Former Toronto artist Julii McMillan (middle), who is now living in Peterborough, is one of the founders of the "Neighbourhood Love" public art campaign, launched this fall in Etobicoke when a family received hate mail after having a mural commissioned on their garage door. McMillan has joined with local artists Bethany LeBlonc (left), Dawn Pond, Brooklin Stormie, and Olivia Chessman and Toronto artists Julia Prajza and Bareket Kezwer (right) to paint six window murals in downtown Peterborough as part of the "Love for the Boro" initiative, including this mural at the old Patch Store at Hunter and George. (Photo courtesy of Love for the Boro)
A viral public art campaign called “Neighbourhood Love” that began in Toronto this fall has now made its way to Peterborough.
“Love for the Boro” debuted on Friday night (December 4) during the monthly First Friday Peterborough arts crawl through a so-called “mural scavenger hunt”.
Local artists Dawn Pond, Bethany LeBlonc, Brooklin Stormie, and Olivia Chessman joined Toronto artists Julia Prajza, Julii McMillan, and Bareket Kezwer to paint six murals in storefront windows in downtown Peterborough.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Love for the Boro is a community-led and supported initiative,” reads a media release from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), one of the initiative’s sponsors.
“Together we can make love visible by creating safe spaces and opportunities to express what we love as individuals and as a community. We have the power to support, uplift, inspire and connect with each other, even when we must stay apart.”
Along with Toronto artist Natalie Very B., Toronto artists McMillan (who now lives in Peterborough) and Prajza are the founders of Neighbourhood Love, which began in September after an Etobicoke woman received anonymous hate mail in response to a mural on her garage door.
After Etobicoke resident Sapna Shah commissioned a mural to be painted on her garage door in September, she received anonymous hate mail. In response, a group of Toronto artists launched the “Neighbourhood Love” initiative where 20 professional artists painted 25 colourful murals on house and garage doors, porches, and mailboxes in Shah’s South Etobicoke neighbourhood over the Thanksgiving weekend. (Photos: Joanna Lavoie/Torstar)
Soon after commissioning Natalie Very B. to paint the mural on her garage door, Sapna Shah found two anonymous letters in her mailbox, one of which claimed she had “devalued all of the homes in this area with that hideous graffiti” and that the mural “has made the entire neighbourhood look like a low income ghetto.”
After Shah shared the vitriolic letter with its classist and racist undertones on Facebook and the Toronto Star published a story about it, there was an outpouring of support for the Shah family.
That included the artists behind Neighbourhood Love, who organized “a street-level demonstration of love”. They raised more than $3,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to cover the cost of supplies to have 20 professional artists paint 25 colourful murals — depicting whimsical flora and fauna, landscapes, and geometrics — on house and garage doors, porches, and mailboxes in Shah’s South Etobicoke neighbourhood over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Advertisement - content continues below
By creating public art in the private sector, Neighbourhood Love was able to circumvent much slower bureaucratic procedures, such as the jury process, common for artworks in the public domain.
Now, with the newly formed sister initiative Love for the Boro, the Toronto artists along with local artists are planning to paint a total of 10 murals. Along with the Peterborough DBIA, the initiative is being sponsored by Dulux Peterborough, Summers and Co., AsONE Foundation, and private property owners.
“By creating a variety of opportunities for community participation and support we will work together to uplift, unite and inspire positive action,” the artists write on their Love for the Boro GoFundMe campaign. “We are also working to increase local public arts experience, increase local artist visibility and generate future opportunities for artists in the area”
“Love for the Boro” logo. (Photo courtesy of Love for the Boro)
“The Love for the Boro initiative will continue into the month of December with a variety of creative community engaged activities, both online and in the real world,” reads the Peterborough DBIA media release.
To learn more about the initiative and upcoming programming, follow Love for the Boro on Instagram @loveforboro.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting a record increase of 1,859 new COVID-19 cases today, slightly exceeding the previous record of 1,855 reported on November 27. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has increased by 6 to 1,764.
There are 12 new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region, with the total number of active cases across the region increasing to 100. Effective Monday (December 7), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region will join Peterborough Public Health and Hastings Prince Edward Health in Ontario’s ‘Yellow-Protect‘ level.
Advertisement - content continues below
Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (504), Peel (463), and York (198).
There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (89), Windsor-Essex (86), Ottawa (72), Halton (68), Waterloo (64), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (48), Simcoe Muskoka (44), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (41), Durham (41), Middlesex-London (25), Niagara (23), Southwestern Public Health (15), Thunder Bay (13), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (13), with smaller increases in Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (7), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (6), and Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit (6).
The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units (all in northern Ontario) reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (712) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 589 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,624 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 84.9%. The average positivity rate across Ontario is unavailable on weekends.
Ontario is reporting 20 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 13 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 35 to 709, with 6 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and no change in the number of patients on ventilators.
