When public health units return to the colour-coded system of the province's COVID-19 response framework beginning February 16, 2021, you will once again be able to get a haircut and to dine inside a restaurant, with differing restrictions depending on the colour level. Only regions placed in the "Grey-Lockdown" level will have to follow restrictions similar to the current stay-at-home order.
Barring a dramatic upturn in the number of positive local COVID-19 cases, the Peterborough region will see an easing of pandemic-related restrictions next week as part of Ontario’s plan to slowly reopen the economy.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Tuesday (February 9), medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra reported a total of 18 active cases of COVID-19 locally — 13 fewer than reported last Friday and reflective of a continued drop in cases seen since late December.
Dr. Salvaterra said the provincial government looks at various indicators before making any decision as to whether a particular region can loosen restrictions, as was the case Monday when the province announced that, effective Wednesday, three public health regions — Hastings Prince Edward Public Health; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health; and Renfrew County and District Health Unit — would move back into the “Green-Prevent” level of the province’s COVID-19 response framework that was in effect prior to the province-wide shutdown implemented on Boxing Day.
Advertisement - content continues below
On Monday, the government also announced Ontario’s remaining public health units would be moved back into the COVID-19 response framework beginning next Tuesday (February 16) — except for Toronto, Peel, and York, where the stay-at-home order will remain in place until at least Monday, February 22nd.
Decisions on which colour-coded level each health unit moves into, from the least restrictive “Green-Prevent” level to the most restrictive “Grey-Lockdown” level, will depend on public health indicators in each health unit region.
“It’s really a composite picture that is required to make that decision,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “The province looks at our indicators such as far as our outbreak is concerned. They also look at capacity in terms of both public health and the hospital. They also look at what’s happening with outbreaks.”
“The most promising sign is our incidence rate has dropped to none for this week,” she added. “We need to be below 10 if we want to be in green. We have two outbreaks (at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Riverview Retirement Residence). If they continue to be well controlled and are declared over, that would be more reason why green would be an appropriate zone for us to emerge in. We’re trending towards green, but it will really depend on what happens between now and next week.”
Dr. Salvaterra added that if local indicators “had been better last week when the data was pulled from by the province”, Peterborough Public Health would have been among those transitioned to the Green-Prevent level.
“Things are looking a lot better this week, so if we keep this up I’m hopeful we will emerge at the green level,” said Dr. Salvaterra.
Should the Peterborough region be moved to the Green-Prevent level, there is a wide range of activities that would be again be allowed, along with increases in the number of people that can gather outdoors (25) and indoors (10).
The level also allows, in conjunction with existing mandated safety protocols and set maximum crowd number limits, for the reopening of indoor dining establishments, retail stores, meeting and event spaces, personal care services, movie theatres, and performing arts facilities. For a full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the Green-Prevent level, visit ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open.
Advertisement - content continues below
“February 16th will be show time … it will be up to all of us to be diligent,” said Dr. Salvaterra. “With the threat of the variants of concern now circulating in parts of Ontario, we all need to ensure that the reopening does not become the beginning of a third wave.”
Speaking to the local vaccination rollout, Dr. Salvaterra noted that with Tuesday’s inoculation of long-term care residents at Extendicare Peterborough and Centennial Place in Millbrook, well more than 90 per cent of residents at all eight long-term care homes in Peterborough city and county agreed to receive, and have received, their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
The next phase of the local vaccination program, added Dr. Salvaterra, will target retirement homes and congregate care settings.
As for the enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions, one charge against a retail store has been laid, confirmed Julie Ingram, Peterborough Public Health’s manager of environmental health.
“A charge was laid under the Reopening Ontario Act associated with non-compliance with masking requirements by a person responsible for the business or organization,” said Ingram.
“When it comes to a person who is responsible for a business or organization, they have an obligation to be aware of the rules and requirements. Masking is no secret at this point. There is an obligation to have a masking policy in place and comply as a business owner yourself, as well as having your staff comply. In this case it was a very obvious disregard for the regulation which is what prompted the charge.”
Also present and commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, Hiawatha First Nations Chief Laurie Carr, Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell, and Peterborough Police Services Chief Scott Gilbert.
Dating during a pandemic has created a whole new set of challenges for those looking for love. Three couples share their experiences with developing relationships when we're all being encouraged to stay home and keep apart. (Stock photo)
It has been almost a year since the current age of lockdowns, physical distancing, social bubbles, and mask wearing first began. These restrictions place massive hurdles for those wanting to meet and date new people.
Just as the internet has been an asset for schools, workplaces, and keeping in touch with friends throughout COVID-19, it is also a huge asset for those looking to start a romantic relationship.
Here’s how three young couples have started relationships safely, despite the pandemic.
James and Amanda
James and Amanda went on three dates before the first provincial COVID-19 lockdown stopped them from going on their fourth. The couple spent the lockdown getting to know each other on FaceTime and are now living together. (Supplied photo)
One couple, who started seeing each other just before the first provincial lockdown, has spent the last year finding creative ways to date throughout the age of COVID-19.
James (age 28) and Amanda (age 25) met on the dating app Hinge in February 2020. A year later and they are now living together.
