing here.”

“Young people under the age of 30 continue to represent the largest proportion of our cases. This is a trend we have seen throughout the pandemic.”

On a positive note, there are no active outbreaks in the region, with the last local outbreak resolved on July 29. However, a potential exposure at the Canoe and Paddle pub in Lakefield did see Peterborough Public Health issue an advisory yesterday that anyone — vaccinated or not — who attended the pub between from August 30 to September 3 self-monitor for symptoms as well as get tested.

To date, according to Dr. Salvaterra, that exposure has resulted in four pub staff being infected.

Not unlike her public health colleagues across the province, Dr. Salvaterra stresses the best way to lessen the effects of the fourth wave is to get immunized.

To that end, this morning she issued a directive strongly recommending all workplaces develop or enhance policies requiring all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they are medically exempt.

She added that provincial labour laws require employers to use every reasonable precaution to protect the health and well-being of their employees. This includes workplace hazards posed by infectious diseases.

To help employers develop a policy or enhance an existing one, the health unit has provided guidance on its website at peterboroughpublichealth.ca/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-workplace-vaccination/.

“It’s really up to the employer how far they want to go with a policy, but we are recommending that COVID-19 vaccination be required of all staff,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “And that there needs to be some way for the employer to validate that the two immunizations have been actually received.”

With mandatory proof of full vaccination to enter a number of premises and venues required starting September 22, Dr. Salvaterra says the health unit has seen an uptick in the number of people getting vaccinated locally. Still, she notes an estimated 10,500 residents still need to roll up their shirtsleeves to hit the ideal 90 per cent fully vaccinated mark.

“I don’t think that’s going to get done quickly,” she admitted. “It will happen more gradually over time.”

With schools now open for the new academic year, there is good news on the vaccination front with close to 80 per cent of local youth aged 12 to 17 having received a first dose, and almost 66 per cent now fully immunized. In addition, 82.7 per cent of all vaccine-eligible residents aged 12 and up have received one dose while 76.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Dr. Salvaterra also shared updated information from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table that shows unvaccinated individuals are six times more likely to be infected with COVID-19, 30 times more likely to be hospitalized if infected, and 48 times more likely to end up in intensive care.

Of note, this was Dr. Salvaterra’s final media briefing as she prepares to depart Peterborough Public Health for a new position as deputy chief medical officer of health with Alberta Health. Dr. Salvaterra’s last day on the job locally is September 19, and she starts her new position in Edmonton on October 4.

With Peterborough’s new medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott set to take the reins in December, Donna Churipuy, director of public health programs, will serve as incident commander in the interim assisted by acting medical officer of health Dr. Ian Gemmill.

Also in attendance for Thursday’s media briefing were Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien and board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.

The 25th annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign in the Peterborough area, which runs during the week of September 13th, will be supporting mental health care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

When you pre-order or purchase the Tim Hortons chocolate chunk “Smile Cookies” for $1 each (plus tax), all proceeds will go to the PRHC Foundation for mental health care services at the regional hospital.

“Last year, there were more than 35,000 mental health related patient visits to PRHC, up from 32,000 the year before,” says Melinda Wall, director of mental health services at PRHC, in a media release. “In the past decade, the number of visits by adults and adolescents seeking support in our mental health and addictions crisis unit has doubled to 3,600 visits in 2020.”

“It’s clear the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impacts are also having a significant effect on our mental health,” Wall adds. “The true scope of this impact is yet unknown, as well as what it will mean for PRHC’s programs and services.”

Ryan Graham, who owns the Tim Hortons franchises in Bridgenorth, Lakefield, and Curve Lake First Nation, says the Smile Cookie campaign is a great way for both restaurant owners and patrons to give back to their communities.

“Over the past 25 years, the Smile Cookie campaign has raised more than $60 million for charities, hospitals, and community programs across the country, with a record-breaking $11 million in 2020,” Graham says. “This year, we’re directing our support locally to mental health care at PRHC because we believe it’s never been more important to make sure that people in our communities have access to these services close to home.”

Between Monday, September 13th and Sunday, September 19th, Tim Hortons Smile Cookies in support of the PRHC Foundation can be purchased at participating Tim Hortons locations in the Peterborough area, including:

• 1420 Missisauga St., Curve Lake
• 758 Ward St. N., Bridgenorth
• 139 Queen St., Lakefield
• 1527 Water St., Peterborough
• 871-875 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
• 81 Hunter St. E., Peterborough
• 721 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough
• 1 Hospital Dr., Peterborough
• 157 George St. N., Peterborough
• 645 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
• 1200 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
• 1781 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
• 1420 Crawford Dr., Peterborough
• 949 Highway 7 E., Peterborough

You can also pre-order cookies (including a large number) by downloading a form from the PRHC Foundation website at prhcfoundation.ca/get-ready-to-smile/ and dropping it off at your local Tim Hortons.