A total of 59,399 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 790 to 63,193.
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report, including 5 in Northumberland, 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 2 in Peterborough, and 2 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases to report in Haliburton.
An additional 5 cases have been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 4 in Peterborough, 1 in Kawarthas Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.
There are currently 100 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 40 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 28 in Northumberland, 24 in Peterborough, and 8 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 227 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (198 resolved with 5 deaths), 204 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (177 resolved with 32 deaths), 109 in Northumberland County (80 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 169 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (124 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 125,385 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,859 from yesterday, with 106,416 resolved cases (84.9% of all cases), an increase of 1,624 from yesterday. There have been 3,757 deaths, an increase of 20 from yesterday, with 2,370 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 13 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 35 to 709, with 6 fewer patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and no change in the number of patients on ventilators. A total of 6,522,055 tests have been completed, an increase of 59,399 from yesterday, with 63,193 tests under investigation, an increase of 790 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.
Confirmed positive: 227 (increase of 2) Active cases: 24 (decrease of 2) Close contacts: 51 (increase of 7) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 198 (increase of 4) Hospitalizations (total to date): 12* Total tests completed: Over 37,150 (increase of 50) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)
*Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports there are currently 2 patients with COVID-19 on inpatient units and 1 patient with COVID-19 in the ICU (transferred from a partner hospital).
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 340, including 204 in Kawartha Lakes, 109 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 7, including 5 in Northumberland and 2 in Kawartha Lakes) Active cases: 36, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 28 in Northumberland (net increase of 5) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 185, including 23 in Kawartha Lakes, 160 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 7) Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 284, including 177 in Kawartha Lakes, 80 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton) 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.
Effective December 5, the health unit is providing daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 169 (increase of 3) Active cases: 40 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 124 (increase of 5) Total swabs completed: 44,937* Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*The health unit is again reporting the total swabs completed, instead of only those completed the previous day.
Advertisement - content continues below
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 125,385 (increase of 1,859) Resolved: 106,416 (increase of 1,624, 84.9% of all cases) Hospitalized: 709 (increase of 35) Hospitalized and in ICU: 202 (decrease of 5) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 116 (no change) Deaths: 3,757 (increase of 20) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,370 (increase of 13) Total tests completed: 6,522,055 (increase of 59,399) Tests under investigation: 63,193 (increase of 790)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 4 – December 4, 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 November 4 – December 4, 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)
Members of the North Kawartha Fire Department continue to extinguish a fire at Sayers Foods in Apsley that happened early in the morning of December 5, 2020. The building was severely damaged in the fire and will need to be demolished, according to North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte. Until Sayers Food is able to rebuild, residents of the village of Apsley and the surrounding area will need to travel to Bancroft for groceries. (Photo: OPP)
UPDATE – Sun Dec 6
The Economic Development Co-operative of North Kawartha (EDCNK) met virtually with the Sayers family, the Mayor of North Kawartha, the Township CAO, and various community leaders to begin formulating a community response and action plan to deal with the loss of Sayers Foods. A task force has been created to mobilize volunteers and donations and is gathering information on next steps. Stay tuned for updates.
For residents with immediate food insecurity, call the North Kawartha Food Bank at 705-656-1748. Fr any assistance with shopping and/or transportation, call Community Care at 705-656-4589.
The generosity of the Apsley community is going to help them get through the loss of their only grocery store, Sayers Foods, which burned down early on Saturday morning (December 5).
Exactly one week ago, area residents came together at Sayers Food to collect more than $21,000 worth of non-perishable food for North Kawartha Food Bank, a member of Kawartha Food Share, located right across the street from the grocery store. The event was part of Kawartha Food Share’s “Winter is Coming” food drive, held in communities across Peterborough County.
Now some Apsley residents may be relying on that donated food in the short term, according to North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte, who spoke to kawarthaNOW Saturday morning after she returned from “giving my town of Apsley a big hug.”
Advertisement - content continues below
“Getting the fire out first is a priority today,” said Amyotte. “Our next steps will be to mobilize for food organization.”
“One of the great things about Apsley is that it’s self-sufficient,” she said. “Many people who live here have no need to drive, as we have all services needed here in town.”
Except now, with the loss of Sayers Foods, locals will need to shop at the nearest grocery store, which is located 45 kilometres north in Bancroft. This means residents without a vehicle have no access to food.
North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte (second from right) with Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith (middle) during a food drive at Sayers Foods on November 28, 2020, which raised more than $21,000 worth of food for North Kawartha Food Bank, located right across the street. Some Apsley residents may be relying on the food bank in the short term now that fire has destroyed Sayers Foods, the only grocery store in the Apsley area. (Photo: Dave Smith / Facebook)
Amyotte says the mayor of Bancroft and the local community transit system have already reached out offering transportation and assistance for those wishing to shop in Bancroft. However, the pandemic is going to make the logistics of that more complicated.
