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Ontario reports 1,417 new COVID-19 cases with 32 new deaths

By kawarthaNOW -

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

Today, Ontario is reporting 1,417 new COVID-19 cases, with the average number of daily cases over the past 13 days decreasing by 5 to 1,334.

Most of the new cases are in Peel (463), Toronto (410), and York (178), with large increases in Halton (63), Waterloo (54), Hamilton (46), and Durham (40), and smaller increases in Simcoe Muskoka (25), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (23), Ottawa (22), Thunder Bay (20), Windsor-Essex (17), Southwestern Public Health (14), and Niagara (9).

The remaining 20 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 5 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 (548) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 414 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,495 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.4% to 83.5%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has dropped by 1.6% to 4.5%, meaning that 45 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 17.

A total of 32 new deaths were reported today, including 26 in long-term care facilities. This is the highest number of deaths reported on a single day during the second wave of the pandemic. Hospitalizations have increased by 6 to 535, with no new patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 3 additional patients on ventilators.

A total of 33,440 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has climbed by 11,236 to 36,671.

There are 109 new cases in Ontario schools, an decrease of 24 from yesterday, with 92 student cases, 17 staff cases, and no cases among unidentified individuals. There are 25 cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 5 from yesterday, with 13 cases among children and 12 cases among staff.

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

An additional case has been resolved in Peterborough.

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

There are currently 46 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 24 in Peterborough, 12 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 6 in Northumberland, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 182 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (154 resolved with 4 deaths), 191 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (169 resolved with 32 deaths), 61 in Northumberland County (54 resolved with 1 death), 23 in Haliburton County (22 resolved with no deaths), and 95 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (78 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 12.

Province-wide, there have been 98,162 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,417 from yesterday, with 81,925 cases resolved (83.5% of all cases), an increase of 1,495. There have been 3,415 deaths, an increase of 32 from yesterday, with 2,174 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 26 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 6 to 535, with no change in the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 3 additional patients on ventilators. A total of 5,737,181 tests have been completed, an increase of 33,440 from yesterday, with 36,671 tests under investigation, an increase of 11,236 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.

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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: 182 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 24 (increase of 2)
Close contacts: 40 (increase of 8)
Deaths: 4 (no change)
Resolved: 154 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 35,750 (increase of 100)
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: 275, including 191 in Kawartha Lakes, 61 in Northumberland, 23 in Haliburton (no change)
Active cases: 10, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 29, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes and 10 in Northumberland (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 245, including 169 in Kawartha Lakes, 54 in Northumberland, 22 in Haliburton (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg (no change)

 

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: 95 (increase of 2)
Active cases: 12 (increase of 2)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (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: 78 (increase of 1)
Total swabs completed: 6,522 (increase of 143)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 98,162 (increase of 1,417)
Resolved: 81,925 (increase of 1,495, 83.5% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 535 (increase of 6)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 127 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 78 (increase of 3)
Deaths: 3,415 (increase of 32)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,174 (increase of 26)
Total tests completed: 5,737,181 (increase of 33,440)
Tests under investigation: 36,671 (increase of 11,236)

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 18 - November 17, 2020. 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 18 – November 17, 2020. 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 October 18 - November 17, 2020. 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 tests completed in Ontario from October 18 – November 17, 2020. 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)
New COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario from October 18 - November 17, 2020. The red line is the number of new hospitalizations reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new hospitalizations. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
New COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario from October 18 – November 17, 2020. The red line is the number of new hospitalizations reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new hospitalizations. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
New COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from October 18 - November 17, 2020. The red line is the number of new deaths reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
New COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from October 18 – November 17, 2020. The red line is the number of new deaths reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)

 

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

Increased COVID-19 activity may see Peterborough region moved into yellow ‘protect’ level on Friday

By Paul Rellinger -
Ontario first introduced its four colour-coded levels of increasingly restrictive public health measures for Ontario's 34 public health units on November 1, 2020 and modified it on November 13 to lower the thresholds for health unit regions to move into a more restrictive level. In addition to the four colour-coded levels, there is also the most restrictive "Lockdown" level; there are currently no health unit regions in lockdown. (Graphic: Ontario government)

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.

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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.

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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.”

Fairhaven is a municipal long-term care home facility located at 881 Dutton Road in Peterborough. (Photo: Fairhaven)
Fairhaven is a municipal long-term care home facility located at 881 Dutton Road in Peterborough. (Photo: Fairhaven)

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.

$50,000 sought to support Peterborough’s first consumption and treatment services site

By kawarthaNOW -
A consumption and treatment services site, to help prevent drug overdoes and deaths, is being proposed at 220 Simcoe Street in downtown Peterborough. While an application for provincial funding is being developed, organizations involved in the initiative are raising funds so they can retain the location, cover the cost of professional studies to support the funding application, and cover the cost of renovations to operate the site. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner Clinic, and PARN have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $50,000 in support of Peterborough’s first consumption and treatment services site.

Related story

New ‘Opioid Response Hub’ seen as crucial in effort to bring consumption and treatment site to Peterborough

According to a media release issued by PARN on Wednesday (November 18), the funds will be used to retain the property at 220 Simcoe Street (the former Greyhound bus station at the corner of Simcoe and Aylmer) where the site would be established, and to cover the costs of studies and renovations required to operate the site.

An opioid response hub is already located at the location, but a consumption and treatment services site would allow people to use their drugs safely under trained supervision and to be connected to other life-saving supports.

