Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of the greater Kawarthas region, calling for significant snowfall beginning Sunday afternoon (November 22) and continuing into Monday morning.

Expected snowfall accumulations differ depending on the location. As of Sunday morning at 5 a.m., Environment Canada is forecasting:

• 15 to 20 cm for Hastings Highlands including Bancroft. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for this area.
• 10 to 15 cm for Peterborough County, including the City of Peterborough, Lakefield, and Apsley. A brief period of freezing rain will also be possible Sunday night. Snowfall warnings may be required on Sunday if greater snowfall amounts appear likely.
• 7 to 14 cm for southern Kawartha Lakes including Lindsay. For areas near Lake Ontario, slightly milder temperatures are expected to result in lower accumulations due to the snow mixing with rain at times. Here, up to 7 cm of new accumulation is possible, with the higher amounts likely north of the Highway 401 corridor. Environment Canada has issued a weather advisory for this area.
• 5 to 10 cm for northern Kawartha Lakes including Fenelon Falls.
• 5 to 10 cm for Haliburton County including Haliburton and Minden.
• 5 to 10 cm for Northumberland County including Port Hope and Cobourg. Near Lake Ontario, the snow may become mixed with rain later on Sunday and, as temperatures rise, the snow will transition to rain. A brief period of freezing rain may occur before temperatures rise above zero. By early Monday morning, the rain will transition to snow once again as temperatures fall. Snowfall accumulations in the 5 to 10 cm range are likely, with the heaviest amounts expected inland from Lake Ontario.

The heavy snow is due to a strengthening low pressure system that will track northeastward across the lower Great Lakes on Sunday night.

Travel is expected to be impacted. Motorists should be prepared for winter weather driving conditions.

Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.

This story has been updated with the latest forecast from Environment Canada.

When Lakefield resident and entrepreneur Ute Shaw was gifted a German advent calendar from her daughter last year, she discovered it was no ordinary advent calendar — instead of the usual 24 daily pictures or chocolates leading up to Christmas, opening each little door instead revealed a picture of a daily good cause funded through her daughter’s purchase of the calendar.

Realizing there was nothing like it in Canada, Shaw — who was born and raised in Germany — reached out to the German founders of “24 gute Taken” (“24 Good Deeds”) determined to launch a Canadian edition of the advent calendar, which is now available at 24gooddeeds.ca.

The Canadian edition of the 24 Good Deeds charity advent calendar supports social and environmental concerns of 24 different charities and charitable projects, including 11 in Canada and 13 around the world.

A minimum donation of at least $24 to order a calendar will ensure each daily good deed in the calendar is accomplished. You can also donate more if you wish, so even more more of the daily good deeds can be accomplished.

German creative and advertising director Sebastian Wehkamp first conceived of the idea for the charity advent calendar in 2010. He knew people like to donate to good causes, but often as a result of a guilty conscience when they are shown pictures intended to generate pity rather than the positive impact of their donations. In 2011, he founded the non-profit 24 Good Deeds organization along with his sister Johanna Wehkamp.

Each of the daily good deeds listed in the 24 Good Deeds calendar is specific and quantifiable, with the 2019 European edition of calendar revealing deeds such as providing three days of drinking water for a family in Bangladesh, supplying one bottle of special milk for a baby elephant in Zambia, giving one meningitis vaccine for a child in Burkina Faso, providing one day of medical care for nine children in Haiti, fitting one prosthesis for an elderly person in Pakistan, and 19 more.

So far in Germany, 24 Good Deeds has distributed 87,700 calendars, raising the equivalent of over $4 million to support 216 projects in 57 countries and resulting 106,700 people receiving medical treatment, 420,500 meals being distributed, 836,000 square metres of rain forest being protected, and more.

When you purchase a calendar for a minimum donation of $24, $18 of your purchase goes directly to the charities with the remainder going to produce the calendar and fund the work of the Good Deeds organization.

For each calendar ordered for $24, every charity listed in the calendar will receive 75 cents, which they have assured 24 Good Deeds is sufficient to cover the cost of their good deed listed in the calendar.

