Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for most of the greater Kawarthas region for Sunday morning and afternoon (July 19).
The watch is in effect for Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings.
As a cold front approaches from the west, conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and heavy rain.
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Thunderstorms are possible throughout the day before weakening and moving east of the area this evening.
Hazards include wind gusts near 100 km/h, torrential downpours giving 25 to 50 mm of rain in an hour or less, and a risk of tornadoes.
Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Hail is also possible. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are no new cases to report today in Peterborough, for the 28th day in a row. The last positive case was reported on June 20 and all cases are resolved. Ontario has seen a small spike in new cases at 166, the largest increase in new cases in more than a week.
Health unit reports for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward are not available on weekends. The next reports will be available on July 20.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 172 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (151 are resolved), 24 in Northumberland County (21 resolved), 10 in Haliburton County (10 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (37 resolved).
There has been a total of 39 deaths since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 37,440 confirmed cases, an increase of 166 from yesterday’s report, with 33,294 (89% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 132. There have been 2,748 deaths, an increase of 2 from yesterday, with 1,732 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes (no change). A total of 1,839,332 tests have been completed, an increase of 28,849 from yesterday, with 24,551 tests under investigation, a decrease of 230.
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 and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. 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: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20) Active cases: 0 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 93 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 20,050 (increase of 250) 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 does not provide reports on weekends. Effective July 30th, the health unit will only be updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 17; the next report will be available on July 20.
Confirmed positive: 206, including 172 in Kawartha Lakes, 24 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland)* Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 182, including 151 in Kawartha Lakes, 21 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (decrease of 1) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*One case has been removed, as the individual was not a resident of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region.
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 is now only updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 17; the next report will be available on July 20.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18) Probable cases: 181 (no change) 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: 37 (no change) Total tests completed: 14,531 (increase of 513) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 37,440 (increase of 166) Resolved: 33,294 (increase of 132, 89% of all cases are resolved) Hospitalized: 105 (decrease of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU: 33 (increase of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 22 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2,748 (increase of 2) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,732 (no change, 63% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,839,332 (increase of 28,849) Tests under investigation: 24,551 (decrease of 230)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 17 – July 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 June 17 – July 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)
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the greater Kawarthas region — including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Hastings — for the weekend.
A hot and increasingly humid air mass will affect south-central Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area from Friday (July 17) through at least Sunday (July 19).
Slightly cooler and less humid conditions may arrive on Monday.
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Daytime high temperatures between 31°C to 34°C are expected, with humidex values near 40°C on Saturday, in the low 40s on Sunday, and in the high 30s on Monday.
Overnight low temperatures will range from 21°C to 24°C.
Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category.
Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.
Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle. When it’s hot eat cool, light meals. Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks in a cool place.
Environment Canada issues heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 15 - July 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)
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are no new cases to report today in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings and Prince Edward counties.
In Northumberland, one case was removed as the individual was not a resident of the health unit’s area. In Peterborough, the last positive case was reported on June 20 and all cases are resolved. In Hastings and Prince Edward, but the last positive case was reported on May 18.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 172 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (151 are resolved), 24 in Northumberland County (21 resolved), 10 in Haliburton County (10 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (37 resolved).
There has been a total of 39 deaths since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 37,274 confirmed cases, an increase of 111 from yesterday’s report, with 33,162 (89% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 101. There have been 2,746 deaths, an increase of 9 from yesterday, with 1,732 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 1. A total of 1,810,483 tests have been completed, an increase of 31,163 from yesterday, with 24,781 tests under investigation, a decrease of 516.
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 and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. 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: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20) Active cases: 0 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 93 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 19,800 (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.
