A tornado at Sturgeon Lake in Kawartha Lakes on June 23, 2020. (Photo: Amy Reeds @amy_reeds / Twitter)
UPDATE – Sun Aug 2 6:35 p.m.
The tornado watch has ended.
Environment Canada has issued a tornado watch on Sunday (August 2) for portions of central and eastern Ontario, including Haliburton County, Hastings Highlands including Bancroft, northern Kawartha Lakes including Fenelon Falls and Balsam Lake Park, and northern Peterborough County including Apsley and Woodview.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes and scattered damaging wind gusts up to 100 km/h into Sunday evening.
A tornado watch means conditions are favourable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for possible warnings.
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In the event of a tornado, or if a tornado warning is issued for your area, it is recommended you take the following actions.
Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
For the southern Kawarthas — southern Peterborough County including Peterborough and Lakefield, southern Kawartha Lakes including Lindsay, and Northumberland County including Port Hope and Cobourg — a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts. Scattered wind gusts up to to 100 km/h are possible into Sunday evening, and a tornado is also possible.
Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
Local band Out On Bail (from left: Richard Simpkins, John Climenhage, Wylie Harold, and Wayne O'Connor) performs one of several numbers at Andy and Linda Tough's barn north of Norwood. The band is one of a number being featured as part of the "Live! At The Barn" series of shows recorded and presented by RMS Events and sponsored by Team vanRahan Century 21. Vidoes of the performances, along with inteviews with the musicians, will coming to YouTube starting August 21, 2020. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
What has happened in the barn has typically stayed in the barn, but then 2020 has proven to be anything but typical for all of us — including musicians who continue to find the doors to almost all live music venues closed to their talents.
Enter Andy and Linda Tough of RMS Events, a multimedia enterprise specializing in audio/video production and presentation for a range of clients. On their scenic rural property north of Norwood, a huge nondescript barn is anything but inside, with advanced recording equipment fronting a stage, large by pub standards, with table seating.
The pandemic has prevented the Toughs from inviting guests to live performances in the barn, as in past summers, but music is still very much in the fresh country air. This is much to the benefit to not only participating performers but, as it will soon turn out, to those craving their fix of local live music.
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The Toughs have recently launched “Live! At The Barn”, a series of live-off-the-floor recording sessions featuring area musicians, with the goal of presenting each session on YouTube starting August 21st.
On Thursday night (July 30), Wylie Harold and Out On Bail — Richard Simpkins, John Climenhage and Wayne O’Connor — performed their blues repertoire as the cameras rolled and the sound recording console lit up. Prior sessions have seen The Gunslingers, Pat Temple, and The Fabulous Tonemasters take a turn, while future recording dates are scheduled for House Brand and The Weber Brothers.
“Once COVID hit, all live music events were cancelled, and all our jams here at the barn were cancelled,” Andy says, explaining the motivation behind the Live! At The Barn series. “Not only can’t musicians play in a club, they can’t play with each other.”
The large barn that dominates Andy and Linda Tough’s property north of Norwood is not unlike any one of the many that dot the rural Ontario landscape. but it’s a different story inside where audio and video recording equipment is being put to full use to the benefit of local music bands starving to get together to do what they do during the pandemic. “The Live! At The Barn” series, presented under the RMS Events banner and sponsored by Team vanRahan Century 21, will see a number of recorded performances posted to YouTube starting August 21st. (Photo courtesy of RMS Events)
“We’ve got a big enough facility here. We can physically space people. It’s easy to clean because Mother Nature is our air exchange system. I had already planned to record our jams, so the system was already half set up.”
“It was like ‘Why don’t we see if musicians would like to come and play and record it?’ They get a video that I’ll give them for their own promotion purposes, and we can sell some sort of sponsorship to cover our costs so there’s no cost to the musicians whatsoever. That was key … obviously they’re not working.”
First to step up as sponsors of Live! At The Barn are Century 21 United Realty real estate agents Ben vanVeen and Catherine Hanrahan — Team vanRahan as they’re known collectively — who have worked with RMS Events on past events, including the Team vanRahan Summer Family Film Series.
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According to Catherine, not only is their sponsorship “a good fit” with their business’ focus on rural properties but, as vanVeen notes, both he and his partner are ardent local music supporters.