“We had our first date on March 1st,” James recalls. “Our second date was the following weekend, and then our third date was a few days before lockdown. Covid hit, and we were both upset because clearly, we were very into each other. We were like, ‘Go figure this happens — we finally meet somebody we’re interested in and a pandemic hits, and we can’t see each other.'”
The two then began video chatting as an alternative to in-person dates. James says they had extra time to talk with both parties home and not working, video chatting almost every night for between two and six hours.
“I have never spent so much time on video calls in my life,” James laughs. “I typically hate FaceTiming, but I’m honestly thankful for it. We were forced to get to know each other better and on a more personal level.”
James says without this time getting to know each other so intimately on FaceTime, he doesn’t think they would be living together now.
Advertisement - content continues below
The couple eventually started also meeting up safely for physically distanced, masked walks outside.
When the restrictions lightened up in the summer, James says they began seeing each other for at-home dates. They would do things like watch movies, order takeout, and play cards.
In October, James and Amanda took the next step in their relationship and moved in together. According to James, they felt ready since they had spent the past months getting to know each other so well.
However, COVID-19 was another contributing factor since they had been living with their parents. They didn’t want to put their families at risk by seeing each other when the virus heated up again.
“We love being together even in a lockdown scenario where we’re not going anywhere else,” James notes. “When we finally have the opportunity to go out to restaurants and bars or travel the world together, it’s only going to get better.”
James says he is not at all concerned about receiving judgment for meeting his girlfriend online.
“Nowadays, it’s just as common as meeting somebody anywhere else. Even my mom met her current husband online.”
As for their plans this Valentine’s Day, James says that he still plans to do something nice although they cannot go out.
“I’ll probably go out to the grocery store and bring home some flowers, light some candles, and cook some dinner. We’ll probably do what we’ve been doing throughout the pandemic — spend some time together and watch a movie.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Emma and Liam
Note: This couple has requested their real names not be used.
When Emma (age 25) and Liam (age 26) matched on the dating app Tinder last spring, Liam had just returned from school in the U.S. and was in a two-week quarantine.
The pair didn’t end up meeting in person for another two months. Now, they’re back to communicating purely online since Liam returned to school in September.
After two months of texting and phoning each other, the pair had to consider COVID-19 when finally meeting up for their first date. They got takeout and sat outside together at Del Crary Park in Peterborough.
The rest of the summer was spent within each other’s “social bubbles”, doing things like going to get ice cream or bringing takeout home and watching a movie together.
The pandemic has certainly made the start of this relationship different — the pair has yet to meet each other’s friends or family due to restrictions on social gatherings.
“It’s been so tricky,” Emma says. “It’s always had to be just one-on-one. I think that part of a typical relationship would be entirely different without covid.”
“We never went into a restaurant, which pre-covid was a pretty classic date,” she adds.
Nevertheless, they’ve made it work, even now that Liam has returned to school, and they are back to communicating purely online. According to Emma, they text and FaceTime nearly every day.
When COVID-19 subsides, Emma hopes things will become easier.
“I’m hoping when he comes home at the end of this year, things are lifted so we can meet each other’s family and go from there.”
Emma says she is sometimes hesitant to tell people she met Liam online.
“Dating online wasn’t a thing for my parents’ generation,” she points out. “When I first started dating Liam, I was hesitant to tell my mom how we met. When I did, she was worried about my safety.”
“It’s so normal now. I feel like everyone my age has at least tried it in some sense.”
Another way Emma and Liam are currently staying connected is by mailing each other packages.
“I sent him a little Valentine’s Day care package,” Emma says. “I hope it gets there in time. With the delays in shipping, everything I send takes twice as long as they say it will.”
Although they haven’t made official plans for Valentine’s Day, Emma expects they will spend some time eating chocolate together over FaceTime.
Matt and Jill
Matt and Jill were set up by family members in October 2020. The pair talked on Facebook for two weeks before meeting safely outside a Starbucks for their first date. (Supplied photo)
Although Matt (age 28) and Jill (age 25) didn’t meet through a dating app, the beginning of their COVID-era relationship relied on the internet.
Jill’s aunt and Matt’s mom are best friends — so when they were set up in October 2020, Matt and Jill initially connected on Facebook.
After chatting for a few weeks on Facebook, the couples’ first meet-up was in October at Starbucks. They stood outside, socially distanced, with their coffees, since the inside seating area was closed.
Unfortunately, it started to rain, and they had to finish the date by sitting in their cars.
“We had to battle through,” jokes Matt.
When things got more serious, they went on to plan dates such as walks through various conservation areas, drives, and dinner at restaurants.
The relationship progressed when Matt met Jill’s family on her birthday in November. The couple says they felt another lockdown would be coming, so they also arranged for Jill to meet Matt’s family.
Advertisement - content continues below
With the most recent lockdown, Matt and Jill are still permitted to see each other since Matt lives alone.
Matt and Jill’s typical date night during the lockdown consists of ordering takeout and watching TV — which, according to Matt, has recently meant getting Jill caught up on The Mandalorian.