Effective July 30th, the health unit will only be updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 206, including 172 in Kawartha Lakes, 24 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland)* Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 182, including 151 in Kawartha Lakes, 21 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (decrease of 1) Institutional outbreaks: None
*One case has been removed, as the individual was not a resident of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Note: The health unit is now only updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18) Probable cases: 181 (no change) 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: 37 (no change) Total tests completed: 14,531 (increase of 513) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 37,274 (increase of 111) Resolved: 33,162 (increase of 101, 89% of all cases are resolved) Hospitalized: 108 (increase of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU: 30 (increase of 4) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 21 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2,746 (increase of 9) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,732 (increase of 1, 63.1% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,810,483 (increase of 31,163) Tests under investigation: 24,781 (decrease of 516)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 16 – July 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 June 16 – July 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)
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 beachgoers.
As of Thursday, July 23rd, the following beaches are considered unsafe for swimming.
Roger’s Cove in Peterborough (based on July 23 sample)
West Beach in Port Hope (no sample date provided)
Omemee Beach in City of Kawartha Lakes (based on July 20 sample)
Bewdley Optimist Park in Northumberland County (based on July 20 sample)
Harwood Waterfront & Dock in Northumberland County (based on July 20 sample)
The following beaches are closed due to COVID-19:
Hiwartha in Hiawatha First Nation (Peterborough County)
Victoria Park in Cobourg (Northumberland County)
Little Lake in Cramahe (Northumberland County)
Sandy Bay Beach in Alnwick Haldimand (Northumberland 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 23-Jul-2020- UNSAFE
Fleming College president Maureen Adamson (front), New Canadians Centre workplace integration liaison Reem Ali (left), and Madderhouse Textile Studios owner Leslie Menagh (right) with members of the Newcomer Sewing Crew showing off some of the Fleming-branded face masks that will be worn this summer by Fleming students, faculty, and staff. (Photo courtesy of Fleming College)
A group of newcomer women in Peterborough has created custom hand-stitched cloth face masks for Fleming College while earning a living wage.
Fleming College, Madderhouse Textile Studios, and the New Canadians Centre came together to provide the Newcomer Sewing Crew — a collective of talented artists and sewists who learn entrepreneurial skills while receiving fair compensation for their work — with the opportunity to create the masks, which are being distributed to Fleming students, faculty, and staff as they return to campus for summer bootcamps.
“We are thrilled to work with Madderhouse Textile Studios and the New Canadian Centre to provide important work for the Newcomer Sewing Crew, a collaborative project that in turn will help keep our Fleming community safe,” says Fleming College president Maureen Adamson.
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“As a public asset, Fleming has an obligation to create opportunities that unlock potential in our community,” Adamson adds. “We are grateful for the work done by the Newcomer Sewing Crew and are pleased to showcase the face masks to our Fleming community.”
The face masks were designed by Fleming’s marketing team, printed at Madderhouse Textile Studios, and constructed by hand by the Newcomer Sewing Crew. The crew created 300 masks available in three different colours and in either elastic or tie style.
In a partnership between Fleming College, Madderhouse Textile Studios, and the New Canadians Centre, the Newcomer Sewing Crew was paid a living wage to create 300 Fleming-branded masks in three different colours and with elastics and ties. (Photo courtesy of Fleming College)
“As a social enterprise, our mission is to strengthen our personal and community connections through our products and our stories, and to champion the importance of locally sourced products as a catalyst for boosting community health and well-being,” says Madderhouse Textile Studios owner Leslie Menagh.
“Through the work that we do, we also hope to highlight the value of our skills and to change the conversation about women’s careers and contributions to our greater society.”
Since January of last year, Madderhouse Textile Studios and the New Canadians Centre have partnered on projects that build on the centre’s existing sewing programs. The goal of the partnership is to expand newcomer women’s knowledge and skills in the textile industry and provide them with the space to express themselves through their artistic and technical abilities.
“We are very excited about these face masks and are looking forward to showing them off very soon,” says New Canadian Centre’s workplace integration liaison Reem Ali. “A lot of work has gone into planning, coordinating, and implementing this project.”