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The Peterborough area has the third highest rate of opioid overdose deaths and emergency room visits in Ontario. In 2019, there were 28 overdose deaths in Peterborough, with another 36 suspected overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of overdose by creating more desperation, isolation, and an even more toxic drug supply.

As the lead applicant, PARN is seeking provincial funding for the site, a process that will take many months. In the interim, funds are needed to retain the property and to cover the cost of professional studies to support the funding application.

To donate to the consumption and treatment services fund, visit cfgp.ca/project/cts-fund/.

Community consultations on the proposed consumption and treatment services site were recently completed, and PARN will be sharing information from the consultations and providing an update of the application process during the first week of December.

Raise a glass to local theatre and donate your empties to The Theatre On King in Peterborough this holiday season

By Sarah McNeilly -
Kate Story and Ryan Kerr perform "Love in the Time of Covid" in the parking lot behind The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough in early October 2020. The small not-for-profit black-box theatre, which has been closed since the pandemic began, is raising funds to make it through the pandemic with the support of local businesses along with Public Energy Performing Arts. (Photo: Andy Carroll)

The Theatre On King (TTOK) — Peterborough’s small-but-mighty black-box theatre — has announced some new small-but-mighty fundraisers in partnership with local businesses.

Toast TTOK!, a holiday “empties” drive in support of the theatre, will run from Saturday, November 21st until Saturday, January 2nd. The fundraising campaign asks Peterborough to save and donate their empty alcohol bottles and cans for TTOK to deposit.

Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday, supporters can drop their empties off at TTOK at 171 King Street in downtown Peterborough, located right across the street from the King Street municipal parking garage.

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Supporters can also reach out to TTOK on social media to arrange for porch pick-ups between 11 a.m. and noon every Saturday.

Eight Peterborough restaurants are also participating in the Toast TTOK campaign, generously pledging to donate all the empties that are produced on Giving Tuesday (December 1st). You can drink (responsibly) for a good cause at the following establishments on December 1st:

  • Ashburnham Ale House (128 Hunter St. E., 705-874-0333)
  • Black Horse Pub (452 George St. N., 705-742-0633)
  • Kettle Drums (224 Hunter St. W., 705-874-1500)
  • Le Petit Bar (399 Water St., 705-775-7384)
  • The Olde Stone Brewing Co. (380 George St. N., 705-745-0495)
  • Publican House Brew Pub (294 Charlotte St., 705-874-2619)
  • Rare (166 Brock St., 705-742-3737)
  • St. Veronus (129 Hunter St. W., 705-743-5714)
Toast TTOK! is a holiday 'empties' drive in support of The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough, running from November 21, 2020 to January 2, 2021.
Toast TTOK! is a holiday ’empties’ drive in support of The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough, running from November 21, 2020 to January 2, 2021.

“We’re so grateful for all the support we’ve received from these local restaurants,” says Kate Story, TTOK’s communications director.

“That’s Peterborough,” she observes. “Here you have one of the hardest-hit sectors, our local bars and restaurants, and all of these business owners are rallying behind TTOK because they want to support the even harder-hit arts sector. It’s really quite endearing.”

“We really hope people will go support these establishments on December 1st,” says Ryan Kerr, TTOK’s artistic director. “Le Petit Bar, Publican House, and Rare have even pledged to donate all their empties for the entire first week of December, so folks can make it a week-long pub-crawl.”

“We’re definitely linked together,” explains Story of the relationship between TTOK and local restaurants. “People go out to dinner before seeing a show at TTOK and then they go out for drinks afterwards — the good of one is linked to the good of the other.”

“Together we make a really nice community and if we lose all of our independent restaurants and lose all of our performances spaces, then everyone in the community hurts.”

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This isn’t the first time during this crisis that local businesses have shown their support for TTOK. When the pandemic began, local boutique and studio Watson & Lou donated five per cent of every online sale to the theatre. The creative hub also held an online vintage map raffle during the summer in support of TTOK.

Another local business owner supporting TTOK in its time of need is James Hodgson of Nish Tees, who designed the jackets worn by Gordon Downie’s brothers when they accepted his posthumous Juno award. He’s generously donating all proceeds from online sales of the TTOK hoodies he has designed. Hoodies are only available until December 15th, so visit nishtees.ca/ttok to buy yours now.

“It’s a testament to the strong sense of community here in Peterborough,” says Story of the local support. “Peterborough knows how to take care of their own, especially in times of trouble.”

James Hodgson of Nish Tees is donating all proceeds from online sales of the The Theatre On King hoodies he has designed to support the theatre. The hoodies are only available until December 15, 2020. (Photo: Nish Tees)
James Hodgson of Nish Tees is donating all proceeds from online sales of the The Theatre On King hoodies he has designed to support the theatre. The hoodies are only available until December 15, 2020. (Photo: Nish Tees)

Our year of the virus is indeed a troubling time for live performance venues, which have been shuttered since March. One need not be an expert economist to recognize that zero income combined with monthly bills to pay is not sustainable, particularly for the better part of a year. That, however, is the unfortunate reality for Peterborough’s live performance venues including TTOK.

Under normal conditions, fundraising is important for not-for-profit organizations to support the work they do — during a pandemic that has devastated the arts sector, it’s vital.

“Fundraising is difficult any time, never mind during a pandemic,” says Kerr.

“Especially in a region as economically disadvantaged as Peterborough,” Story adds. Currently, Peterborough is second only to Edmonton for the nation’s highest unemployment rate.