Between dates, they try to call each other once a week and text each other daily.
“It’s been helpful to be in a relationship during these times,” Jill notes.
“Because we’re still new, we’re still learning about each other,” Matt adds. “Being single through a lockdown is okay, too. You can get through by keeping in contact with friends, but it’s nice to have this extra person to have those deeper conversations with.”
According to Matt, the end of the pandemic will be a welcomed change for the couple.
“I’m looking forward to being able to go on some other dates and to have Jill be able to meet friends of mine,” he explains.
This Valentine’s Day, Matt and Jill plan to get takeout, watch a movie, and go for a walk.
“Maybe I’ll get her some chocolates,” Matt adds, to which Jill responds, “I’ll take chocolates any day.”
A Peterborough man is facing a slew of charges, including arson, after an incident at a Peterborough-area convenience store and gas station on Monday night (February 8).
Peterborough County OPP state that, at around 8:45 p.m. on Monday, a man entered the convenience store on Highway 7 just east of Burnham Line. After refusing to pay the required amount for some items he wanted to purchase, the man became irate with the cashier.
After the man attempted to destroy a computer monitor and cash register, the employee fled the store to call 911. The man then exited the store and poured washer fluid and hand sanitizer over two gas pumps, before setting them on fire. He is also accused of setting a fire inside the convenience store.
Advertisement - content continues below
Police arrived at the location at around 9 p.m. and were able to arrest the suspect and extinguish the fires before any injuries occurred.
Several stores located within the building were also forced to close. A damage estimate is pending.
Murray O’Dette, 31, of Peterborough was arrested and charged with arson – disregard for human life, arson – damage to property, mischief – destroys or damages property, two counts of assault, mischief under $5,000, and theft under $5,000.
O’Dette is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on Tuesday morning (February 9).
In "Fair Skin, Blue Eyes", the fourth episode of the second season of The CW Network's "Batwoman" series, Peterborough actor Linda Kash plays a villain who kidnaps street kids. (Screenshot)
Peterborough’s Linda Kash is the type of person whose presence radiates pure love. She sprinkles her exuberant enjoyment of life, like faery dust, on everything she touches to such an extent that she’ll make you believe in magic.
As such, it’s difficult to imagine Linda Kash playing an evil, sociopathic villain. That, however, is exactly what audiences will see when they watch episode four of the second season of Batwoman on The CW Network, premiering on Sunday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day no less).
“She is really flippin’ evil,” says Kash of the character she plays. “She steals children — she’s the candy lady — so she dupes kids with candy to come into her van. And kids aren’t stupid, so she has to be very manipulative.”
Advertisement - content continues below
“I’ve never done this genre before, so I didn’t actually know how overt to make the character’s evil,” she adds, “You look at the Joker, for instance, and Heath Ledger’s Joker is so overtly evil and he sort of indulges in his sickness, which is one way to go.”
Kash, however, with coaching from Toronto actor and director Jesse Collins, chose to approach the role differently.
“The thing about being an actor and playing evil characters is, first of all, they don’t think they’re evil,” explains the seasoned professional actor. “That was one of the things that I had to do when I was working on this character.”
VIDEO: “Fair Skin, Blue Eyes” episode promo
“Even when you’re doing a superhero thing, evil justifies,” Kash explains. “They always rationalize their behaviour. So I gave myself a reason. I gave myself a fictional past that justified why I was taking these street kids. So the character feels she’s doing something good for the community. She has to. I didn’t want her to indulge in the evil because I thought that would be too cartoony.”
Regardless of the industry, it can be difficult for people to leave their work at work. But for actors, it can be dangerous. Many have speculated a link between Heath Ledger’s death and his character immersion for his performance of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s Batman film The Dark Night.
For Kash, however, character immersion has never been a problem.
Advertisement - content continues below
“I do not bring my work home … it’s never been the kind of actor I wanted to be,” says Kash of deep, prolonged method acting.
“I’ve always wanted pretend. I’ve always, always loved the idea that I get to play a character that is so far away from me. I get to visit a whole other world. I get to have a whole other intellect and character. And then, I get to go home. I get to be with my family and my cats and dogs. My life is too good to not separate the two.”
Strict COVID protocols on and off set made it a little more difficult than usual for Kash to strike that balance between character immersion and off time.
This knife was not made for spreading cream cheese on a bagel. Peterborough’s Linda Kash, who played the Philadephia Cream Cheese Angel in the 1990s, goes against type in the February 14, 2021 episode of The CW Network’s “Batwoman” series. (Screenshot)
“It was a little more serious than it usually is,” says Kash of shooting during a pandemic. “So there was an element of fun that was taken away. Because (as) actors, we’re so intimate, we’re ridiculous, we’re huggers. And that wasn’t the case. This was careful.”
Enhanced safety precautions, such as daily testing for all cast and crew — 250 COVID tests per day — and colour-coded “zones” determining which cast and crew members would be bubbled together on and off set, made Kash’s work feel safer than trips the grocery store.
Advertisement - content continues below
“I felt like I was on the set of MASH, there were tents all over the place,” she laughs describing the safety measures. “Picture one of the last scenes in E.T. There’s plastic hanging from the walls, layers and layers, and there was so much flippin’ Plexiglas everywhere.”