“It’s not like we can load a bus with people and transport them to shop,” she said. “We need to get this figured out.”
As for the fire itself, Amyotte noted the fire chief told her the cause is not yet known.
Members of the North Kawartha Fire Department worked through the night to control the blaze, and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Amyotte says the fire department had to pull water from the creek, and that public works needed to sand the roads due to the water used to fight the fire freezing.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
A portion of Burleigh Street in Apsley, where Sayers Food is located, remains closed while the building is being demolished. The roof of the back portion of the building caved in and, although the front portion of the building — which is 150 years old — is still standing, it is also severely damaged.
Sayers Foods in Apsley was engulfed in flames in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)
Sayers Food is independently owned and operated by the Sayers family, who live in the village. The fire is a triple tragedy for the family, as family members also work at the store and Christmas gifts were being stored there.
“Sayers is the heart of our town and our heart is a little burnt right now,” Amyotte said, pointing out that Sayers has gone “above and beyond during the pandemic” to ensure local residents were kept well-stocked.
As for owner Jeff Sayers, Amyotte said he was surprisingly upbeat when she spoke to him. He told her Sayers plans to rebuild and that he “is already talking about a bigger build.”
Advertisement - content continues below
As news of the fire spread, there has been an outpouring of support from the community, including from other local businesses and several cottage associations.
The fire at Sayers Food comes almost 10 years to the day when Kemp’s gas station, previously located at Burleigh and Wellington streets in Apsley, was destroyed by fire.
As many have heard the news of the fire at our local Sayers grocery store overnight we would like to offer our community…
Awful news out of Apsley this morning. Sayers Food is a staple of the community and this is just devastating. If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that we're stronger together. I know we will all come together to support everyone affected. https://t.co/UO9ZeSGYZR
Sayers Foods, located at 132 Burleigh Street in the village of Apsley in North Kawartha Township, suffered a major fire early Saturday morning (December 5).
Independently owned and operated by the Sayers family, the grocery store is the only one in Apsley, 60 kilometres north of Peterborough.
Advertisement - content continues below
As around 2 a.m. on Saturday morning on Facebook, the Sayers family began posting pictures of firefighters with the North Kawartha Fire Department battling flames engulfing the store,
The extent of the damage is not yet known, but based on the photographs it appears the building is damaged beyond repair. No injuries have been reported.
Firefighters with the North Kawartha Fire Department battling flames engulfing Sayers Foods in Apsley in the early morning of December 5, 2020. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)
The loss of the business is devastating for the Sayers family and the store’s employees, as well as Apsley and the surrounding area, especially three weeks before Christmas.
It is the only full-service grocery store between Lakefield and Bancroft, and is also popular with seasonal residents in the area.
Based on photographs of the fire at Sayers Foods in Apsley in the early morning of December 5, 2020, it appears the building is damaged beyond repair. (Photo: Sayers Foods / Facebook)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 1,780 new COVID-19 cases today, with the average number of daily cases over the past seven days decreasing by 10 to 1,759. Hospitalizations and ICU admissions of patients with COVID-19 continue to rise.
There are 15 new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region, with the total number of active cases in the region decreasing by 3 to 99. Today, the Ontario government announced the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region — which includes Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton — will be moving into the more restrictive “Yellow-Protect” level effecting 12:01 a.m. on Monday (December 7).
“We are seeing more COVID-19 activity in our region, so the move into Yellow is not a surprise,” says Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, medical officer of health with Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “The new measures in the Yellow level are not much different than what we currently have in place but will enhance our ability to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”
Most of the increased COVID-19 activity in the health unit region has been in Northumberland County, with cases increasing by more than double in the past month. When deciding to move a health unit into another level, the province reviews factors such as case counts, outbreaks, percent positivity of tests, and capacity of local hospitals and health units.
VIDEO: Dr. Lynn Noseworthy explains impact of move into “Yellow-Protect” level
With the addition of Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, all three health units in the greater Kawarthas region are now in the “Yellow-Protect” level.
Health units stay in their level for a minimum of 28 days, or two COVID-19 incubation periods, at which time the province assesses the impact of public health measures to determine if the health unit should stay where they are or be moved to less restrictive or more restrictive level.
Most of the new cases reported today in Ontario are in Toronto (633), Peel (433), and York (152). There are double-digit increases in Durham (94), Windsor-Essex (68), Halton (51), Hamilton (43), Simcoe Muskoka (41), Waterloo (40), Middlesex-London (39), Ottawa (36), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (25), Niagara (21), Southwestern Public Health (20), Thunder Bay (13), Brant County (11), Huron Perth (10), with smaller increases in Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (7), Grey Bruce (7), and Hastings and Prince Edward (6).