The Theatre On King artistic director Ryan Kerr performing in his 2018 one-man play "Unexploded Ordnance", directed by Kate Story, at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough. The Theatre On King has remained dark since the pandemic shut down live performance venues. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
The Theatre On King artistic director Ryan Kerr performing in his 2018 one-man play “Unexploded Ordnance”, directed by Kate Story, at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough. The Theatre On King has remained dark since the pandemic shut down live performance venues. (Photo: Andy Carroll)

“It’s a hard time to ask people for money because so many people are hurting,” Story says, “which is why we’ve come up with our empties drive, Toast TTOK — it’s not asking too much.”

According to Kerr and Story, the empties drive began as a joke.

“We were commiserating about 2020 with a friend of ours who was joking about strategically hiding empty booze bottles and cans in their recycling box so their neighbours wouldn’t see how much they’d been drinking,” Story recalls.

“Joking, we offered to take the empties off their hands, but later we realized we might be on to something — that our friend can’t be the only person who’s been driven to the drink in these strange pandemic times.”

“So what started as a joke will hopefully become a successful fundraising campaign,” Kerr adds. “Who knows, maybe we’ll do it every year!”

Also an annual event, Giving Tuesday is a global movement that takes place the first Tuesday after Black Friday. The event, which encourages donations to charities, began in the U.S. in 2012 as a response to commercialization and consumerism around American Thanksgiving (Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

This year’s Giving Tuesday takes place on December 1st.

“For every donation of $25 or over that’s made to participating not-for-profits and charities on Giving Tuesday, Canada Helps will give another $5 to amplify those donations,” Story says, explaining that Public Energy Performing Arts is accepting donations through canadahelps.org on TTOK’s behalf.

Kate Story performing in January 2019 in Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes' "The Mute Canary", directed by Ryan Kerr and also starring Matt Gilbert (left) and Dan Smith at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough. The small black-box theatre staged regular performances of original, classic, and obscure plays until it was shut down due to the pandemic. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Kate Story performing in January 2019 in Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes’ “The Mute Canary”, directed by Ryan Kerr and also starring Matt Gilbert (left) and Dan Smith at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough. The small black-box theatre staged regular performances of original, classic, and obscure plays until it was shut down due to the pandemic. (Photo: Andy Carroll)

“Again, this speaks to our strong community relationships,” Story says. “Public Energy is a charitable organization and we’re not. They act as our charitable partner so that you can donate to TTOK through Public Energy and get a charitable tax receipt.”

“So we’re asking people to donate to TTOK through Public Energy on Giving Tuesday, so that we can take advantage of the Canada Helps initiative,” Kerr adds.

“That’s why we’re asking folks to support restaurants on that day too,” Story says. “We’re hoping it may raise awareness.”

Eight Peterborough restaurants will be displaying this poster in their windows and donating all the empties produced by patrons on Giving Tuesday (December 1, 2020) to The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough.
Eight Peterborough restaurants will be displaying this poster in their windows and donating all the empties produced by patrons on Giving Tuesday (December 1, 2020) to The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough.

Be sure to bring your TTOK hoodie-wearing bubble to one of the participating restaurants on Tuesday, December 1st to raise a glass and Toast TTOK.

You can look for the Toast TTOK! posters in the front windows or doors of participating establishments so you know where to fill your cups, cultivate community, and drink for the love of theatre.

Or, as Kerr emphatically states: “Please support all of these places all the time, for the love of God.”

Deposits can be taken to TTOK at 171 King Street in downtown Peterborough on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from November 21 to January 2.

For more information about TTOK, visit ttok.ca. To learn how to arrange a porch pick-up between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturdays, follow TTOK on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

To donate to TTOK on Giving Tuesday or at any time, visit publicenergy.ca/support/donate/ and choose “The Theatre On King” from the drop-down menu.

Ontario reports 1,249 new COVID-19 cases, including 1 in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

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

Today, Ontario is reporting 1,249 new COVID-19 cases, the 12th straight day of more than 1,000 new daily cases, with the average number of daily cases over the past 12 days decreasing slightly to 1,339.

Most of the new cases are in Toronto (569) and Peel (256), with smaller increases in York (94), Durham (69), Halton (58), Waterloo (42), Niagara (27), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (22), Simoce Muskoka (19), Hamilton (19), Windsor-Essex (16), Ottawa (11), Thunder Bay (9), Brant County (9), Chatham-Kent (6), and Southwestern Public Health (6).

The remaining 18 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 8 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, half are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (452) among people ages 20 to 39. With 1,135 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 83.1%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has jumped by 2.0% to 6.1%, meaning that 61 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 16.

A total of 12 new deaths were reported today, including 3 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 29 to 529, with 2 additional patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 5 additional patients on ventilators.

A total of 25,435 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 9,181 to 25,435.

There are 133 new cases in Ontario schools, an increase of 27 from yesterday, with 73 student cases, 23 staff cases, and 37 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 20 cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 5 from yesterday, with 12 cases among children and 8 cases among staff.

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For the second day in a row, there are no new cases to report in Peterborough. There are no new cases in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, Kawartha Lakes, or Haliburton. An additional case has been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

There is 1 new case to report in Northumberland and 1 new hospitalization in Northumberland. An additional case in Northumberland has been resolved.

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

There are currently 42 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 22 in Peterborough, 10 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 6 in Northumberland, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 179 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (153 resolved with 4 deaths), 191 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (169 resolved with 32 deaths), 61 in Northumberland County (54 resolved with 1 death), 23 in Haliburton County (22 resolved with no deaths), and 93 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (78 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 12.