“It was such a well-oiled machine,” she explains. “I was in such good hands. It’s unbelievable: 22 episodes and no COVID. That’s hundreds and hundreds of people working together. It’s craziness. And yet, we can’t keep our incarcerated safe. We can’t keep our people who are stuck in retirement homes safe. It’s weird. It’s quite upsetting that Hollywood can make it work, and you realize it takes money.”
Though Kash has worked on hundreds of big-budget productions, with Academy award-winners such as Ron Howard, Batwoman represents her first foray into the superhero genre.
As well as her first role as a villain, “Batwoman” offered Peterborough’s Linda Kash her very first fight scene. Here she’s about to get punched out by Javicia Leslie, who portrays Ryan Wilder/Batwoman. (Screenshot)
“I had my very first hand-to-hand combat fist fight,” she points out. “I worked with a fight director. I’ve never actually taken a punch.”
“When I was finished that day, I was so filled with adrenaline and testosterone,” laughs the actor while making a fist. “It was the most fun I’ve ever had on set.”
When asked what’s her favourite part of the franchise, Kash didn’t think twice.
Advertisement - content continues below
“The new Batwoman, Javicia Leslie,” she replies. “This woman takes no prisoners. She’s created a beautiful Batwoman character that has lots of complexities. I think she’s a superstar.”
“So for me to be a part of this franchise, seeing this woman and how hard she worked — and she’s black and she’s a female and she’s bi and she’s beautiful and she’s powerful — it just made me feel really excited about where we’re going in this superhero genre. This Batwoman franchise is really going to match all those male-dominated narration stories that that we’ve all grown up with.”
Batwoman airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. on The CW or can be streamed online with StackTV on Amazon Prime.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 1,265 new cases, including 45 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and no new cases the B.1.351 South Africa variant. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 101 to 1,327.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 24 new cases to report and 14 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region increasing by 10 to 113. Almost all of the new cases in the region are in Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland.
Advertisement - content continues below
Most of today’s new cases in Ontario are in Toronto (421), Peel (256), and York (130).
There are double-digit increases in Durham (61), Ottawa (50), Simcoe Muskoka (43), Windsor-Essex (40), Waterloo (39), Middlesex-London (36), Hamilton (33), Halton (33), Niagara (28), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (22), and Brant (11), with smaller increases in Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (9), Chatham-Kent (9), Thunder Bay (8), and Southwestern (8).
The remaining 16 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 5 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (457) among people ages 20-39, followed by 348 cases among people ages 40-59.
With 1,700 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 92.5%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 1.6% to 4.4%, meaning that 44 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 7.
Ontario is reporting 33 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 8 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 45 new daily deaths over the past week.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 25 from yesterday to 901, but this number does include data from more than 10% of hospitals, so the number of hospitalized patients may be higher. The number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs remains unchanged from yesterday at 335 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has decreased by 7 to 226.
A total of 28,303 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 5,846 to 10,693.
A total of 386,171 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 6,987 from yesterday, with 106,163 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 4,419 from yesterday.
There are 3 new cases in Ontario schools, an increase of 1 from February 5, including 3 student cases. There are 12 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, a decrease of 10 from February 5, with 3 cases among children and 9 cases among staff.
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 24 new cases to report, including 13 in Northumberland, 10 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Peterborough or Haliburton.
New outbreaks were declared on February 6 at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (1 staff case) and Cobourg Police (3 cases among special constables).
An additional 14 cases have been resolved, including 9 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Peterborough, and 1 in Northumberland. The outbreak at Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay has been declared resolved.
There are currently 113 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 10 from yesterday, including 60 in Kawartha Lakes, 27 in Northumberland, 18 in Peterborough, 6 in Hastings Prince Edward (2 in Quinte West and 4 in Belleville), and 2 in Haliburton.
Hastings Prince Edward is one of three health units in Ontario in which the stay-at-home order will be lifted as of Wednesday (February 10). The health unit will be moved into the least restrictive “Green-Prevent” level under the province’s COVID-19 response framework, which was in effect prior to the province-wide shutdown on Boxing Day.
The stay-at-home order for the other two health units in the region (Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit) will remain in effect until Tuesday, February 16th, at which time the Ontario government will announce which health units will move back into the COVID-19 response framework and at what level.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 559 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (532 resolved with 9 deaths), 491 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (398 resolved with 46 deaths), 394 in Northumberland County (358 resolved with 9 deaths), 50 in Haliburton County (48 resolved with no deaths), and 372 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (361 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on February 4.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 559 (no change) Active cases: 18 (decrease of 4) Close contacts: 61 (increase of 5) Deaths: 9 (no change) Resolved: 532 (increase of 4) Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 42,050 (increase of 50) Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of February 8, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (no change from February 5) and 14 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change from February 5).
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays. These numbers are for February 7 and 8.