“It (COVID-19) has been a drag, not just for musicians but for guys like Andy, the A-V people and everyone working in the live performance industry,” she says, adding, “It’s nice to see something different and interesting that’s still really safe.”
While Catherine and Ben have been invited to barn jams before, this was the first time they were able to make the trek.
Andy Tough of RMS Events works the sound board during the live-off-the-floor recording of Wylie Harold and Out On Bail on Thursday night (July 30) for the “The Live! At The Barn” series. Andy is putting his audio and video recording skills to very good use during the pandemic, welcoming local music bands to his barn north of Norwood to record. The end result will be a series of shows posted to YouTube starting August 21, 2020. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
“It’s very cool,” Ben says. “It’s unique, The overall aesthetic is comforting. There’s all these different pieces that make up that aesthetic.”
“We have a barn (too)”, he adds, referring to his and Hanrahan’s farm near Havelock. “I love the old fixtures and what they’re collected here. He almost needs a little plaque beside each one reading ‘Found at …’. There’s a lot of history there.”
Musician Wylie Harold echoes that sentiment, describing the barn atmosphere as “warm … it’s in the room at all times”
Singer and guitarist Wylie Harold performs with his blues band Out On Bail Thursday night (July 30) as part of the “Live! At The Barn” series of recorded performances. Recorded and presented by RMS Events and sponsored by Team vanRahan Century 21, the series of shows will be available on YouTube starting August 21, 2020. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
Onstage and off, there was no wiping the huge smile off Wylie’s face — a grin anchored in the chance to be back on stage with his bandmates after months of not being able to do so.
“We miss the money obviously, but we miss playing music (together) … three or four guys locking into that magic pocket. We haven’t played together in the longest time. The last real gig I did was in December. I’ve done a couple of private functions. I did the chip truck (The Cabin at Trent) a few times. That was kind of cool. They sent me home with a bag of burgers. It was a nice little gig, but my calendar is empty like everyone else’s.”
Wylie doesn’t see live music returning to bars in any meaningful way soon.
“Alcohol makes you want to chat. It’s very social. I’m not sure what the future holds for live music. It’s not going to be walking into a bar, letting your hair down and letting it rip. I don’t know if there are better days ahead. I miss them all (his live music friends).”
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Beside the opportunity to get back together with Out On Bail, Wylie used the recording session to fine-tune songs that will be featured on his upcoming new CD. Not included on the track list is “Live Music Strong”, a song he wrote in homage of the power of live music performance.
“There’s nothing like live music. Good, bad or indifferent, wherever you are, live music just adds a little shine to anything.”
According to Andy, accompanying each concert session posted to YouTube will be an invite to donate to the featured act. Email addresses will be listed for e-transfers. A donation is not required to view the performance but, as Andy notes, it’s a chance to help out-of-work musicians.
Andy notes the each session’s video doesn’t just include the musical performance.
“We’re also interviewing each band to give people a profile of the people in the band as opposed to the musicians who are on the stage — where they came from, their influences, and that sort of stuff.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to limit the opportunities for musicians to perform together live, the door to Andy and Linda Tough’s barn north of Norwood is wide open, welcoming local bands to record concert videos for presentation on YouTube starting August 21, 2020 under the title “Live! At The Barn”. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
As for his RMS Events business, Andy notes the impact of the pandemic has been severe but his work on Live! At The Barn is keeping him happily busy.
“I’m in the worst business that I can be, because I do events with more than 50 people,” he says. “Everything just grounded to a halt, postponed, or cancelled outright. But, as Linda says, I can (now) walk to work and not have to load the car.”
Like Wylie, Andy is also concerned about the long-term impacts of the pandemic on the livelihood of local musicians.
“They don’t know where things are going. No singing and no dancing in clubs negates all the things they live for. How do bars depopulate for physical distancing and (still) make ends meet? They can’t make enough money to pay the musicians.”
Like everyone else, the Toughs are looking forward to life post-COVID, especially as that relates to live events they have planned for their barn space — events that were set to be organized and held this summer.
In the meantime, their focus is on Live! At The Barn.
Sponsor Team vanRahan urges people to check out each YouTube episode and do what they can to help out the featured performers.
“There are so many asks of people these days, but if you’re in a position to help and you enjoy the music, do what you can,” Catherine says.
“Local musicians tell local stories and we need those,” Ben adds. “They’re giving a lot to us, so if you can, give something back to them.”