The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units (all in northern Ontario) 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 (687) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 546 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,553 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 84.8%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.8% to 3.6%, meaning that 36 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 3.
Ontario is reporting 25 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 15 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 6 to 674, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 9 additional patients on ventilators.
A total of 56,001 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 4,083 to 62,403.
There are 129 new cases in Ontario schools today, an increase of 7 from yesterday, with 102 student cases and 27 staff cases. There are 20 new cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 3 from yesterday, with 10 cases among children and 10 cases among staff.
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 15 new cases to report, including 8 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (most in Belleville), 4 in Peterborough, and 3 in Northumberland. There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes or in Haliburton.
An additional 8 cases have been resolved in Northumberland, 5 in Hastings and Prince Edward, and 1 in Peterborough. A duplicate case in Kawartha Lakes has been identified and removed.
None of today’s reported new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 96 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 39 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 26 in Peterborough, 23 in Northumberland, 7 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 225 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (194 resolved with 5 deaths), 202 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (176 resolved with 32 deaths), 104 in Northumberland County (80 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (26 resolved with no deaths), and 166 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (119 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 123,526 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,780 from yesterday, with 103,239 resolved cases (84.8% of all cases), an increase of 1,553 from yesterday. There have been 3,737 deaths, an increase of 25 from yesterday, with 2,357 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 15 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 10 to 674, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 9 additional patient on ventilators. A total of 6,462,656 tests have been completed, an increase of 56,001 from yesterday, with 62,403 tests under investigation, an increase of 4,083 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.
Confirmed positive: 225 (increase of 4) Active cases: 26 (increase of 3) Close contacts: 44 (decrease of 2) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 194 (increase of 1) Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 37,100 (increase of 100) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)
*The health unit is no longer reporting the total number of hospitalizations.
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: 333, including 202 in Kawartha Lakes, 104 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (net increase of 2, including 3 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 31, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 23 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (decrease of 6) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 178, including 26 in Kawartha Lakes, 148 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton (net increase of 22) Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 282, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 80 in Northumberland, 26 in Haliburton (increase of 8, in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*One duplicate case in Kawartha Lakes has been identified and removed.
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: 166 (increase of 8) Active cases: 39 (decrease of 5) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 119 (increase of 5) New swabs completed: 70 (decrease of 4,966) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Advertisement - content continues below
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 123,526 (increase of 1,780) Resolved: 104,792 (increase of 1,553, 84.8% of all cases) Hospitalized: 674 (increase of 8) Hospitalized and in ICU: 207 (increase of 12) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 116 (increase of 9) Deaths: 3,737 (increase of 25) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,357 (increase of 15) Total tests completed: 6,462,656 (increase of 56,001) Tests under investigation: 62,403 (increase of 4,083)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 3 – December 3, 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 November 3 – December 3, 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)
St. Peter Catholic Secondary School is located at 730 Medical Drive in Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board)
There’s been a confirmed case of COVID-19 at St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough, located at 730 Medical Drive.
“In line with Ministry of Education reporting requirements, we need to let you know that Peterborough Public Health has notified us of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our school community,” principal Shannon Brady says in a letter to students, staff, and families on Thursday (December 3). “The identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation and will not be shared.”
In the letter, Brady does not indicate whether the infected person is a student or staff member.
Advertisement - content continues below
Brady says the person has been isolating at home and did not attend school while they were infectious.
She adds the individual will remain at home until the health unit advises they may return to the school,
“The health unit has confirmed that this case does not pose a risk to St. Peter CSS students or staff,” Brady says. “No students or staff need to isolate and everyone can continue to attend school and work as usual.”
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 1,824 new COVID-19 cases today, although this number includes 127 cases from Middlesex-London Health Unit reported over the previous three days that, due to a data processing error, were not included in previous daily reports. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has increased by 49 to 1,769.
There are 10 new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region, with the total number of active cases decreasing by 5 to 99.
Most of the new cases reported today are in Peel (592), Toronto (392), York (187), and Middlesex-London (127). The cases in Middlesex-London, which are the total cases reported over the past three days, work out to an average of 42 cases per day.
There are double-digit increases in Waterloo (87), Halton (68), Windsor-Essex (62), Durham (57), Hamilton (56), Ottawa (41), Niagara (25), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (23), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (19), Thunder Bay (13), and Simcoe Muskoka (11), with smaller increases in Huron Perth (9), Southwestern Public Health (8), Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (7), and Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (6).
The remaining 15 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 6 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Advertisement - content continues below
Of today’s cases, 54% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (728) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 499 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,541 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 84.8%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.3% to 4.4%, meaning that 44 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 2.
Ontario is reporting 14 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 11 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 10 to 666, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 1 additional patient on a ventilator.
A total of 52,873 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 8,746 to 58,320.
There are 122 new cases in Ontario schools today, a decrease of 44 from yesterday, with 94 student cases and 28 staff cases. There are 17 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 11 from yesterday, with 11 cases among children and 6 cases among staff.