“It was always the goal of our sewing program to train and equip newcomer women with skills that they would find useful as they forge new partnerships and professional relationships in the community,” Ali explains. “We certainly see how this project is helping make that happen and we are happy to continue supporting this model as the Newcomer Sewing Crew grows in our community.”
Adrienne Abrahamse addresses a large crowd that turned out Thursday night (July 16) in the parking lot of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School in Peterborough for a rally against the proposed rezoning of land at Armour Road and Cunningham Boulevard that will allow a seven-storey apartment building to be constructed. The rezoning recommendation, changing the land use designation from commercial to high density residential, was carried in committee on July 6 but will go to full council for a final vote July 27. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
If there’s still something to be said for power in numbers, consider it said — with an exclamation mark.
A rally organized by the Frances Stewart, Ashdale, and Armour Road Residents For Harmonized Communities (FAAR Residents) saw close to 200 people, many brandishing placards, come together Thursday night (July 16) in the parking lot of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASS) in Peterborough, before walking to the site of a planned seven-storey apartment building at Armour Road and Cunningham Boulevard.
On July 6, Peterborough city councillors, sitting as general committee, voted 7-4 in favour of changing the vacant site’s land-use designation from commercial to high-density residential, clearing the way for the Parkview Homes development to proceed. The proposed rezoning will go to council on July 27 for a final vote.
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“We’re not anti-development, we’re against crazy development that’s going to have to be fixed after the fact,” stressed rally participant Greg O’Heron, who was also one of six residents who had spoken against the zoning change before council via a speaker phone call.
One of O’Heron’s concerns with the zoning change is that it removes an option for the commercially underserviced neighbourhood. A sign on the property still promotes a commercial neighbourhood plaza with a bank, grocery store, drug store, restaurant, and more — even though the developer now intends to pursue high-density residential development.
This billboard, located in a vacant field at Armour Road and Ashburnham, has long advertised the original intent of Parkview Homes to develop the site for commercial use. Now Parkview wants to build a seven-storey apartment building on the site. On July 7, Peterborough city council, sitting as general committee, voted 7-4 in favour of changing the land use designation from commercial to high-density residential. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
“The biggest nut to overcome is that this is the only commercial plot from Parkhill to Pioneer Road. From my house, you’re 1.7 miles to a store. So now, rather than active transportation the city is promoting — foot, skateboard, bike or anything else — you’re in your car. If you live in this (Armour Road) corridor, every time you need something, you’re in your car.”
And then there’s the increased traffic concern.
According to a media release issued by FAAR Residents, more than 600 additional vehicles will find their way onto the already busy Armour Road — not only because of the apartment building planned for Cunningham Boulevard, but also another residential development proposed for a vacant lot just north of TASS.
Close to 200 people, many of them carrying placards, walked north on Armour Road Thursday night (July 27) from the Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School parking lot to the proposed site of a seven-storey apartment building at Armour Road and Cunningham Boulevard. Organized by FARR (Frances Stewart, Ashdale and Armour Road) Residents For Harmonized Communities, rally participants voiced their opposition to the high-density development and the impact it will have on their neighbourhood. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
While the latter development is not as far along in the process, it calls for the construction of two six-storey apartment buildings comprised of 122 units as well as 126 townhomes.
“There’s good development and there’s bad development,” said Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel who, along with fellow ward representative Gary Baldwin and councillors Kim Zippel and Kemi Akapo, voted against the zoning change. Mayor Diane Therrien and councillors Stephen Wright, Andrew Beamer, Dean Pappas, Don Vassiliadis, Henry Clarke, and Lesley Parnell voted in favour of it.
“We all know there’s a need for housing, but this city needs geared-to-income housing,” Riel said. “These are all high-end apartments. But the biggest concern is Armour Road. We’ve asked for a traffic study. You’ve got the biggest high school here (TASS) and Trent University up the road. We’ve already had a traffic cop here two hours every morning. Traffic is going to get worse.”