Province-wide, there have been 96,745 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,249 from yesterday, with 80,430 cases resolved (83.1% of all cases), an increase of 1,135. There have been 3,383 deaths, an increase of 12 from yesterday, with 2,148 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 3 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 29 to 529, there are 2 additional patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 5 additional patients on ventilators. A total of 5,703,741 tests have been completed, an increase of 26,468 from yesterday, with 25,435 tests under investigation, an increase of 9,181 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.

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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: 179 (no change)
Active cases: 22 (no change)
Close contacts: 32 (no change)
Deaths: 4 (no change)
Resolved: 153 (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 35,650 (increase of 50)
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: 275, including 191 in Kawartha Lakes, 61 in Northumberland, 23 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland)
Active cases: 10, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 29, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes and 10 in Northumberland (decrease of 5)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 245, including 169 in Kawartha Lakes, 54 in Northumberland, 22 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg (no change)

 

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: 93 (no change)
Active cases: 10 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (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: 78 (increase of 1)
Total swabs completed: 6,379 (no change)*
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

*This number does not include swabs completed at hospitals and other health care facilities.

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 96,745 (increase of 1,249)
Resolved: 80,430 (increase of 1,135, 83.1% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 529 (increase of 29)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 127 (increase of 2)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 75 (increase of 5)
Deaths: 3,383 (increase of 12)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,148 (increase of 3)
Total tests completed: 5,703,741 (increase of 26,468)
Tests under investigation: 25,435 (increase of 9,181)

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 17 - November 16, 2020. 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 17 – November 16, 2020. 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 October 17 - November 16, 2020. 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 tests completed in Ontario from October 17 – November 16, 2020. 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)

 

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

Downtown Peterborough’s Holiday Shopping Passports are a win-win for shoppers and local businesses

By kawarthaNOW -
You could win hundreds of dollars in gift certificates by participating in the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area's Holiday Shopping Passport program. Get your passport stamped for every $10 you spend at 148 participating downtown Peterborough businesses and, after you fill your passport with 20 stamps, it becomes a ballot for one of three prizes of $500 and a grand prize of $1,500 in "downtown money". (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

This holiday shopping season, it’s more important than ever to support our local independent retailers — so it’s great news the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has brought back its popular Holiday Shopping Passport program this year.

The annual program is a win-win for both shoppers and local businesses, by rewarding people when they shop, dine, or treat themselves at one of nearly 150 downtown Peterborough businesses.

“The Holiday Shopping Passports are always a favourite for our downtown shoppers,” says Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough DBIA. “It has been a difficult year for many people and many of our downtown businesses. The passports are a great way to reward people for shopping local this holiday season.”

Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, shows off a Holiday Shopping Passport during the launch of the 2019 program, which encouraged shoppers to spend more than $2.3 million at local businesses in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, shows off a Holiday Shopping Passport during the launch of the 2019 program, which encouraged shoppers to spend more than $2.3 million at local businesses in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

Pick up a Holiday Shopping Passport at one of the participating downtown businesses and, for every $10 you spend at any of the businesses, you get a stamp in your passport. When it’s filled with 20 stamps ($200 worth in spending), you complete the form and drop the completed passport off at a ballot box at one of the participating locations. See a list of all participating locations below.

Each completed passport is a ballot for one of four draws to win “downtown money” — gift certificates you can redeem anytime at downtown businesses. Three prizes of $500 in downtown money will be drawn on the first three Wednesdays of December (2nd, 9th, and 16th) with a grand prize of $1,500 in downtown money to be drawn on Wednesday, January 13th.

You can get your passport started at no cost with a complimentary stamp when you use the Peterborough Public Library at 345 Aylmer Street North or when you drop by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitor Centre in the VentureNorth building at 270 George Street North (limit of one complimentary stamp per person).

Peterborough musician Lindsay Barr in a promotional video for the 2019-20 edition of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area's Holiday Shopping Passport program. To help keep both shoppers and business owners and employees safe during the pandemic, the Peterborough DBIA and participating businesses are taking steps to limit physical contact with the passports. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Peterborough musician Lindsay Barr in a promotional video for the 2019-20 edition of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s Holiday Shopping Passport program. To help keep both shoppers and business owners and employees safe during the pandemic, the Peterborough DBIA and participating businesses are taking steps to limit physical contact with the passports. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

To help keep both shoppers and business owners and employees safe during the pandemic, the Peterborough DBIA and participating businesses are taking steps to limit physical contact with the passports. When you’re getting your passport stamped, place it open on the check-out counter of the business so it can be stamped without being picked up by the business owner or employee. This ensures only you are handling your passport.

Along with the chance to win downtown money while supporting local businesses, there are three more reasons to do your holiday shopping in downtown Peterborough.

The annual Downtown Peterborough Holiday Window Contest begins on Thursday, November 19th and runs until Saturday, December 5th. Downtown businesses will get you in the Christmas spirit by creatively decorating their street-front windows for the season. After the contest starts, you can vote online for your favourite window.

Watson & Lou co-owner Erin Watson with the first place award for Downtown Peterborough's 2019 Holiday Decorated Window Contest. The 2020 contest runs from November 19th to December 5th. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Watson & Lou co-owner Erin Watson with the first place award for Downtown Peterborough’s 2019 Holiday Decorated Window Contest. The 2020 contest runs from November 19th to December 5th. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

Downtown businesses will also be hosting some of their biggest sales of the year on Black Friday on November 27th, giving you an opportunity for great deals while getting even more stamps for your Holiday Shopping Passport.

Finally, courtesy of the City of Peterborough, you can take advantage of two hours of free parking in downtown Peterborough starting Black Friday and continuing until the end of December.

The Holiday Shopping Passport program is a great way to reward yourself while supporting the local economy. Last year, shoppers stamped more than $2.3 million worth of local purchases on their passports.