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 10 new cases to report, including 4 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (almost all in Belleville), 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Peterborough, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases to report in Haliburton.
An additional 9 cases have been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward, 3 in Northumberland, and 3 in Peterborough.
The new cases in schools reported by Ontario include 1 student case at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School in Asphodel-Norwood. In addition, St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough is reporting a confirmed case, but has not identified whether it is a student or staff member.
None of the reported new cases in child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 99 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 39 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 28 in Northumberland, 23 in Peterborough, 8 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 221 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (193 resolved with 5 deaths), 203 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (176 resolved with 32 deaths), 101 in Northumberland County (72 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (26 resolved with no deaths), and 158 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (114 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 121,746 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,824 from yesterday. This number includes 127 cases from Middlesex-London Health Unit reported over the previous three days that, due to a data processing error, were not included in previous daily reports. There are 103,239 resolved cases (84.8% of all cases), an increase of 1,541 from yesterday. There have been 3,712 deaths, an increase of 14 from yesterday, with 2,342 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 11 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 10 to 666, with 12 additional patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and 1 additional patient on a ventilator. A total of 6,406,655 tests have been completed, an increase of 52,873 from yesterday, with 58,320 tests under investigation, an increase of 8,746 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.
Confirmed positive: 221 (increase of 2) Active cases: 23 (decrease of 1) Close contacts: 46 (decrease of 4) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 193 (increase of 3) Hospitalizations (total to date): 10 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 37,000 (increase of 100) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)
*The health unit is no longer reporting the total number of hospitalizations.
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: 331, including 203 in Kawartha Lakes, 101 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 4, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Northumberland) Active cases: 37, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 28 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 156, including 22 in Kawartha Lakes, 128 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton (increase of 39, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 31 in Northumberland) Hospitalizations (total to date): 16, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 274, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 72 in Northumberland, 26 in Haliburton (increase of 3 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 from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 158 (increase of 4) Active cases: 39 (decrease of 5) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 114 (increase of 9) New swabs completed: 5,036 (increase of 68) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Advertisement - content continues below
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 121,746 (increase of 1,824)* Resolved: 103,239 (increase of 1,541, 84.8% of all cases) Hospitalized: 666 (increase of 10) Hospitalized and in ICU: 195 (increase of 12) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 107 (increase of 1) Deaths: 3,712 (increase of 14) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,342 (increase of 11) Total tests completed: 6,406,655 (increase of 52,873) Tests under investigation: 58,320 (increase of 8,746)
*This number includes 127 cases from Middlesex-London Health Unit reported over the previous three days that, due to a data processing error, were not included in previous reports.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 2 – December 2, 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 November 2 – December 2, 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)
Your stockings can hold the best gifts, including what's best for the planet. The GreenUP Store has plenty of green gifts as well as gift certificates, available in-store at 378 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough and online at shop.greenup.on.ca. (Photo: Ben Hargreaves)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Kristen LaRocque, GreenUP Store and Resource Centre Coordinator.
Are you looking for those extra special items to wrap up your holiday gift shopping?
Green gifts give a little more: they’re better for our health, our communities, and the environment. At the GreenUP Store, you’ll find locally made and eco-friendly gifts at a fair price.
GreenUP is a non-profit charity. When you shop at the GreenUP Store you directly support GreenUP and our environmental programs in the Peterborough area — that’s a gift that gives twice!
The following gift ideas can be found in our walk-in store at 378 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough, or on our new online store at shop.greenup.on.ca.
Stylish up-cycled Keetarela earrings are made from Peterborough-sourced beer cans. Come see the full selection at The GreenUP Store. (Photos: Kristen LaRocque, Jackie Donaldson)
If you have a jewellery lover on your list, consider picking up a pair of earrings from Keetarella.
Owner Kathryn Bahun carefully crafts her unique, beautiful, and up-cycled one-of-a-kind earrings (“beer-ings”) from fun-patterned beer cans she’s sourced right here in Peterborough.
These earrings are both beautiful and a conversation piece.
Accessory of the year
Reusable masks are the life-saving accessory of the year. The GreenUP Store offers a variety of adult hand-made masks by local makers, including some prints that’ll suit the sports fan in your life, as well as bright and friendly patterns that help mask-wearing fun for kids. (Photos: Jackie Donaldson)
The mask is a great stocking stuffer and a very practical gift.
Like underwear, masks should be changed every day! Keep your friends and family stocked up with locally made masks from the GreenUP Store.
We carry a variety of two-layer cotton masks (in both adult and child sizes) by local makers Garden of Eden and Keetarella.
We also have batik print masks in adult and child sizes from Snug as a Bug. These are hand-made by home sewers throughout southern Ontario.