A large crowd gathered Thursday night (July 16) at the site of a proposed seven-storey apartment building at Armour Road and Cunningham Boulevard to rally against the project, citing increased traffic and flooding concerns, and with no stores within walking distance of the neighbourhood, the pending loss of the site’s commercial use designation. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
According to O’Heron, aside from the two proposed developments themselves, another point of contention for the group is council’s consideration of the rezoning recommendation during a time when council meetings are being held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“The whole process has been really tainted,” says O’Heron, adding “The billboard there (on the development site) still says it’s going to be a plaza, so everyone assumes it’s going to be a plaza.”
“My first question as we head into stage three (of the COVID-19 recovery plan) is if the (council) meeting on July 27th is going to be in person or is it going to be on the phone? Why not put it off until delegates can be there in person?”
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According to the FAAR Residents’ media release, “Many in our community … may not have the technological savvy to navigate online meetings. This is unfair to those who are most affected by the rezoning. We feel that things have been pushed through without fair and equal process.”
Organizers of the rally, such as O’Heron, are hopeful their coming together as a community will make a difference.
“If we can defer it (the final vote), councillors can get more information about the issues we are raising,” says O’Heron, whose family ties to the area date back to the 1870s.
One of the many placards seen at the July 16, 2020 rally against a proposed high-density residential development on Armour Road in Peterborough. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
Councillor Riel adds the squeaky wheel still gets its share of oil, noting he’s hopeful the rally will prompt his council colleagues to visit the neighbourhood, view the proposed development sites, and come away with a clear understanding of what those in the community are concerned over.
As for those who would view the residents’ concerns as just another case of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), O’Heron has a message.
“Take our flyer, look at the Auburn North Secondary Plan, Schedule N, and realize that everything north of the property we’re talking about is zoned medium or high density,” O’Heron explains.
“You’ve got all the opportunities in the world (for residential development). Don’t take that only commercial development away from us. Don’t put high density on a low-density island.”
The proposed high-density residential development on currently vacant land at 1176 Armour Road in Peterborough. With the location originally zoned as commercial, the developer had planned to build a commercial plaza at the property but now intends to develop a seven-storey apartment building. (Graphic via City of Peterborough)A drawing showing the shadow of the proposed seven-story building at 1176 Armour Road in Peterborough during the winter solstice. (Graphic via City of Peterborough)
For more information, visit the FAAR Residents website at faarresidents.com.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
There is one new case to report today in Kawartha Lakes.
There are no new cases to report in Peterborough, Northumberland, or Haliburton. No report is available today for Hastings and Prince Edward, but the last positive case was reported on May 18. In Peterborough, the last positive case was reported on June 20 and all cases are resolved.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 172 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (151 are resolved), 25 in Northumberland County (22 resolved), 10 in Haliburton County (10 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (37 resolved).
There has been a total of 39 deaths since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 37,163 confirmed cases, an increase of 111 from yesterday’s report, with 33,061 (89% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 141. There have been 2,737 deaths, an increase of 5 from yesterday, with 1,731 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 1. A total of 1,779,320 tests have been completed, an increase of 26,492 from yesterday, with 25,297 tests under investigation, an increase of 3,268.
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 and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. 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: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20) Active cases: 0 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 93 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 19,600 (increase of 50) 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.
Effective July 30th, the health unit will only be updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 207, including 172 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 183, including 151 in Kawartha Lakes, 22 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Note: The health unit is now only updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 15; the next report will be available on July 17.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18) Probable cases: 181 (no change) 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: 37 (no change) Total tests completed: 14,018 (increase of 687) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 37,163 (increase of 111) Resolved: 33,061 (increase of 141, 89% of all cases are resolved) Hospitalized: 107 (decrease of 8) Hospitalized and in ICU: 26 (decrease of 5) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 20 (decrease of 2) Deaths: 2,737 (increase of 5) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,731 (increase of 1, 63.2% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,779,320 (increase of 26,492) Tests under investigation: 25,297 (increase of 3,268)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 15 – July 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 June 15 – July 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)
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit has updated its instructions on the requirement for non-medical masks in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit released the revised directive on Thursday (July 16) under the authority of Ontario Regulation 364/20 of the provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
The revised instructions now apply to any place of business or facility that is indoors and is open to the public under Stage 3 of the province’s reopening, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday (July 17).