Karen Procyk of Peterborough collected $1,500 in "downtown money" in January 2020 after her Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn at the culmination of the annual initiative by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) to encourage people to shop local. Also pictured is DBIA executive director Terry Guiel (left) and Wild Rock Outfitters co-owner Kieran Andrews. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Karen Procyk of Peterborough collected $1,500 in “downtown money” in January 2020 after her Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn at the culmination of the annual initiative by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) to encourage people to shop local. Also pictured is DBIA executive director Terry Guiel (left) and Wild Rock Outfitters co-owner Kieran Andrews. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

For more information about the Peterborough DBIA and downtown Peterborough businesses, visit downtownptbo.ca.

 

Holiday Passport Locations

  • Absolute Hair
  • Africa Mission-Growth Market
  • African Dishes
  • Amandala’s
  • Antoinette Bridal
  • Arken Beauty Supply
  • Art School of Peterborough
  • B!KE
  • Beautique Canada
  • BioPed Footcare
  • Black Honey Bakery
  • Black Honey Dessert and Coffeehouse
  • Blue Shoes/Pensieri Shoes
  • Bluestreak Records
  • Boardwalk Board Game Lounge
  • Boater’s World
  • Brant Basics
  • Brick House Craft Burger Grill
  • Brothers Pizza
  • Buck or Two Plus
  • Burgundy’s Hair Salon
  • By The Bridge
  • Cahill’s Outerwear
  • Chalk Therapy
  • Champs
  • Charlotte Jewellers
  • Charlotte Paint & Wallpaper
  • Charlotte Street Comics and Collectibles
  • Charlotte’s Web
  • Cheslers Shoes
  • Chumleighs
  • Cork and Bean
  • Cottage Toys
  • Couture Candy PTBO
  • Cozy Home: Designs by Lacey
  • Creative Lounge
  • Curry Mantra
  • Curry Village
  • Dan Joyce Clothing
  • Dodrio
  • Dream Cyclery
  • Dreams of Beans
  • Dueling Grounds
  • Earth Food Store
  • Electric City Bread Co
  • Euphoria Wellness Spa
  • First Stop Swap Shop
  • Flavour
  • Fontaine’s Source for Sports
  • Food Forest Café
  • Fork It
  • Fresh Dreams
  • Full Tilt Cycle
  • Gentry Apparel
  • Gerti’s
  • Grady’s Feet Essentials
  • Green Street
  • GreenUp
  • Grey Guardian
  • Hanoi House
  • Hi Ho Silver
  • Hobies Sports Ltd.
  • Hock Express
  • Hot Belly Mama’s
  • Iceman Video Games
  • Insight Optical
  • Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine
  • Jack’s Hot Spot
  • Jasmine Thai Cuisine
  • John Roberts Clothiers
  • K and C Costumes
  • Kettle Drums
  • Kingan Home Hardware
  • Kit Coffee
  • Knock on Wood
  • La Hacienda
  • La Mesita
  • Larry Electric & Motor Service
  • Laurie Jones & Co Hair Designers
  • Lift Lock Escape
  • LiLi’s Convenience
  • Marie Cluthé Antiques and Collectibles
  • McThirsty’s Pint
  • Meta 4
  • Minh’s Chinese Grocery
  • Mr. Brock Barber Shop
  • Mr. Sub on George Street
  • My Left Breast
  • My Own Clouds
  • Naked Chocolate
  • Nateure’s Plate
  • Needles in the Hay
  • Needleworks
  • Next Level Mobile
  • Nielsen’s Watches and Jewellery
  • One Eighty
  • Pammett’s Flowers
  • Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism
  • Peterborough Inn & Suites
  • Peterborough Photo Service
  • Peterborough Public Library
  • Pettigrew Spa & Salon
  • Plant Goals
  • Providence
  • Rare Grill House
  • Rawscoe’s Sport Collectibles
  • ReBoot
  • Renew MediSpa
  • Ritual Apothecary
  • Runner’s Life
  • Running Room
  • S.O.S.
  • Sam’s Place
  • Sandy’s Cigar & Variety
  • Silk Roots
  • Smiles To You
  • Solid Leather
  • Starks Barber Company
  • Statement House
  • Studio East
  • Sugar Me Right
  • Sullivan Law
  • Sustain Eco Store
  • Taso’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
  • T-Elle Boutique
  • The Avant-Garden Shop
  • The Cell Shop
  • The Cheese Shop
  • The Food Shop
  • The Pasta Shop
  • The Toy Shop
  • The Unicorn
  • The Olde Stone Brewing Co
  • Things from Mom’s Basement
  • Tiny Greens
  • Tonic Hair Salon
  • Tribal Voices
  • Turnbull Café
  • Union Studio
  • Village of Thai
  • Watson & Lou
  • Whistle Stop Café
  • Wild Rock Outfitters
  • Yo Yo’s Yogurt Café

 

This story was created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.

Ontario reports 1,487 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 new cases in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

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

Today, Ontario is reporting 1,487 new COVID-19 cases, the 11th straight day of more than 1,000 new daily cases, with the average number of daily cases over the past 11 days increasing slightly to 1,346.

Most of the new cases are in Toronto (508), Peel (392), and York (170), with smaller increases in Waterloo (67), Ottawa (51), Halton (46), Durham (45), Simcoe Muskoka (35), Hamilton (35), Niagara (19), Windsor-Essex (14), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (14), Grey Bruce (10), Southwestern Public Health (10), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (9), Brant County (9), Chatham-Kent (7), Haldimand-Norfolk (7), Renfrew County (6), and Peterborough (6).