Happy feet
The gift that keeps on giving: when you gift Twoloom Alpaca boot insoles not only do you warm hearts and feet, but you contribute to the livelihood of a local Northumberland farming family. (Photo: GreenUP Store)
Warm, cozy gifts are always appreciated during the chilly season!
The boot insoles by Twoloom Alpacas are made from 100 per cent alpaca wool: a must-have for Ontario winters.
Twoloom Alpaca Insoles are a great gift for the boot-wearing sustainability buff — once they have finished their useful foot-warming life, they can be composted!
Hangin’ in
Twisted Sister Macramé Plant Hangers are a great gift idea for the plant lover in your life. These beauties are handcrafted locally using unbleached cotton that is twisted and knotted to create a sturdy resting place for 6″ to 8″ pots. Some styles are dip-dyed and beaded, in mustard yellow, smoky grey and seafoam teal, while others are left a natural cream colour. (Photo: Kristen Larocque)
For many, a potted plant brings a little bit of summer indoors for the winter. Why not accessorize the indoor green thumb in your life with a Twisted Sister macramé plant hanger?
Handcrafted locally, these items are made from unbleached cotton, twisted and knotted to create a sturdy support for 6″ to 8″ pots.
In mustard yellow, smoky grey, seafoam teal, or natural cream, these little beauties are ideal for dressing up a window or freeing up space for your big holiday puzzle.
Cutlery on the go
To-Go Ware’s reusable utensil sets are a convenient, waste-free way to eat a takeout meal or a packed lunch. A great stocking stuffer for the student in your life. (Photo: GreenUP Store)
The To-Go Ware reusable utensil set has a sturdy bamboo fork, knife, spoon, and chopstick set — all neatly held together in a convenient pouch made of recycled water bottles.
This stocking stuffer or gift wrap garnish provides a sustainable and healthy alternative to single-use plastic cutlery.
That’s cheeky
Give the gift of waste reduction. Double-ply 100% cotton flannel Cheeks Ahoy Unpaper Towels come in a range of handy sizes and vibrant colours and prints. These re-usable cloths are handmade with love in Peterborough. (Photo: Leah Black)
Cheeks Ahoy Unpaper Towels are great for wiping hands and faces, as well as washing and drying dishes and mopping up spills.
Lovingly crafted in Peterborough, these washable and reusable fabric cloths are a great alternative to paper towels. They reduce household waste and save you money.
A set of eight can easily replace paper napkins, paper towels, and even facial tissue.
Advertisement - content continues below
Under $10
Suds ‘n’ soaps
The GreenUP Store offers a wide selection of soaps from the workshops of local master soap makers. Gentle on your skin and gentle on the environment, these handcrafted beauties come with minimal, recyclable, or compostable packaging. (Photo: Jackie Donaldson)
The GreenUP Store carries many handmade soaps crafted locally by master soap-makers, Sherrie LaMasurier of Simply Natural Canada, Katie Legere of Free2Be Wellness and SarahAnn of Charcoal & Rose Petals.
Featuring sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients, these soaps use minimal or recyclable packaging.
The GreenUP Store carries many other personal care products too, like face serums, shaving soap, and natural deodorants.
Sweets for your sweet
100 per cent pure OtonaBEE Apiary clover and buckwheat honey in available in jars to fit any stocking size. (Photo: GreenUP Store)
OtonaBEE Apiary honey is the perfect gift for your sweet someone.
At the GreenUP Store, we carry liquid and creamed, clover and buckwheat honey in jars to fit any stocking size.
OtonaBEE honey is 100 per cent pure, just as the bees make it!
Advertisement - content continues below
Under $5
The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree
These Ecomum felted wool acorn ornaments are made by a mother-daughter team in Peterborough. Inexpensive and a delight to the eye, they come in a range of colours. (Photo: GreenUP Store)
Ecomum felted acorns are made locally by Jeanine Crow and her daughter.
Each fall, the pair go out in search of acorn tops to attach to felted balls of wool. These are the sweetest little holiday tree ornaments!
Ecomum also produces a variety of textiles, including baby bibs, blankets, and napkins in fun and contemporary patterns.
Stainless steel slurp
These single steel straws last a lifetime; no plastic, no packaging, no problem. (Photo: GreenUP Store)
Looking to help a friend or family member kick the plastic straw habit?
Let them test the waters, so to speak, with a single, package-free stainless-steel straw.
Take it one step further by pairing it with a straw-cleaning brush for $2.
Maple goodness
These maple leaf-shaped bottles of Golden Treasure maple syrup are perfect stocking stuffers. Larger sizes are also available. (Photo: GreenUP Store)
What’s more Canadian (and delicious) than a bottle of maple syrup?
The GreenUP Store carries Golden Treasure maple syrup. This sugar shack has been in operation since 1994, growing to over 16,000 taps on 300 acres of northern Ontario maple bush.