Shaw, who moved to Lakefield in 2008, has been working on the Canadian edition of the calendar since March.

“This calendar can help make a difference and has even more importance this year,” Shaw says. “So many charities are struggling to raise enough funds to continue their incredible work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Canadian charities participating in the 2020 Canadian edition are the Breakfast Club of Canada, Dare to Care, Sarvac, Wilderness International, Spirit North, Second Harvest, Hope Air, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Indspire, Dog Guides Canada, and Sick Kids Foundation. The international organizations selected for the Canadian calendar are focused on a variety of issues including malaria prevention, poverty, and education.

“This is such an amazing way to get the word out about our mission to equip and mobilize youth to stand up against bullying,” says Lisa Wells, founder of Dare to Care. “We love how accessible it is and that we can reach more Canadians with the help of the advent calendar.”

Peterborough resident and former NHLer and hockey coach Bob Gainey is a big supporter of the Canadian edition of the 24 Good Deeds calendar, serving as the voice of Santa Claus in the 24 Good Deeds TV commercial.

For more information about 24 Good Deeds and to donate and order a calendar, visit 24gooddeeds.ca.

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

After 15 straight days of new daily COVID-19 cases in the low thousands, Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday (November 20) that Peel and Toronto will be moved into lockdown effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday (November 23).

“I know these past few months have been extremely difficult,” Ford said. “COVID fatigue is setting in on all of us, but I’ve seen the strength of our people. It’s up to each and every one of us to determine our future, to write the next chapter of our history. And we all have a part to play. We must all rally around our businesses and our neighbours right now. We must support them. Our government will be there to do our part.”

In addition to Peel and Toronto moving into lockdown, health minister Christine Elliott also announced other public health unit regions moving into more restrictive levels in Ontario’s colour-coding system — including Peterborough Public Health, which is moving into the yellow-protect level 12:01 a.m. on Monday (November 23). The two other health units in the Kawarthas — Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Public Health — remain in the green-protect level.

According to a media release issued by Peterborough Public Health after the announcement, the decision to move the Peterborough region into yellow-protect was based on a number of indicators showing the rate of community spread is increasing — even after excluding the cases related to the outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care home.

“The most concerning one for me has been the increased proportion of cases with no link to either travel or contact with a case,” states Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra. “I’m hoping the new measures now required for our region will enable us to be more effective in preventing new cases.”

Health unit staff will be ensuring local business operators have what they need to develop the COVID-19 workplace safety plans required in the yellow-protect level. Additional public health measures in the yellow-protect level include a maximum of 6 people seated together in a bar or restaurant and restrictions on how long such establishments can be open and when liquor can be sold.

For a list of all the additional public health measures required in yellow-protect, visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-framework-response/.

The announcement followed today’s report of 1,418 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario, with the average number of daily cases over the past seven days increasing slightly to 1,373.

Most of today’s new cases are in Peel (400), Toronto (393), and York (168), with smaller increases in Ottawa (77), Durham (46), Windsor-Essex (45), Middlesex-London (37), Hamilton (36), Simcoe Muskoka (33), Waterloo (28), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (26), Grey Bruce (21), Niagara (21), Thunder Bay (6), and Huron Perth (6).

The remaining 19 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 6 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 53% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (524) among people ages 20 to 39. With 1,415 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.3% to 84.1%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.5% to 3.6%, meaning that 36 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 19.

A total of 8 new deaths were reported today, including 4 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have decreased by 8 to 518, with 4 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 4 additional patients on ventilators.

A total of 48,173 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 2,116 to 46,609.

There are 87 new cases in Ontario schools, an decrease of 4 from yesterday, with 60 student cases, 27 staff cases, and no cases among unidentified individuals. There are 14 cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 4 from yesterday, with 4 cases among children and 10 cases among staff.

In the greater Kawartha region, there are 7 new cases to report today, including 3 in Peterborough, 2 in Northumberland, 1 in Haliburton, and 1 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties. There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes.