The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 2 health units (Northwestern Health Unit and North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit) reporting no new cases at all — the only time this has happened since the pandemic began.

Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (516) among people ages 20 to 39. With 992 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.3% to 83.0%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.4% since November 13 to to 4.1%, meaning that 41 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 15.

A total of 10 new deaths were reported today, including 4 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 21 to 500, although 41 hospitals did not submit data for today’s report so this number may be under-reported. There are 7 additional patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 3 additional patients on ventilators.

A total of 33,351 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 9,893 to 16,254.

There are 106 new cases in Ontario schools, a decrease of 10 from November 13, with 63 student cases, 14 staff cases, and 29 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 15 cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 7 from November 13, with 8 cases among children and 7 cases among staff.

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There are 6 new cases to report today in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton. After reporting 6 new cases yesterday, there are no new cases to report today in Peterborough. None of the reported new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.

Additional cases have been resolved in Peterborough (1), Northumberland (2), Kawartha Lakes (1), and Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1).

There are currently 43 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 22 in Peterborough, 11 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 6 in Northumberland, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 179 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (153 resolved with 4 deaths), 191 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (169 resolved with 32 deaths), 60 in Northumberland County (53 resolved with 1 death), 23 in Haliburton County (22 resolved with no deaths), and 93 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (77 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 12.

Province-wide, there have been 95,496 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,487 from yesterday, with 79,295 cases resolved (83.0% of all cases), an increase of 992. There have been 3,371 deaths, an increase of 10 from yesterday, with 2,145 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 4 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 21 to 500, but 41 hospitals did not submit data for this report so this number may be under-reported. There are 7 additional patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 3 additional patients on ventilators. A total of 5,677,273 tests have been completed, an increase of 33,351 from yesterday, with 16,254 tests under investigation, a decrease of 9,893 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.

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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: 179 (no change)
Active cases: 22 (decrease of 1)
Close contacts: 32 (increase of 7)
Deaths: 4 (no change)
Resolved: 153 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 35,600 (no change)
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: 274, including 191 in Kawartha Lakes, 60 in Northumberland, 23 in Haliburton (increase of 6, including 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton)
Active cases: 10, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (net increase of 3)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 34, including 21 in Kawartha Lakes and 13 in Northumberland (net increase of 12)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 244, including 169 in Kawartha Lakes, 53 in Northumberland, 22 in Haliburton (increase of 3, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg (no change)

 

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: 93 (increase of 6)
Active cases: 11 (increase of 5)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (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: 77 (increase of 1)
Total swabs completed: 6,379*
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

*This number does not include swabs completed at hospitals and other health care facilities.

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 95,496 (increase of 1,487)
Resolved: 79,295 (increase of 992, 83.0% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 500 (increase of 21)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 125 (increase of 7)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 70 (increase of 3)
Deaths: 3,371 (increase of 10)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,145 (increase of 4)
Total tests completed: 5,677,273 (increase of 33,351)
Tests under investigation: 16,254 (decrease of 9,893)

*As is always the case on weekends, a number of hospitals (approximately 41) did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for November 14. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases. The number of hospitalizations reported

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 16 - November 15, 2020. 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 16 – November 15, 2020. 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 October 16 - November 15, 2020. 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 tests completed in Ontario from October 16 – November 15, 2020. 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)

 

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

More than 180,000 Hydro One customers without power after Sunday’s severe windstorm

By kawarthaNOW -
More than 1,800 active hydro outages in southwestern and central Ontario on the morning of November 16, 2020 after a severe windstorm swept across the province the previous day. (Map: Hydro One)

Hydro One is continuing to assess damage and restore power after Sunday’s severe windstorm.

As of 9:30 a.m. on Monday (November 16), there were still more than 1,800 active outages leaving more than 180,000 customers without power.

“High wind gusts of over 100 km/hour caused significant damage province-wide, and continue to move east,” Hydro One states on its storm centre website. “Crews and support staff remain ready to respond.”

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“Additional crews are being sent to the hardest-hit areas of southwestern and central Ontario, and specialized off-road equipment and helicopters will be used to assist in restoration efforts. We thank customers for their patience as our team works to get the lights back on.”

You can report an outage online or by calling 1-800-434-1235.

Hydro One says its top priorities are emergencies and restoring power “to the largest number of customers in the shortest period of time.”

“Be sure to stay clear of any fallen power lines,” Hydro One states. “If you spot a fallen line, keep at least 10 metres back, even if it does not appear to be live. Report it to the police and call Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.”

For more information about power outages, visit the Hydro One website at hydroone.com.

Artist Christy Haldane uses glass and stone to create functional and wearable art

By Barb Shaw -
An example of Peterborough-area artist Christy Haldane's functional art, fusing glass and stone to create a one-of-a-kind vase. She uses the same technique to create wearable art including pendants, and custom "Memory Stones" where she creates keepsake pendants or sculptures using stone that you provide. You can order her functional and wearable art, which make unique gifts, from her website. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)

It’s been a long time since Christy Haldane was drawn to the blue tint of commercial glass that caught her eye on her daily commute from Toronto to Oakville. As condos rose around her, the textures, the shapes, and the glass brought about a focus and a fascination that remains the signature tint in her functional sculptures and wearable art.

Living just outside of Peterborough, she has fused that passion for glass with the grounding of local stone to create tactile pieces that do more than just look nice. Christy’s creations are available from her website at www.christyhaldane.com and, as we move into the holiday season, she hopes her art will be a top choice for those seeking a very special gift

As a renowned artist, Christy’s sculptures have graced the banks of the Trent Severn Waterway and have made appearances in galleries across the region. As with all artists, the pandemic has limited Christy’s opportunities to exhibit her work, but she has embraced the isolation to reflect and focus on creating new art.