At $5, these beautiful bottles shaped like maple leaves are perfect stocking stuffers.
We also have 250-ml bottles for $9 and 500-ml bottles for $17.
Advertisement - content continues below
More great gift ideas are on our website at www.greenup.on.ca along with tips and resources to help you make sustainable gift choices.
You can also purchase GreenUP gift certificates in-person or on our website. Gift certificates can be used at both the GreenUP Store and the Ecology Park Nursery.
Giving thanks
During this difficult time, our thoughts turn gratefully to everyone who is coming together to support our community and the environment. Be well, stay safe, and thank you from everyone here at GreenUP
The remnants of the package Dana Mason had delivered from Ottawa to her son's home in Peterborough were discovered on November 29, 2020, near the Sherbrooke Street water tower by Lisa Ann Mikaric while she walking her dog. The package, which contained Christmas and birthday gifts, was stolen from Mason's son's home November 26 shortly after it was delivered by Canada Post. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Ann Mikaric)
While walking her dog near the Sherbrooke Street water tower in Peterborough this past Sunday morning (November 29), Lisa Ann Mikaric stumbled upon a ripped-open cardboard box surrounded by torn gift wrapping paper.
Curious, she took a closer look. Learning from the Canada Post label still affixed that the package had been delivered the week prior to a Peterborough address from a Dana Mason in Ottawa, she turned to Google to track Mason down.
It was upon receiving Mikaric’s call that Mason learned the ultimate fate of the package stolen from her son’s porch shortly after it was delivered to his city home the prior Thursday.
Advertisement - content continues below
With the ongoing pandemic preventing an in-person visit with her son and his partner this Christmas, Mason had shipped a large box of Christmas gift items for them both — including some additional gift items for his birthday.
Among the 14 items in the box were two John Le Carre hardcover books that belonged to her late father, both purchased some 50 years ago by him and of sentimental value.
“I was angry but now I’m just really disheartened,” says Mason. “It’s not like someone has broken into your home and stolen something but it’s because of the contents. It wasn’t something I ordered from The Bay or Amazon. I know there are some desperate people out there but if you don’t want the stuff, keep it in the box so someone can find it.”
Mason’s experience is one being shared by a seemingly rising number of victims of ‘porch pirates’ — thieves targeting parcels left by couriers and delivery drivers at residence doorsteps. In addition, thefts from vehicles by ‘car hoppers’ — a more seasonal crime affliction with Christmas presents targeted — are also being reported with more regularity.
Two private Facebook groups — Catch A Car Hopper Peterborough and East City Ptbo — feature numerous comments from those who have been victims of theft, as well as those who have witnessed a crime in progress, with some sharing photos or videos of the perpetrators.
“Catch a Car Hopper Peterborough” is a private Facebook group intended to help people who have been a victim of car hopping and vehicle theft. (Screenshot)
According to Detective Constable Keith Calderwood of the Peterborough Police Service, the ongoing pandemic is no doubt playing a role in the rise in the number of package thefts from porches. Statistics Canada reports online sales are on track for a record-breaking year, expected to surpass 2019’s record $305 billion in e-commerce sales. It’s simple math: more packages being delivered mean more packages being stolen.
Mason’s package was stolen at some point between just before 10 a.m. when it was delivered and noon, when a neighbour of her son’s checking on his behalf discovered it was missing.
“In hindsight, I remember hearing that because of COVID, Canada Post wasn’t requiring a signature (at the time of delivery) but I didn’t think of that at all as I was typing up the address label,” says Mason.
“I thought, because of the size of the box, it wouldn’t be left at the door. Canada Post did send me an email notifying me that it had been delivered, so I notified my son. I’ve contacted Canada Post to find out exactly where it was left at my son’s house and I’m waiting to hear back.”
Advertisement - content continues below
As disappointed and frustrated as Mason is, Mikaric reaching out to her has provided a silver lining.
“I posted some signs in the neighbourhood and scoured the water tower to try and at least find the books,” Mikaric says. As well, Mikaric has offered to search Peterborough bookstores for a copy of Le Carre’s Call For The Dead to replace the copy that was stolen.
“It just broke my heart when I came up the hill and saw that,” recalls Mikaric, who says she has been chatting with Mason ever since. “Someone had taken their time, energy, and money to send a gift to their loved ones just to have it ripped apart.”
Also included in Mason’s gift package was a custom-made men’s toiletry bag of leather and Black Stewart tartan fabric.
“If that turns up anywhere, on Kijjiji or Facebook Marketplace, it was the only one she made … it’s one of a kind,” notes Mason.
Some photos of suspected porch pirates and car hoppers posted by members of the East City Ptbo and Catch a Car Hopper Peterborough groups on Facebook. (Facebook photos)
Back in December 2019, Catch A Car Hopper Peterborough debuted on Facebook, giving group members an outlet to share information regarding thefts from vehicles. To date, the group has more than 930 members.