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Sunday (August 2) for northern areas of the Kawarthas region, including northern Peterborough County including Apsley, northern Kawartha Lakes including Fenelon Falls, Hastings Highlands including Bancroft, and all of Haliburton County.
Heavy rainfall is expected on Sunday as an area of low pressure intensifies and tracks northeastward across southern and central Ontario.
Rain, at times heavy, is expected to begin early on Sunday morning and continue through to Sunday evening.
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General rainfall amounts of 40 to 60 mm are expected, with up to 75 mm possible in some areas.
Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop.
The Black Horse Pub and Restaurant is located at at 452 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: National Trust for Canada)
Update – Friday, August 7
Thanks to media coverage of his plight, Desmond Vandenberg has been able to secure insurance company and reopen his pub and restaurant.
The Black Horse Pub and Restaurant in downtown Peterborough is closing its doors, but it’s not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owner and operator Desmond Vandenberg has been unable to obtain insurance coverage for the restaurant, leaving him with no decision but to close the doors on Saturday (August 1).
“Our insurance came up for renewal for August 1st,” he tells kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger. “On June 24th, the insurance company said they would not be renewing our insurance. So we then started seeking insurance and reached out to multiple brokers, in town and out of town, and none of them were able to secure insurance for us.”
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“We were unable to secure insurance at any cost,” Vandenberg explains. “At one point, it was suggested that we could get insurance at a rate of two and a half times times what we were paying, and we said okay. But then the insurer came back and said no. We made it clear to all the brokers that we were prepared to insure at any cost, but yet nobody was able to get us a quote.”
Vandenberg is quick to point out that the issue he’s having getting insurance has nothing to do with the age or condition of the building or the viability of the business. It’s based on an unrelated matter, the details of which he is not willing to provide.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think I can share that information,” he says. “I can say that there’s no issue with the building that makes it uninsurable. It’s nothing like that at all. The business is in good standing, and it’s I think in better shape than many restaurants.”
The unrelated matter also has nothing to do with the pandemic, but Vandenberg believes his issue getting insurance might have something to do with COVID-19.
“The environment right now for insurance companies is not great,” he notes. “They’re kind of staying away from restaurants as they try to figure out where the dust is going to settle on that, on what possible claims they might be looking at because of it.”
The insurance issue comes at at a time when the Black Horse is just starting to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic.
“COVID did put a burden on us, but we were prepared to weather it,” Vandenberg says. “We were still looking long term, trying to plan for when COVID was going to end, following whatever rules (Peterborough Public Health) had in effect.”
The restaurant recently re-opened its patio and has been hosting live instrumental music there for the first time since closing, with local fiddler Irish Millie making several appearances. Just this week, the Black Horse brought back vocal music featuring regulars the Rob Phillips Trio with Marsala Lukianchuk on Thursday night and musical duo Rick and Gailie on Friday night.
“We purchased a plexiglass barrier so that we could allow singing,” Vandenberg points out — one of the requirements of Ontario government legislation. All the entertainment has been taking place on the patio rather than inside.
Vandenberg, a graduate of Trent University, purchased the property at 452 George Street North from former owner Ray Kapoor in April 2018. Kapoor had been looking to sell for some time, and a deal with Parkview Homes to purchase the property for redevelopment in 2017 fell through. After Vandenberg purchased the Black Horse, he continued Kapoor’s tradition of hosting regular live music at the pub.
“In some ways it hasn’t hit me yet,” Vandenberg says of the decision to close. “For the last month, we’ve really been trying desperately to keep going, so that’s been our focus. When it came down to yesterday, I talked to my wife and at the beginning of the day I said ‘All we’re doing today is try to get through the day and hold it together’. Now and in the next week or two, we’re going to try to regroup — what are our options, what can we do and what can’t we do, and move forward from there.”
Opening up a new pub and restaurant somewhere else isn’t in the cards. Vandenberg owns the Black Horse building and has invested significantly in it. He rents the apartments on the upper floor, so there is limited income from that.
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As for selling the building, Vandenberg says he isn’t exploring that option yet, but nothing’s off the table.
“We certainly don’t want to do that. We’re hoping that we can figure out some way we can continue do do what we have been doing. Beyond financial reasons, it’s what we wanted to do, something that we’ve enjoyed doing.”
While Vandenberg remains optimistic that something may change, so far he’s been unsuccessful in his efforts at securing insurance.