None of the reported new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.

An additional 7 cases have been resolved in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, and 3 in in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

There are currently 45 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 21 in Peterborough, 15 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 4 in Northumberland, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, and 2 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 188 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (163 resolved with 4 deaths), 191 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (169 resolved with 32 deaths), 63 in Northumberland County (58 resolved with 1 death), 24 in Haliburton County (22 resolved with no deaths), and 101 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (81 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 12.

Province-wide, there have been 100,790 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,418 from yesterday, with 84,716 cases resolved (84.1% of all cases), an increase of 1,415 from yesterday. There have been 3,451 deaths, an increase of 8 from yesterday, with 2,193 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 4 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 8 to 518, with 4 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 4 additional patients on ventilators. A total of 5,827,192 tests have been completed, an increase of 48,173 from yesterday, with 46,609 tests under investigation, an increase of 2,116 from yesterday.

The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 4 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day.

Peterborough Public Health

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.

Confirmed positive: 188 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 21 (decrease of 4)
Close contacts: 53 (increase of 4)
Deaths: 4 (no change)
Resolved: 163 (increase of 7)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 35,950 (increase of 150)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

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 Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 278, including 191 in Kawartha Lakes, 63 in Northumberland, 24 in Haliburton (increase of 3, including 2 in Northumberland and 1 in Haliburton)
Active cases: 9, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no net change)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 29, including 15 in Kawartha Lakes and 14 in Northumberland (net increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 249, including 169 in Kawartha Lakes, 58 in Northumberland, 22 in Haliburton (increase of 3, in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: None (decrease of 1)*

*The outbreak at Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg was declared over on November 19.

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 reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 101 (increase of 1)
Active cases: 15 (decrease of 2)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 8 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU (total to date): 2 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 2 (no change)
Resolved: 81 (increase of 3)
Total swabs completed: 7,079 (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 100,790 (increase of 1,418)
Resolved: 84,716 (increase of 1,415, 84.1% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 518 (decrease of 8)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 142 (decrease of 4)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 92 (increase of 4)
Deaths: 3,451 (increase of 8)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,193 (increase of 4)
Total tests completed: 5,827,192 (increase of 48,173)
Tests under investigation: 46,609 (increase of 2,116)

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

Two long-term care developments in the Kawarthas are among 29 projects in Ontario the provincial government has approved for new and upgraded long-term care beds.

At a media conference at The Ottawa Hospital on Friday (November 20), Ontario long-term care minister Merrilee Fullerton announced the government is moving forward with the 29 projects, which will lead to an additional 3,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.

“Protecting our loved ones and ensuring they receive the care they deserve is at the centre of everything we do,” Fullerton said. “With this announcement, our government is taking another step towards creating a 21st century long-term care sector that provides the highest quality of care for our most vulnerable people, where and when they need it.”

Riverview Manor in Peterborough has been approved for 32 new beds, in addition to 36 new beds announced last December, and the upgrade of 124 existing beds.

OMNI Health Care, which owns and operates the existing Riverview Manor on Water Street, had already been approved by Peterborough city council to construct a new 160-bed facility on Langton Street, adjacent to Fairhaven long-term care home. With the 32 new beds, the new facility will now have 192 beds.

“Our seniors deserve quality care in the communities they live in,” Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith said during a virtual media conference on Friday. “This is why today’s announcement of more new beds is so important. We are working to reduce wait times and meet the needs of our aging population now and in the future.”

Southbridge Port Hope has been approved for 35 new beds, and the upgrade of 157 existing beds, to create a 192-bed home on Ward Street in Port Hope. The development, which was approved by Port Hope council in September 2019, has been controversial as it includes the demolition of the building where Port Hope’s first hospital opened in 1913 — which Port Hope council had previously unanimously voted to designate as a heritage building.

Among the 29 new long-term care projects across Ontario, 19 — including Riverview Manor and Southbridge Port Hope — will include “campuses of care” where multiple services are provided for residents on the same site.