Confirmed positive: 935, including 491 in Kawartha Lakes, 394 in Northumberland, and 50 in Haliburton (increase of 23, including 10 in Kawartha Lakes and 13 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 89, including 60 in Kawartha Lakes, 27 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 13) Probable cases: 3, including 2 in Northumberland and 1 in Kawartha Lakes (increase of 2 in Northumberland) High-risk contacts: 131, including 78 in Kawartha Lakes, 32 in Northumberland, and 7 in Haliburton (net decrease of 10)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 35, including 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 55, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland (no change) Resolved: 804, including 398 in Kawartha Lakes, 358 in Northumberland, 48 in Haliburton (increase of 10, including 9 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 129,081 (increase of 511) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay (two outbreaks), Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home, Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Cobourg Police (net increase of 1)****
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes an additional 14 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of February 8, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 1 patient hospitalized with COVID-19.
****The outbreak at Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay has been declared resolved. New outbreaks at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (1 staff case) and Cobourg Police (3 cases among special constables) were declared on February 6.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 372 (increase of 1) Active cases: 6 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 361 (no change) Tests completed: 50,892 (increase of 216) Vaccines administered: 1,096 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Trent Valley Lodge long-term care home in Trenton (no change)
Advertisement - content continues below
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 279,472 (increase of 1,265) 7-day average of new cases: 1,327 (decrease of 101) Resolved: 258,603 (increase of 1,700, 92.5% of all cases) Positivity rate: 4.4% (increase of 1.6%) Hospitalized: 901 (decrease of 25)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 335 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 226 (decrease of 7) Deaths: 6,538 (increase of 33) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,740 (increase of 8) Total tests completed: 10,054,325 (increase of 28,303) Tests under investigation: 10,693 (decrease of 5,846) Vaccination doses administered: 386,171 (increase of 6,987) People fully vaccinated (two doses): 106,163 (increase of 4,419) Total COVID-19 variant cases: 219 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 45); 1 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (no change)
*More than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for this report, so the number of hospitalized patients may be higher.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 8 – February 7, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from January 8 – February 7, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 8 – February 7, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 8 – February 7, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 8 – February 7, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
health minister Christine Elliott, and chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams. (CPAC screenshot)
The Ontario government is extending its stay-at-home order for another week for all public health regions in Ontario, except for three in eastern Ontario. As other health units gradually move back into the previous colour-coded COVID-19 response framework, the province will implement a new “emergency brake” system to respond to outbreaks of more contagious COVID-19 variants.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement at a media briefing at Queen’s Park on Monday (February 8).
“We’re not clear of this storm yet,” Ford said. “Hospital ICUs in some parts of the province are still under immense pressure. We’re getting hit with new variants of COVID-19, and there are significant delays in getting our vaccine supply. This is a critical time.”
Advertisement - content continues below
“We can find a way forward, but we need a plan that continues to protect the health and safety of each and every person in this province, while ensuring more businesses can safely reopen and getting more people back to work,” Ford added.
As of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday (February 10), the stay-at-home order will end for the following three public health unit regions, which will move back into the “Green-Prevent” level of the province’s COVID-19 response framework that was in effect prior to the province-wide shutdown implemented on Boxing Day:
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, and
Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
For the rest of Ontario’s public health unit regions, the stay-at-home order (which has been in effect since January 14) will remain in place until next Tuesday (February 16) — except for Toronto, Peel, and York, where it will remain in place until Monday, February 22nd.
At those times, the government will make final decisions on which public health unit regions will move back into the COVID-19 response framework, and at what level, based on public health indicators.
Ford also announced Ontario will not be extending the province’s second state of emergency, declared on January 12, past Tuesday (February 9).
“We can’t return to normal, not yet, not while our hospitals could still be overwhelmed,” Ford added. “But we can transition out of the province-wide shutdown. Today I’m announcing the declaration of emergency will not be extended past February 9th.”
Enforcement of residential evictions will remain paused in the public health unit regions where the provincial stay-at-home order remains in effect.
Advertisement - content continues below
Because of ongoing concerns about the risk of more contagious COVID-19 variants, the province is also implementing a new “emergency brake” system when public health unit regions move back into the COVID-19 response framework.
The “emergency brake” system will allow for immediate action if a public health unit region experiences rapid acceleration in COVID-19 transmission or if its health care system risks becoming overwhelmed. If this occurs, Ontario’s chief medical of health and the local medical officer of health may advise to immediately move a region into Grey-Lockdown status to interrupt transmission.
In advance of public health regions moving back into the colour-coded COVID-19 response framework, the government is also making some changes to the framework to allow for in-store shopping at non-essential retail stores even in the most restrictive levels, with additional public health and safety measures in place.
For example, for the Grey-Lockdown level, there will be a 25 per cent capacity limit on retail stores (including big box stores). This is in addition to the existing 50 per cent capacity limit for supermarkets and other stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores, and pharmacies.
For the Red-Control level, there will be a 75 per cent capacity for supermarkets and other stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores, and pharmacies, and a 50 per cent capacity limit for all other retail businesses that engage in retail sales to the public, including big box stores.