“There is still some chance somebody may come through at the last minute, but certainly all the traditional markets that you go to to get insurance are not interested in touching us.”
Downtown Peterborough has already lost many of its small live music venues, including The Spill and The Dobro. And, while the Black Horse’s closure is not related to COVID-19, Vandenberg believes the pandemic is going to change what’s possible in the future when it comes to live music.
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That said, Vandenberg says he has been committed to doing whatever it takes to keep live music a part of the Black Horse experience — but he has no control over securing insurance.
“This decision was out of our hands. We explored ever option to keep it open, prepared to pay any cost to keep it open, and there was nothing offered to us.”
This story has been updated based on an interview with Vandenberg by kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger.
You can kick back and relax on the Civic Holiday long weekend, as almost all stores are open on Monday. You might want to stock up on beverages though, as all liquor stores are closed on Monday as well as most beer stores.
The Civic Holiday is called Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough, James Cockburn Day in Cobourg, Simcoe Day in Toronto, Colonel By Day in Ottawa, George Hamilton Day in Hamilton, Joseph Brant Day in Burlington, Founders’ Day in Brantford, McLaughlin Day in Oshawa, Alexander Mackenzie Day in Sarnia, John Galt Day in Guelph, and numerous other names in smaller municipalities. Whatever you call it, the holiday is always celebrated on the first Monday in August.
Since the Civic Holiday is not a statutory holiday in Ontario and is not listed in Ontario’s Employment Standards Act or Retail Business Holidays Act, most businesses are open on Monday, although some have reduced hours. Almost all grocery stores, malls, and big box stores are open on Monday, although all liquor stores and most beer stores are closed. Government offices are closed and many government-operated services are unavailable.
For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 261 selected businesses and services across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours, especially where indicated and if you are travelling any distance (we’ve included phone numbers). If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form.
Bewdley Community Recycling Centre 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
Brighton Community Recycling Centre 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No collection or delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Mon Aug 3 collection moves to Tue Aug 4, Aug 4 to 5, Aug 5 to 6, Aug 6 to 7
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
No change
City of Peterborough Green Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Social Services Peterborough 705-748-8830
Here is an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as the greater Kawarthas region.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has confirmed its first new case of COVID-19 since May 18. A resident of Quinte West, who tested positive for the virus after returning from travel, is in self-isolation at home and all close contacts have been identified and assessed. The health unit states there is no evidence of community transmission and this case is not associated with Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
This news comes after one day after Peterborough Public Health reported 2 new cases, the first since June 20, and then an additional case on Friday (July 31).
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There is also one new case to report in Kawartha Lakes, with two additional cases resolved. There are no new cases in Haliburton or Northumberland, with all 25 cases in Northumberland now resolved.
After two consecutive days of new cases under 100, the Ontario government is reporting a spike in new cases with 134. Of today’s new cases, 26 are in Ottawa and 24 are in Windsor-Essex.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 97 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (95 resolved with 2 deaths), 176 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (156 resolved with 32 deaths), 25 in Northumberland County (25 resolved with no deaths), 13 in Haliburton County (12 resolved with no deaths), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (38 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 39,209 confirmed cases, an increase of 134 from yesterday’s report, with 35,074 cases (89.5% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 168. There have been 2,775 deaths, an increase of 3, with 1,795 deaths reported in long-term care homes, an increase of 2. A total of 2,171,972 tests have been completed, an increase of 30,033 from yesterday, with 29,215 tests under investigation, an increase of 948.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 98 (increase of 3, with 2 new cases on July 30 and 1 new case on July 31) Active cases: 3 (increase of 3) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 93 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 21,250 (increase of 200) Institutional outbreaks: None (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 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 214, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 13 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Kawartha Lakes) Probable cases: 0 (decrease of 1) Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 193, including 156 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (increase of 3, 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: None (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 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 44 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 38 (no change) Total tests completed: 17,575 (increase of 122) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 39,209 (increase of 134) Resolved: 35,074 (increase of 168, 89.5% of all cases are resolved) Hospitalized: 78 (decrease of 6) Hospitalized and in ICU: 29 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 15 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2,775 (increase of 3) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,795 (increase of 2, 64.7% of all deaths) Total tests completed 2,171,972 (increase of 30,033) Tests under investigation: 29,215 (increase of 948)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 30 – July 30, 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 June 30 – July 300, 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)
The COVID Alert exposure notification app uses software developed jointly by Apple and Google that relies on Bluetooth technology to anonymously share information if a user has been in close contact with someone infected with COVID-19.