Peterborough-area artist Christy Haldane is renowned for her work in repurposed glass, which she combines with other materials such as stone, concrete, and steel. Now she is creating wearable and functional art using glass and stone, such as the hanging pendant she's wearing in this photo, available online from her website. (Photo: Miller Dodgson)
Peterborough-area artist Christy Haldane is renowned for her work in repurposed glass, which she combines with other materials such as stone, concrete, and steel. Now she is creating wearable and functional art using glass and stone, such as the hanging pendant she’s wearing in this photo, available online from her website. (Photo: Miller Dodgson)

“This was a time for me to be able to slow down and to look around,” Christy says. “I made myself stop and, because I didn’t have any shows, I went back to found items and collected pieces — there was inspiration in these found items.”

Christy has been creating art from recycled items throughout her entire career and her location has always inspired what she has been able to find, adapt, and harness.

She is attracted to concrete as a medium, noting the differences in the stones that form the material, which are determined by physical location. Found industrial materials also bring her great joy and, over the years, recycling glass has become more and more of her focus.

Some of artist Christy Haldane's hanging stone-and-glass pendants, which are available online at her website. A selection of the pendants will also be available at the Art Gallery of Peterborough's gallery shop in late November. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)
Some of artist Christy Haldane’s hanging stone-and-glass pendants, which are available online at her website. A selection of the pendants will also be available at the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s gallery shop in late November. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)

“I recycle windows — those old sliders,” Christy laughs. “When they made them, they added iron and that’s where you get the blue colour. It comes from the iron.”

Spending time in her studio during the quiet created by the pandemic, Christy says she had an opportunity to start revisiting the many bits and pieces she has collected over the years.

“There was a reason why I collected these things, and this was a time to rediscover ideas,” she says.

The rediscovery process has been rewarding and has unleashed a flood of creativity that is making its way into recent creations featuring dock wood, concrete, old steel, and so much stone.

“I do lots of thinking when I’m driving or out walking my dogs,” Christy notes. “I’m kind of a eureka moment person.”

These moments are why each of her functional sculptures are different.

Her vases, for example, are created from the same materials as her other works — stone and glass — but are completely unique.

Every one of Christy Haldane's glass-and-stone vases is functional as well as being an original, one-of-a-kind piece of art. The Peterborough-area artist uses natural stone from different regions of Ontario, including the Kawarthas, with some vases using concrete that also contains natural stone. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)
Every one of Christy Haldane’s glass-and-stone vases is functional as well as being an original, one-of-a-kind piece of art. The Peterborough-area artist uses natural stone from different regions of Ontario, including the Kawarthas, with some vases using concrete that also contains natural stone. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)

“I grew up in southern Ontario and the stone there is so different,” Christy says. “Stones change from region to region and this impacts what is created. It’s part of why as Canadians we are so grounded in our landscape — we see ourselves as part of it.”

This connection to the landscape is clearly expressed with Christy’s vase creations, but also in her pendants. While they are meant to be worn, the pendants beg to be held in your hand, to be warmed by skin. They are decidedly formal but, with such a rugged beauty, can easily be used as a casual accessory too.

VIDEO: Peterborough-area artist Christy Haldane at work in her studio

Christy’s vases are equally reflective of this rugged beauty. The functional sculptures combine beautifully with wildflowers or even weeds. Like the pendants, the pieces invite touch — they need to be felt, held, and turned based on mood. This is not the kind of art that should live on a high shelf away from hands and hearts.

Christy laughs while recalling a show she did at the Art Gallery of Peterborough.

“I used the Trent Severn as the inspiration,” Christy recalls. “The pieces were on the ramp and the curator went crazy because everyone was touching them. But I want to work with something people touch — even in outdoor shows the pieces warm up in the sun.”

Known for her large sculptural installations (pictured), Peterborough-area artist Christy Haldane is making her art accessible to everyone with glass-and-stone vases, sculptures, and wearable pendants. (Photos courtesy of Christy Haldane)
Known for her large sculptural installations (pictured), Peterborough-area artist Christy Haldane is making her art accessible to everyone with glass-and-stone vases, sculptures, and wearable pendants. (Photos courtesy of Christy Haldane)

Because Christy’s art is so accessible, she enjoys those moments when people suddenly “get it” — their deeper connection to an unspoken understanding of what it is to be Canadian and to be so impacted by our regional landscapes.

The global pandemic has also created a different kind of regional landscape and, as Christy prepares for a holiday season without shows, she says her work reflects what we have experienced over the past year. Forced to adapt to significant and previously unimaginable change and facing a fear of the unknown, many of us have found comfort in the beauty and stability of our natural surroundings.

Christy’s process is about capturing moments of history in found objects and then fusing these together to create a new story. That process is exemplified in her popular “Memory Stones”, one-of-a-kind stone-and-glass pendants, lone sculptures, and memorial sculptures. You provide her with stones you have collected that mean something to you — whether from a special place, person, or time in your life — and Christy incorporates them into a piece of art you can cherish forever.

Christy Haldane also creates custom "Memory Stones" that, like her vases and pendants, fuse glass with stone -- but you provide her with stones you have collected that have special meaning for you. Memory Stones are available as pendants, lone sculptures, and memorial sculptures. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)
Christy Haldane also creates custom “Memory Stones” that, like her vases and pendants, fuse glass with stone — but you provide her with stones you have collected that have special meaning for you. Memory Stones are available as pendants, lone sculptures, and memorial sculptures. (Photo courtesy of Christy Haldane)

“My work is first about the story,” Christy explains. “Then it’s process and medium driven.”