Note that pre-orders must be made 48 hours in advance.

Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the PRHC Foundation, said the hospital and the foundation are honoured to have been selected as the 25th anniversary beneficiary in the Peterborough area, and that the support of the community for this year’s campaign will have a positive impact on mental health care in the region.

“PRHC’s doctors, nurses and staff want to give their patients the best care possible, but we must invest in the safe, functional, and healing indoor and outdoor mental health spaces that support that care, as well as the equipment and technology that bring new, life-changing mental health treatment options to our region.” Heighway says.

“On behalf of everyone at PRHC and in our region who will rely on PRHC for mental health support in the coming months and years, thank you for helping ensure all patients can receive the compassionate, quality care they need and deserve.”

The Tim Hortons Smile Cookie program started in 1996 to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital in Ontario. Today, more than 625 local charities and organizations in communities across Canada benefit from Smile Cookie sales, receiving 100 per cent of the proceeds (excluding taxes).

Peterborough police say the coroner is now investigating after a body was found in the Otonabee River on Wednesday afternoon (September 8).

Police received a 9-1-1 call at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday about a body in the water in the area of Hunter Street West and Burnham Street in Peterborough’s East City.

Life-saving measures were attempted, but the person was pronounced dead at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Peterborough police conducted an investigation and say foul play is not suspected.

Two teenage suspects accused of multiple thefts have been arrested after twice fleeing police, including by ramming a police cruiser.

The Peterborough County OPP had been searching for the suspects’ vehicle following an investigation of two thefts at an auto wreckers business on Drummond Line in Peterborough County.

Last Tuesday (August 31) at around 2 a.m., the suspects removed the catalytic converters from six vehicles, returning to the business two days later to remove catalytic converters from four additional vehicles.

On Wednesday (September 8) at around 9:30 a.m., police located the suspects’ vehicle, but it fled at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was observed in Northumberland County later that morning, but escaped by ramming a police cruiser.

Police located the suspects’ vehicle near Bailieboro around 12:30 p.m. The driver again attempted to flee, but lost control and entered the ditch on Hannah Road. No injuries were reported.

Jordan Moody, 19, of Peterborough has been arrested and charged with three counts of break and enter, three counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, obstructing a police officer, two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of flight from a peace officer, theft under $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

A 17 year old from Peterborough, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with three counts of break and enter and possession of break-in instruments.

Moody is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough later today. The 17-year-old suspect is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on October 4.

Peterborough’s health unit is advising patrons of the Canoe and Paddle at 18 Bridge Street in Lakefield of a potential exposure to COVID-19 from Monday, August 30th to Friday, September 3rd.

Peterborough Public Health considers anyone who dined at the restaurant during this period to be a high-risk contact.

For unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people, the health unit recommends you get tested immediately and self-isolate for 10 days from the last date you attended the restaurant.

For fully vaccinated people (at least two weeks have passed since the second dose) who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19, the health unit recommends you get tested immediately and self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days from the last date you attended the restaurant.

For fully vaccinated people with symptoms of COVID-19, the health unit recommends you self-isolate and get tested immediately. If the test is positive, you must continue to self-isolate for 10 days (Peterborough Public Health will contact you). If the test is negative, you can discontinue self-isolation if your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms).

COVID-19 symptoms can include: fever or chills; cough or shortness of breath; muscle aches, joint pain, and tiredness; difficulty breathing (shortness of breath); sore throat or difficulty swallowing; headache; runny nose or stuffy (congested) nose; new loss of taste or smell; and gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea).

Peterborough’s Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team is asking for the public’s assistance in keeping an eye out for several stolen items.

Last Thursday (September 2) at around 5:30 p.m., a man broke into the team’s storage locker at Peterborough Multiple Storage at 581 Neil Drive.

Among the items stolen from the locker are a dragon head for the team’s boat, a drum, two wooden drum seats that fasten on the front of the team’s boats, a box of safety kits, and a camping tent.

The team is asking anyone who sees these items or hears of their whereabouts to contact the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122.

Founded in 1999, Survivors Abreast is a group of breast cancer survivors from the Peterborough area in various stages of treatment and recovery.

The team was instrumental in the creation of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, first held in 2001. The annual event has since raised over $3.6 million in support of equipment that enhances breast cancer detection, treatment, and care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

This incident may be related to another theft from storage lockers being investigated by the Peterborough County OPP.

Last Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening (September 1 and 2), a man broke into seven storage units at a business on County Road 19 by cutting the locks off. The suspect — who is described as a white male of average height wearing jeans, a dark sweater over a white shirt, and a ball cap — was driving a grey Honda HR-V with a sunroof with licence plate 61TR46 on the back.

Investigators are actively looking for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect in this case. If you have any information, call the Peterborough County OPP at 705-742-0401 or the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or stopcrimehere.ca.

This story has been updated with information about a similar break-in being investigated by the Peterborough County OPP.