The COVID Alert app — which lets you know if you may have been exposed to someone with the virus — is available for download for Ontario residents with Android and iOS devices beginning Friday (July 31).
The Ontario government is encouraging as many as people to download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. The more people who download the free app, the more effective it will be in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
The app was originally going to be available at the beginning of July, but was delayed for three weeks. It then went through a week of testing with thousands of volunteers who downloaded the beta version of the app and provided feedback to the developers.
After you download and install the COVID Alert app, you will be asked to choose a language and then taken through six steps to explain what the app is. The app does not collect any information from your phone, either your location or your personal information. (Screenshots from Android version)The six-step introduction of the COVID Alert app also explains how the app works and what permissions it requires to work. (Screenshots from Android version)The app will ask you your province of residence and will ask for permission to turn on the Bluetooth-based exposure notification technology already baked into your phone through a joint effort of Google and Apple. Once you have enabled the exposure notifications, you are done. You will only need to open the app again if it notifies you that you’ve been exposed, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and you want to let the app know this. (Screenshots from Android version)
Work on COVID Alert was initiated in Ontario by the Ontario Digital Service and volunteers at Shopify, and was the foundation of the work by the Government of Canada.
The app was developed in consultation with the Privacy Commissioners of Canada and Ontario to ensure the highest level of privacy for everyone using it.
COVID Alert does not collect any personal information, health information, or location data. Here’s how the app works:
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The COVID Alert app incorporates exposure notification software developed in a first-of-its-kind partnership between Apple and Google, and relies on Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate information while protecting a user’s security and privacy.
Once enabled, the software sends out a beacon via Bluetooth that includes a random Bluetooth identifier — basically a string of random numbers that isn’t tied to a user’s identity and that changes every 10 to 20 minutes for additional protection.
Other phones will be listening for these beacons and broadcasting their own as well. When each phone receives a beacon from another phone, it will record and securely store that beacon on the device.
At least once per day, the system will download a list of keys for beacons that have been verified as belonging to people confirmed as having tested positive for COVID-19. Each device will check the downloaded list against the beacons it has already recorded.
If the device finds a match, the user will be notified and advised on what steps to take next.
The software does not collect location data from your device, and does not share the identities of other users to each other, Google, or Apple. The user controls all data they want to share, and the decision to share it.
A series of screens explain exactly how COVID Alert works. (Screenshots from Android version)Every day, COVID Alert will check if your phone has been near the phone of someone else who is using the app and who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The app will let you know whether you have not been exposed in the last 14 days or whether you have been exposed and that you may be infected. (Screenshots from Android version)If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and want to help keep other Ontario residents safe, you will be asked to get a one-time key from the Ontario government website and enter it into the app. (Screenshots from Android version)
If an app user receives a message from COVID Alert that they may have been exposed to the virus, they should follow the public health advice given on the app and get tested.
To notify other people if an app user has tested positive for COVID-19, they can enter their one-time key from Ontario’s test results website ontario.ca/covidresults into the app.
A message will then be sent to other app users who have been within two metres of them for at least 15 minutes within the past 14 days, without sending any information that identifies the user, or the time and place of exposure.
If you have tested positive and choose to upload your random codes, those codes will be used by other phones to check if they have been in close proximity to yours. The app also provides privacy information and a link to a help and support page on the federal government’s website. (Screenshots from Android version)
All aspects of COVID Alert are completely voluntary. Ontarians can choose whether to download the app, whether to use the app after downloading it, and whether (if they test positive for COVID-19) to use the app so that other people using the app get a notification they were in close proximity to someone who tested positive for the virus.
The made-in-Ontario app has been made available for download in Ontario first. The Government of Canada is also working with the other provinces and territories to get their jurisdictions on board with the app in the coming weeks and months.
The beach at the Selwyn Beach Conservation Area. (Photo: Township of Selwyn)
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, going to the beach is a different experience this year. Public health officials recommend staying home if you feel sick, visiting a beach close to your home to avoid unnecessary travel, bringing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and maintaining at least two metres of physical distance from other beach goers.