The revised instructions come into effect at the same time as Stage 3.
Public spaces where indoor mask use is required under the health unit’s revised instructions include retail stores, churches and places of worship, public libraries, real estate open houses, personal care services (relating to the hair or body), restaurants and food courts, fitting rooms, driving instruction services, sports and recreation facilities, movie theatres, performing arts centres, casinos and bingo halls, and museums and cultural centres.
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The revised directive also clarifies when masks do not have to be worn indoors in public spaces, such as when a person is “in place” and no longer “roaming” inside the space:
In restaurants, patrons will not have to wear masks when sitting at their table, but would have to wear them when entering and exiting the restaurant and when walking around the restaurant (for example, goint to the washroom).
In gyms and fitness clubs, masks will have to be worn in change rooms, washroom and waiting areas, but not when people take part in an activity or sport.
At indoor weddings, funeral services, or religious services, rites, or ceremonies, attendees will have to wear masks until seated with a secured distance of two metres (six feet) from others.
At movie theatres, performing arts venues, and casinos and other gaming facilities, patrons will have to remain masked until they are seated with a secured distance of two metres (six feet) from others.
People who remain exempt from wearing masks indoors include children under two, children under five (either developmentally or in actual years) who refuse to wear masks, people who cannot remove a mask without help, and people with medical conditions such as respiratory disease or cognitive difficulties.
Further details are provided in the fact sheet below on the updated instructions.
“As more indoor public spaces open under Stage 3, it’s important we provide clarity and clear direction on the use of non-medical masks and face coverings for everyone in our community,” says Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, medical officer of health for the HKPR District Health Unit.
“We want to continue to work with businesses and facilities to ensure compliance with mask use, while also helping them understand why some people may not be able to wear masks due to age or medical reasons.”
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Increasing scientific evidence supports wearing a mask when in enclosed public spaces as way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Together with physical distancing, hand and cough hygiene, and staying home if sick, the use of a non-medical mask or face covering in indoor public places are all important measures to protect everyone from COVID-19,” Dr. Noseworthy adds.
Dr. Noseworthy is asking businesses and facilities to use their “best effort” to ensure patrons and members of the public wear a mask by pointing out the health unit instructions.
She says no one should be denied service if they cannot wear a mask, and encourages everyone to be understanding of those people who have a legitimate reason not to wear a mask.
“Let’s continue to be kind to each other and support everyone in the community as we work together to stop the spread of COVID-19,” she adds.
Leaky plumbing accounts for roughly 12 per cent of our water usage each day. Fixing these leaks is a great way to limit unnecessary water use. (Photo: Benjamin Hargreaves / GreenUP)
On July 7th, Otonabee Conservation declared a Level 2 Low Water Condition for the Otonabee region watershed due to a combination of high temperatures, low precipitation, and low surface water levels.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jenn McCallum, Water Programs Coordinator at GreenUP and Heather Ray, Water Programs Manager at GreenUP.
The declaration recommends that Peterborough area residents reduce their water use by 20 per cent.
This is the first part in a three-part series from GreenUP that will explore water infrastructure and conservation. We will learn more about which water conservation actions have positive benefits and what some of the best practices are in times of drought.
We are being asked to reduce our water use by almost a quarter, but what does this look like for the average family? And why is using the correct methods of water conservation important during this time?
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“When our watershed experiences low water or drought conditions, everyone is affected, but especially those who rely on groundwater sources or wells,” says Dan Marinigh, Otonabee Conservation’s chief administrative officer. “If groundwater levels are low and flows are reduced in our waterways, then so is the amount of water for drinking, growing food, and supporting ecosystems.”