Every day, Sam's Place Deli owner Sam Sayer announces a special sandwich of the day on their social media platforms. Every "samwich" is freshly made to order. Sam's Place also serves soups, salads, and desserts which are also prepared fresh daily. (Photo courtesy of Sam's Place)
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Sam Sayer — owner of the popular Sam’s Place Deli in downtown Peterborough — began sharing candid video messages on the restaurant’s social media accounts.
This story is one of an ongoing series by kawarthaNOW in support of locally owned eateries.
The videos are honest and moving — they provide a direct look into how Sayer, as a local restaurant owner, has managed throughout the pandemic’s challenges.
The pandemic has placed many hurdles for local restaurants like Sam’s Place. The current provincial lockdown measures have closed their doors to sit-down dining.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Just a reminder to people how much hard work and manual labour go into food, particularly in small business,” Sayer says in a video she posted back in August.
“I hope everybody’s doing well and that covid hasn’t got you down too far. I feel like I’m going through waves. There’ve been so many serious decisions that were not easy to come by — financial issues. We’re all there.”
As for why Sayer started posting these videos, she tells kawarthaNOW it was for her own mental health.
“I’m the kind of person who likes to yammer on a lot,” she explains. “I lost all of my staff except for one through the first lockdown. I was so used to having somebody to talk to in the mornings that I found myself getting lost in my own head without that.”
“I thought the opportunity to tell somebody the things I was feeling would make me feel a bit better and a bit saner.”
Sayer is continuing to post videos like these on the restaurant’s Facebook and Instagram.
Sam’s Place is currently operating on a limited staff of four, including owner Sam Sayer herself (left). Staff are masked and wash their hands and surfaces constantly. (Photo courtesy of Sam’s Place)
According to Sayer, although business is currently the slowest she’s seen in a decade, she is grateful for the style of restaurant she has.
“Being a sandwich shop, it was pretty easy to adapt to takeout only because a lot of our business was already takeout,” Sayer pointed out.
Nevertheless, Sam’s Place has made some pivots to adapt to COVID-19, including repurposing a takeout window that staff now use to serve customers safely.
Advertisement - content continues below
When she and her former business partner Dan Fitchko opened Sam’s Place in 2010, they had installed a window to serve late-night customers — there was a clause in their lease stating their doors could not be open past 10 p.m.
Now, that window is now their primary way of serving customers throughout the pandemic.
“We quickly realized we were too tired and couldn’t do it,” says Sayer. “The window really paid off in the end. It just took 10 years.”
Sam’s Place’s repurposed its takeout window, originally installed before the pandemic to serve customers after 10 p.m., to become a safe, contactless was to serve customers during the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Sam’s Place)
To purchase takeout from Sam’s Place, customers can place an order online with a credit card through their website at www.samsplace.ca or by phoning 705-876-1900. When you arrive at the restaurant, you walk up to the takeout window, tell the staff member your name, and they will give you your order.
There is also an option to order online or by phone and pay on arrival for those who want to pay with cash, debit, or gift card.
If you cannot order ahead, you can still place an order in-store or at the window. Anyone who chooses to enter the building is required to wear a mask. There is hand sanitizer at every entrance, including the window.
All bread and meat served at Sam’s Place Deli are locally sourced from Peterborough and surrounding areas. Meat is in-house cured, smoked, and prepared. (Photo courtesy of Sam’s Place)
All bread and meat at Sam’s Place is locally sourced from Peterborough and the surrounding area so, by supporting Sam’s Place, you’re also supporting local farmers, bakers, and growers.
“It’s always important to support local because, without your local economy, you don’t have much of an economy,” Sayer notes. “This is the mentality I always have, not just for covid.”
Sam’s Place also gives back to the community by supporting charitable organizations. Sayer says this is something she typically likes to keep private because she doesn’t believe the donations should be about herself.
However, when her 16-year old nephew Wyatt’s cancer returned, she decided to use her platform for the first time ever to raise money for him and his family.
Advertisement - content continues below
For a week in January, 100 per cent of the proceeds raised from a featured sandwich called “The Wyatt” were given to the family.
“Not only is he dealing with cancer, but he’s dealing with cancer in the middle of a pandemic,” Sayer explains. “His parents can’t be together with him in the hospital. It’s just one or the other.”
Sayer continues to encourage the public to donate money to help Wyatt’s family get through this tough time. You can donate through Wyatt’s GoFundeMe page.
Sam Sayer opened Sam’s Place in 2010 with her former business partner Dan Fitchko. In 2014, Sayer became the sole owner and, in March 2019, the restaurant underwent a small renovation and rebranding with a new logo and tagline – ‘The Best Samwiches in Town’. (Photo courtesy of Sam’s Place)
Sam’s Place is in the process of another significant change: Sayer is expecting a child in April and wants to take a step back to focus on being a new mother.
She is currently in the process of hiring a manager to replace her in the restaurant.
“I’ll be around,” Sayer assures customers. “I just want to be able to have the baby and not have to be there at the same time.”
“It’s been hard trying to hire people in the middle of the pandemic,” she adds. “I only posted the job application on social media. My restaurant is so important to me, so letting go to have somebody else run it is really difficult. The type of person I want to hire is already familiar with what I do and who I am.”