As of Thursday, August 6th, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Back Dam Beach in Warsaw in Peterborough County (based on August 4 sample)
Norwood in Peterborough County (based on August 4 sample)
Riverview Beach Park in Bobycaygeon (based on July 28 sample)
Bewdley Optimist Park in Northumberland County (based on July 20 sample)
The following beaches are closed until further notice due to COVID-19:
Crowe Bridge Park in Trent Hills (Northumberland County)
Victoria Park in Cobourg (Northumberland County)
Little Lake in Cramahe (Northumberland County)
Sandy Bay Beach in Alnwick Haldimand (Northumberland County)
Hiwartha in Hiawatha First Nation (Peterborough County)
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
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Peterborough City/County
City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)
Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St, Peterborough) – sample date 5-Aug-2020 – SAFE
The Ontario government has amended its orders under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act to require bars and restaurants, effective on July 31st, to collect the names and contact information of patrons. The amendment also specifies the exceptions to the existing rule that patrons must remain seated at all times when eating or drinking.
“Protecting the health and well-being of all Ontarians has always been our top priority,” states health minister Christine Elliott in a media release issued on Friday (July 31). “These additional measures will help reduce close contact between individuals in these settings, and support case and contact tracing, thereby limiting the spread of COVID-19.”
Under the new rules, the operator of a bar and restaurant must record the name and contact information of every customer who enters an indoor or outdoor dining area — except for those who are entering just to place, pick up, or pay for a takeout order.
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Operators also have to keep the information for at least one month, and they can only disclose it to public health officials upon request for case or contact tracing.
The same requirement to collect and maintain customer information also now applies to tour and guide services.
The government has also clarified the existing rule that requires customers to remain seated while eating or drinking at a bar or restaurant.
The rule has now been modified to list the following exceptions: when entering the establishment to be seated or when leaving the establishment, when placing or picking up an order, when paying for an order, when going to or returning from a washroom, or when lining up to do any of these things.
Customers can also leave a seated area when necessary for health and safety reasons.
Premier Doug Ford enjoys a taste of Kawartha Dairy's famous ice cream during a visit to the family-owned dairy in Bobcaygeon on July 30, 2020. Early on during the pandemic, the Bobcaygeon community was devastated after 28 residents of Pinecrest Nursing Home passed away from COVID-19. (Photo: Samantha Moss / kawarthaNOW.com)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford paid a visit to Kawartha Dairy in Bobcaygeon on Thursday (July 30), following a media conference at a Whitby school earlier in the afternoon where he announced the reopening of Ontario elementary and secondary schools this fall.
Accompanied by Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, Ford toured the family-owned dairy’s facility and also enjoyed some ice cream.
Bobcaygeon was one of the first communities in Ontario to be devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Premier Doug Ford with employees of Kawartha Dairy during a visit to the Bobcaygeon-based dairy on July 30, 2020. (Photo: Samantha Moss / kawarthaNOW.com)
A total of 28 residents of the 65-bed Pinecrest Nursing Home passed away during March and early April in due to COVID-19. The home was declared free of COVID-19 on May 14.
In April, Kawartha Dairy donated $10,000 to the Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was established to help patients, families, and health care workers affected by the pandemic.
Earlier in the afternoon, Ford also toured Charlotte Products at 2060 Fisher Drive in Peterborough, accompanied by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith and Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones.
Premier Doug Ford and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott sample ice cream at Kawartha Dairy in Bobcaygeon on July 30, 2020. Earlier in the day, Ford announced that Ontario students would be returning to elementary and secondary schools in September. (Photo: Samantha Moss / kawarthaNOW.com)
Charlotte Products, a family-owned Peterborough company that produces cleaning products, has ramped up production during the COVID-19 pandemic of cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants.
Ford packed bottles of disinfectant into boxes, and also learned about the company’s products as well as its award-winning Optisolve Pathfinder technology, which provides real-time visual identification of organic contamination on any surface.
Ford’s Peterborough visit was overshadowed by the local health unit’s announcement the same afternoon of two new COVID-19 cases in the Peterborough area — the first new cases to be reported in the community in 40 days.
Premier Doug Ford packing bottles of disinfectant into boxes into boxes during a tour of Charlotte Products in Peterborough, which ramped up production of its cleaning products during the pandemic. Ford then travelled to Bobcaygeon for a tour of Kawartha Dairy. (Photo: Government of Ontario)
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