The average Ontario citizen uses about 225 litres of water each day. However, the average Peterborough City resident uses roughly 322 litres per day, through a combination of residential, industrial, and commercial water usage.
Things like drinking and cooking with water account for only about 10 per cent of this total. Almost half of our daily water use takes place in the bathroom.
Another good way to help conserve water indoors is to keep jugs of tap water in your fridge. This way you can avoid running the tap each time you want a cold drink of water. (Photo: Benjamin Hargreaves / GreenUP)
Before we decide where to reduce our water use, we need to understand how water moves from its source to our homes and beyond. Drinking water in the City of Peterborough comes from the Otonabee River, where it is returned after travelling through the city’s waste water treatment plant.
Outside of the city, many people rely on water drawn from underground sources through a well, and that water then returns to the ground through a septic system.
Should water levels within our waterways and aquatic ecosystems drop, so too will water quality, ecological health, and water availability. Similarly, water infrastructure suffers if an imbalance of water use occurs, whether that be too much water, or too little.
How do we reach the right balance for optimal health of ecosystems, infrastructure, and personal health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic? Key ways to maintain this balance are staying hydrated, maintaining hygiene, minimizing overuse, keeping water clean, and returning water to its original source.
We understand that you may be drinking more water, and washing your hands, clothes, and produce more often. But there are still things we can do inside our homes to avoid unnecessary overuse. It is critical that we limit using water in ways that do not return it to its original source.
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Here are six tips for conserving water inside your home.
1. Repair leaks
Leaky plumbing accounts for roughly 12 per cent of our water usage each day.
Fix that leaky faucet and, if your toilet handle sticks, adjust or replace it to prevent water from constantly leaking through your plumbing.
2. Take shorter showers
Showerheads can have a flow rate of up to 9.5 litres per minute.
By taking showers that are four to five minutes or less, you can limit your daily water usage in the shower to less than 50 litres.
Earn bonus water conservation points by turning off the water while soaping up.
Every minute you spend in the shower uses up to 9.5 litres of water. By shortening your showers you can conserve many litres from going down the drain. (Photo: Benjamin Hargreaves / GreenUP)
3. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face
Your bathroom and kitchen sinks can have a maximum flow rate of 8.3 litres of water per minute.
Dental hygiene recommendations include brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Simply by turning off the tap while you brush, you can potentially save 33 litres of water per day.
4. Only flush the “3Ps” down the toilet.
The “3Ps” are pee, poop, and toilet paper.
Flushing anything other than the 3Ps can cause plumbing problems, sewage overflows (yuck!), and cost money to fix.
5. Install a low-flow toilet and add aerators to your taps
A low-flow toilet will reduce the amount of water used per flush. Aerators added to taps will reduce the flow rate when the tap is on, an easy way to reduce your daily water use.
If you are unable to install a new toilet, consider installing a tank bag in your toilet. These can save almost two litres of water every time you flush the toilet.
The average toilet flush uses 9.8 litres of water, and assuming that every person in your household will flush four times per day, a tank bag can reduce your water consumption by 7.5 litres of water per person per day.
6. Run your dishwasher and washing machine during off-peak hours
Cold wash cycles use less energy than warm or hot cycles and some detergents even work best in cold water. (Photo: Benjamin Hargreaves / GreenUP)
Only wash full loads of dishes or clothes, and do this between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Use the cold water setting on your washer and hang dry your clothes outside to conserve even more energy.
With all of these suggestions in mind, you can conserve water where and when it counts!
Next week we will share insights and suggestions for reducing outdoor water use. In our final article, we will learn more about how water is treated prior to arriving to our homes and how to safely obtain water should your well be running low.
Share all of your suggestions and actions for water conservation with us on social media @ptbogreenup.
For more information about the Level 2 Low Water Condition, a link to the Otonabee Conservation Water Conservation Fact Sheet, and more information about the Low Water Response Program, visit www.otonabeeconservation.com.
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