The year that is wrapping up is unlike anything we have experienced before, and the art Christy is creating for the holiday season is an antidote to uncertainty, stress, and isolation. Her work delivers a feeling of grounding, permanence, and fresh perspective and everything begs to be touched and held — creating the personal connection and closeness so many of us have longed for since the pandemic began.

Christy lives on a hobby farm outside of Peterborough, Ontario. Her work, ranging from small-scale wearable art to large sculptural installations, can be viewed and purchased on her website at www.christyhaldane.com. Selected works will also be available in the gallery shop at the Art Gallery of Peterborough (250 Crescent St., Peterborough) when the gallery reopens on November 21st after installing new exhibitions.

For more information, contact Christy at 705-931-0855 or christy@christyhaldane.com. You can also follow Christy and her art on Facebook and Instagram.

 

This story was created in partnership with Christy Haldane.

Ontario reports 1,248 new COVID-19 cases, including 6 in Peterborough

By kawarthaNOW -
Fairhaven is a municipal long-term care home facility located at 881 Dutton Road in Peterborough. (Photo: Fairhaven)

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

Today, Ontario is reporting 1,248 new COVID-19 cases, a drop of 333 from yesterday’s record high of 1,581 cases. This is the tenth straight day of more than 1,000 new daily cases, with the average number of daily cases over the past 10 days decreasing slightly to 1,332.

Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (364), Peel (308), and York (125), with smaller increases in Durham (62), Ottawa (62), Halton (54), Waterloo (48), Hamilton (31), Middlesex-London (29), Simcoe Muskoka (26), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (24), Windsor-Essex (23), Niagara (23), Southwestern Public Health (13), Sudbury (6), Huron Perth (6), and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (6).

The remaining 17 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 4 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 (480) among people ages 20 to 39. With 1,062 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 83.3%. The average positivity rate across Ontario is unavailable on weekends.

For the thirteenth day in a row, there has been a double-digit increase in the number of deaths, with 29 new deaths reported today including 20 in long-term care facilities — the highest number of deaths and long-term care deaths since June. Hospitalizations have decreased by 23 to 479, but 40 hospitals did not submit data for this report so this number may be under-reported. There are 11 additional patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 1 additional patient on a ventilator.

A total of 42,206 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 13,620 to 26,147.

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There are 6 new cases to report in Peterborough, at least some of which are likely related to the ongoing outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care facility in Peterborough.

“We have fourteen residents in our Riverside 2 COVID wing (all originally from Westview 2), with several results outstanding from our lab,” writes Lionel Towns, executive director of Fairhaven, in a email to families on Sunday morning (November 15). “There are currently four confirmed positive cases in staff with several test results outstanding. We should receive most of the outstanding swabs today or tomorrow.”

The outbreak at Fairhaven began after a caregiver visiting the Westview 2 unit tested positive for COVID-19 on October 31. Since then, the virus has spread and two residents have died from COVID-19.

An additional case has been resolved in Peterborough.

Reports are unavailable on weekends for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

There are currently 34 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 23 in Peterborough, 6 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 2 in Kawartha Lakes, and 3 in Northumberland.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 179 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (152 resolved with 4 deaths), 189 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (168 resolved with 32 deaths), 57 in Northumberland County (51 resolved with 1 death), 22 in Haliburton County (22 resolved with no deaths), and 87 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (76 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death — a resident of Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough — on November 12.

Province-wide, there have been 94,009 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,248 from yesterday, with 78,303 cases resolved (83.3% of all cases), an increase of 1,062. There have been 3,361 deaths, an increase of 20 from yesterday, with 2,141 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 20 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 23 to 479, but 40 hospitals did not submit data for this report so this number may be under-reported. There are 11 additional patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and 1 additional patient on a ventilator. A total of 5,643,922 tests have been completed, an increase of 42,206 from yesterday, with 26,147 tests under investigation, a decrease of 13,620 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. Health unit data is more current, and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day.

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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: 179 (increase of 6)
Active cases: 23 (increase of 5)
Close contacts: 25 (increase of 9)
Deaths: 4 (no change)
Resolved: 152 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 35,600 (increase of 100)
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. These numbers are from November 13.

Confirmed positive: 268, including 189 in Kawartha Lakes, 57 in Northumberland, 22 in Haliburton (increase of 5, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 4 in Northumberland)
Active cases: 7, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Northumberland (increase of 5, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 4 in Northumberland)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 22, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 11 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (decrease of 2)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 241, including 168 in Kawartha Lakes, 51 in Northumberland, 22 in Haliburton (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg (no change)

 

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. These numbers are from November 13.

Confirmed positive: 87 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 6 (increase of 3)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (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: 76 (no change)
Total tests completed: 6,986 (increase of 53)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 94,009 (increase of 1,248)
Resolved: 78,303 (increase of 1,062, 83.3% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 479 (decrease of 23)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 118 (increase of 11)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 67 (increase of 1)
Deaths: 3,361 (increase of 29)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,141 (increase of 20)
Total tests completed: 5,643,922 (increase of 42,206)
Tests under investigation: 26,147 (decrease of 13,620)

*As is always the case on weekends, a number of hospitals (approximately 40) did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for November 13. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 15 - November 14, 2020. 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 15 – November 14, 2020. 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 October 15 - November 14, 2020. 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 tests completed in Ontario from October 15 – November 14, 2020. 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)

 

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

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