Advertisement - content continues below
In the meantime, Sayer encourages the community to complete the City of Peterborough’s survey at connectptbo.ca/downtown, which asks residents what they thought of the temporary changes made to sidewalks and roads in downtown Peterborough last summer and early fall. The results will help to inform decisions for this summer, should similar changes be necessary due to the pandemic. The survey is available until February 15th.
Sayer also wants to remind people to continue to tip industry workers during the pandemic — and to be kind to one another.
“I think it’s important always to support the businesses that you appreciate, patronize, or generally have a love for,” Sayer notes. “Whether there’s a lockdown or not, it’s important to show your support by sharing social media posts and telling people via word-of-mouth what’s so great about them.”
Sam’s Place also takes catering orders, which can be delivered. Catering orders can be placed within a minimum of 24 hours. (Photo courtesy of Sam’s Place).
Sam’s Place is located at 188 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough, and is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, including the menu, and to order online, visit www.samsplace.ca.
Ontario premier Doug Ford, after visiting a COVID-19 testing facility for arriving passengers at Toronto Pearson International Airport, commented that an announcement is expected on February 8, 2021 on the easing of public health restrictions in the province, except in "hot zones". (CPAC screenshot)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
On the eve of an expected government announcement loosening restrictions for some regions of the province, Ontario is reporting 1,489 new cases today.
“We’ll have an announcement, probably on Monday,” Ford said following a media conference last Wednesday (February 3). “Our goal is to open up the economy safely. I know a couple of hot zones might be a week later.”
The 1,489 new cases include 10 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and no new cases the B.1.351 South Africa variant. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 51 to 1,428.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there 1 new case to report and 4 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 3 to 103. However, these numbers exclude updates from Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton as the health unit does not provide reports on Sundays.
Advertisement - content continues below
Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (517), Peel (261), and York (121).
There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (88), Halton (61), Ottawa (57), Waterloo (54), Durham (50), Simcoe Muskoka (43), Niagara (35), Middlesex-London (27), Thunder Bay (25), Brant (21), Windsor-Essex (20), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (18), Chatham-Kent (17), Lambton (14), Southwestern (12), and Sudbury (10), with a smaller increase in Northwestern (9).
The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 2 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 52% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (561) among people ages 20-39, followed by 451 cases among people ages 40-59 and 218 cases among people 19 and younger.
With 1,937 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 92.3%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.2% to 2.8%, meaning that 28 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 6.
Ontario is reporting 22 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 13 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 45 new daily deaths over the past week.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 95 from yesterday to 926, but this number does include data from more than 10% of hospitals, so the number of hospitalized patients may be higher. The number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has increased by 10 to 335 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has increased by 5 to 233.
A total of 51,658 tests were completed yesterday, pushing the number of tests completed in Ontario since the pandemic began to over 10 million. The backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 25,022 to 16,539.
A total of 379,184 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 6,518 from yesterday, with 101,744 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 5,171 from yesterday.
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there 1 one new case to report, in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Peterborough. Reports are unavailable on Sundays for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton; updated numbers will be provided on February 8.
An additional 4 cases have been resolved, in Peterborough.
There are currently 103 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 3 from yesterday, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 22 in Peterborough, 15 in Northumberland, 5 in Hastings Prince Edward (2 in Quinte West and 3 in Belleville) and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 559 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (528 resolved with 9 deaths), 481 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (389 resolved with 46 deaths), 381 in Northumberland County (357 resolved with 9 deaths), 50 in Haliburton County (48 resolved with no deaths), and 371 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (361 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on February 4.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 559 (no change) Active cases: 22 (decrease of 4) Close contacts: 56 (decrease of 4) Deaths: 9 (no change) Resolved: 528 (increase of 4) Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 42,000 (increase of 50) Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of February 5, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and 14 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays. These numbers are from February 6.
Confirmed positive: 912, including 481 in Kawartha Lakes, 381 in Northumberland, and 50 in Haliburton (increase of 5, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 76, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 1 in Kawartha Lakes (no change) High-risk contacts: 141, including 84 in Kawartha Lakes, 35 in Northumberland, and 13 in Haliburton (net increase of 13)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 35, including 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 55, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland (no change) Resolved: 794, including 389 in Kawartha Lakes, 357 in Northumberland, 48 in Haliburton (increase of 6, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 128,570 (increase of 572) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay (two outbreaks), Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home (decrease of 1)****
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes an additional 9 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of February 5, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 1 patient hospitalized with COVID-19.
****The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared resolved on February 5.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 371 (increase of 1) Active cases: 5 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 361 (no change) Tests completed: 50,676 (increase of 4,012) Vaccines administered: 1,096 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Trent Valley Lodge long-term care home in Trenton (no change)
Advertisement - content continues below
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 278,207 (increase of 1,489) 7-day average of new cases: 1,428 (decrease of 51) Resolved: 256,903 (increase of 1,937, 92.3% of all cases) Positivity rate: 2.8% (increase of 0.2%) Hospitalized: 926 (decrease of 95)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 335 (increase of 10) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 233 (increase of 5) Deaths: 6,505 (increase of 22) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,732 (increase of 13) Total tests completed: 10,026,022 (increase of 51,658) Tests under investigation: 16,539 (decrease of 25,022) Vaccination doses administered: 379,184 (increase of 6,518) People fully vaccinated (two doses): 101,744 (increase of 5,171) Total COVID-19 variant cases: 174 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 10); 1 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (no change)
*More than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for this report, so the number of hospitalized patients may be higher.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 7 – February 6, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from January 7 – February 6, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 7 – February 6, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 7 – February 6, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 7 – February 6, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall watch for northern Kawartha Lakes, including Fenelon Falls, for Sunday afternoon (February 7).