As of June 2020, more than 38,500 people in Ontario are on a waiting list to access a long-term care bed.

A marked increase in local COVID-19 activity may see the health unit region of Peterborough Public Health moved into the province’s yellow “protect” level this Friday (November 20), meaning the implementation of more strengthened public health measures.

The region is currently in the green “prevent” level but, as Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra noted during the weekly Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Wednesday (November 18), a recent uptick in the number of positive cases may necessitate a move from green to yellow.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday (November 17), the Peterborough Public Health region — comprising the city and county of Peterborough and Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations — has seen a total of 179 total positive cases, an increase of 15 since just last week. There are a total of 23 active cases, including 18 cases associated with an ongoing outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough.

In addition, the health unit is currently following 32 “close contacts”, people at higher risk of contracting the virus due to their contact with an infected person, up from 10 a week ago.

“That’s more than three times what we reported last week — it’s definitely an indication that COVID activity is increasing in Peterborough,” said Dr. Salvaterra, adding this is “the highest weekly increase yet for our region,” surpassing the previous one-week increase of 22 cases recorded between March 23 to 29.

“Our weekly case incidence rate has jumped to 14.9 per 100,000 (people), higher than the week before when it was 8.8. Two weeks ago we were at 2.7. When a public health unit’s weekly case incidence rate reaches 10 per 100,000, it is one of the key indicators considered to move into the yellow, or protect, level.”

According to Dr. Salvaterra, the yellow level “corresponds to a greater degree of restrictions.”

“It particularly requires that all (business) owners and operators develop a quite a comprehensive safety plan that has to be in writing and has to be posted. They’re being held a greater level of accountability. Greater restrictions, reduced hours of operation, reduced hours for serving alcohol, making reservations rather than dropping in, better documentation and logging of contact — these are all included as part of the measures required under the yellow level designation.”

For a list of all the yellow “protect” restrictions, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open#yellow.

Other health unit regions currently in the yellow “protect” level include Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, Huron Perth Public Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Public Health Sudbury and Districts, Southwestern Public Health, and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

To date, a total of 35,650 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in the Peterborough region, including 400 over the past week.

Also present for Wednesday’s briefing was Fairhaven executive director Lionel Towns. He said one of four staff members who tested positive for COVID-19 is expected to be cleared come Thursday (November 19) if no symptoms are detected.

“With respect to the residents, we did have one case resolved but, unfortunately, another case was confirmed late last night (Tuesday),” said Towns, adding a number of the positive cases are also expected to be resolved over the next few days.

“This is a virus that I don’t believe is very hard to kill but it’s easy to spread,” he said. “We have roughly 2,100 residents of long-term care and retirement homes in the area and thousands of staff. If everyone puts in that effort to follow distancing and isolation protocols, we can prevent other homes from going through what we’ve gone through.”

Towns also touched on the importance of “best practices” targeted at mitigating the effects of a home outbreak.

“If you have an area that can be turned into an isolation area quickly, that’s key. The cohorting of residents and staff is absolutely key. If you have your residents in one spot but you have staff going to other spots in the home, it will spread. Once it (COVID) is in a home, it will spread. You have days where someone may or may not know they’ve been exposed to it.”

“The key is containment,” Towns stressed. “If you can box it in by keeping everyone together — residents and staff — you have a better chance of limiting the spread.”

Meanwhile, an interesting development is occurring in Hiawatha where Chief Laurie Carr says access to the popular Old Railroad Stop store and restaurant is being given only to patrons from this region. According to Chief Carr, when the COVID-19 checklist is reviewed with patrons, one of the questions is now be where they are from.

Dr. Salvaterra says the Ontario government is recommending that people stay in their zones and limit their travel.

“At the municipal level, we’re actively engaged with our municipal partners examining whether or not we limit municipal services to people living only in the Peterborough area. That’s a topic that’s under active discussion right now.”

Also participating in the media briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien, and Selwyn mayor and Board of Health chair Andy Mitchell.