Locally heavy snow squalls are forecast to develop on Sunday afternoon to the southeast of Georgian Bay, as strong west to northwest winds become established.
The snow squalls are expected to continue into Sunday night before weakening on Monday.
Advertisement - content continues below
Very heavy snowfall amounts in the 15 to 40 cm range appear possible, with the heaviest amounts likely in areas closest to Georgian Bay, including the Midland, Orillia, and Port Carling areas.
Winds will whip up the freshly fallen snow resulting in sudden near zero visibility in blowing snow. Dangerous winter driving conditions are possible this afternoon and tonight. Motorists are advised to adjust their travel plans accordingly.
The lake effect snow will move to the north of the region by Monday morning.
Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
In other areas of the Kawarthas region, including Peterborough, Haliburton, southern Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Hastings County, only 2 to 4 cm of snow are expected.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 1,388 new cases, with 11 new cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and no new cases the B.1.351 South Africa variant. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 97 to 1,479.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report and 10 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 1 to 106.
Advertisement - content continues below
Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (455), Peel (288), and York (131).
There are double-digit increases in Ottawa (60), Hamilton (57), Niagara (56), Waterloo (43), Durham (46), Halton (42), Windsor-Essex (36), Simcoe Muskoka (35), Middlesex-London (26), Thunder Bay (15), Eastern Ontario (12), Southwestern (12), Chatham-Kent (11), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (11), and Huron Perth (10).
The remaining 16 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 4 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people 40 and older, with the highest number of cases (491) among people ages 20-39, followed by 412 cases among people ages 40-59 and 201 cases among people 60-79.
With 1,796 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 92.1%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.1% to 2.6%, meaning that 26 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 5.
Ontario is reporting 45 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 22 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 48 new daily deaths over the past week.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 22 from yesterday to 1,021, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs unchanged at 325 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators increasing by 3 to 228.
A total of 62,341 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 9,637 to 31,924.
A total of 372,666 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 9,917 from yesterday, with 96,573 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 8,742 from yesterday.
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Peterborough, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
An additional 10 cases have been resolved, including 4 in Peterborough, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and 2 in Northumberland. The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared resolved on February 5.
There are currently 106 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 1 from yesterday, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Peterborough, 15 in Northumberland, 4 in Hastings Prince Edward (2 in Quinte West and 2 in Belleville) and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 559 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (524 resolved with 9 deaths), 481 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (389 resolved with 46 deaths), 381 in Northumberland County (357 resolved with 9 deaths), 50 in Haliburton County (48 resolved with no deaths), and 370 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (361 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on February 4.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 559 (increase of 3) Active cases: 26 (decrease of 1) Close contacts: 60 (increase of 2) Deaths: 9 (no change) Resolved: 524 (increase of 4) Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 41,950 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of February 5, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and 14 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 912, including 481 in Kawartha Lakes, 381 in Northumberland, and 50 in Haliburton (increase of 5, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 76, including 59 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 1 in Kawartha Lakes (no change) High-risk contacts: 141, including 84 in Kawartha Lakes, 35 in Northumberland, and 13 in Haliburton (net increase of 13)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 35, including 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 55, including 46 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland (no change) Resolved: 794, including 389 in Kawartha Lakes, 357 in Northumberland, 48 in Haliburton (increase of 6, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 128,570 (increase of 572) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care Mary Street retirement home in Lindsay, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay (two outbreaks), Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home (decrease of 1)****
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**This total includes an additional 9 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of February 5, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 1 patient hospitalized with COVID-19.
****The outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared resolved on February 5.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 370 (increase of 1) Active cases: 4 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 361 (no change) Tests completed: 46,664 (no change) Vaccines administered: 1,096 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Trent Valley Lodge long-term care home in Trenton (no change)
Advertisement - content continues below
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 276,718 (increase of 1,388) 7-day average of new cases: 1,479 (decrease of 97) Resolved: 254,966 (increase of 1,796, 92.1% of all cases) Positivity rate: 2.6% (increase of 0.1%) Hospitalized: 1,021 (decrease of 22) Hospitalized and in ICU: 325 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 228 (increase of 3) Deaths: 6,483 (increase of 45) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,719 (increase of 22) Total tests completed: 9,974,364 (increase of 62,341) Tests under investigation: 41,561 (decrease of 5,721) Vaccination doses administered: 372,666 (increase of 9,917) People fully vaccinated (two doses): 96,573 (increase of 8,742) Total COVID-19 variant cases: 164 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 11); 1 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (no change)
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 6 – February 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