Park Street North resident Kody West, who co-founded the group and administers it along with three others, says his vehicle was being broken into “once or twice a week,” including a frightening incident on July 29, 2019. The incident resulted in his left hand being slashed with a box cutter, resulting in several stitches, when he confronted the thief.
Aided by video surveillance footage, police arrested two people, one of whom was convicted of assault with a weapon causing bodily harm and robbery with a weapon.
West says from what he’s read on the Facebook group, there’s a lot of anger over the rising number of thefts from vehicles.
“People are turning into vigilantes — they’re looking for them now,” he says, adding that wasn’t the intention when the group was created. “It was to be more like an alert system to make people aware. Now they’re just getting fed up. Every day cars are being broken into and law enforcement can’t stop it. They can’t be everywhere.”
“My vehicle has been hit twice,” says Robert Hamm, a Golfview Road resident who is also an administrator of the Facebook group.
“The first time I had all my tools in my vehicle, but all they took was a carton of cigarettes and some change. There was about $3,500 worth of tools in the back, so I was very lucky.”
However, luck wasn’t on Hamm’s side the second time some three months ago when credit cards were stolen and subsequently used. While the loss was covered by his bank, Hamm says what isn’t replaceable is the loss of any sense of security.
“I’ve been invaded, ” he says. “Someone has come into my personal vehicle.”
Like West, Hamm says the Facebook group is intended to bring more awareness to the issue of thefts from vehicles so people can consistently practice good habits to lessen the chance of their becoming a victim.
“We don’t want people to get hurt by taking things into their own hands … that was never the intent,” says Hamm, noting West was seriously injured doing just that.
“It would be nice to see these people getting caught. We could post that on our page and let our followers know.”
Advertisement - content continues below
On Tuesday (December 1), the Peterborough Police Service issued the following tips to help prevent thefts from vehicles:
Ensure your vehicle doors are always locked and the key is in your possession.
Always park your vehicle in a well-lit location.
Always roll up your vehicle windows.
Never leave money in clear sight.
Put shopping bags and parcels in the trunk.
Ensure GPS and other electronic devices are out of sight.
Keep your vehicle ownership and proof of insurance in your possession.
Never leave your cellphone in your vehicle.
Never leave your vehicle running when unattended.
If you frequently park in the same parking lot, park in a different spot each time.
Detective Constable Calderwood, who is coordinator of Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers, says protecting yourself from being a victim of theft from your porch or vehicle comes down to “a lot of common sense stuff.”
“In 99.9 per cent of cases (of vehicle theft), the vehicle has been left unlocked,” he explains. “The only time they’ll do a smash-and-grab is when they can see something of value in a vehicle that’s worth doing a smash-and-grab for.”
As for thefts of packages from doorsteps, Calderwood says “that’s very unsettling for people … the insecurity you feel as a result of someone approaching your house is not a very good feeling.”
He recommends doorbell cameras, motion lights, and other surveillance technology as a worthy investment, noting they not only help with any subsequent investigation but also act as a deterrent for would-be thieves.
As well, he points out many delivery firms offer notification by app which lets you know when you’re package has been delivered. If you aren’t home at that time, you can call a neighbour and ask them to retrieve it for you.
Calderwood admits it’s very difficult, if not impossible, for police to be proactive when it comes to thefts from porches and vehicles.
“We’re not CSI — we can’t take fingerprints from vehicle door handles where there are fingerprints upon fingerprints,” he says. “It really comes down to common sense. Eliminating the temptation is your best defence.”
Anyone with information on a theft, or to report one, can contact the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at stopcrimehere.ca.
Four employees of the Tim Hortons at 289 Big Apple Drive in Colborne have tested positive for COVID-19. The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is advising customers who were served at the restaurant between November 23 and 30, 2020, to self-monitor and to get tested and self-isolate if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. (Photo: Tim Hortons)
The local health unit is advising recent customers of a Tim Hortons restaurant in Colborne to monitor themselves for symptoms after four employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The restaurant at 289 Big Apple Drive was closed on Monday (November 30), with a notice posted on the door advising customers of an “evolving health situation”.
The following morning, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit declared a workplace outbreak after two employees were confirmed to have tested positive for the disease.
Advertisement - content continues below
Since then, another two employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and the health unit has determined there may be a risk to customers who were served at the restaurant over the last week — although the health unit says the risk is small.
Nonetheless, the health unit is encouraging anyone who was served inside the restaurant or served through the drive-through between November 23 to 30 to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.
“Although we do not believe customers are at a high risk, we are encouraging anyone who visited the restaurant during the specified dates to self-monitor for symptoms,” says medical officer of health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy in media release issued by the health unit on Wednesday afternoon (December 2). “If anyone does develop symptoms, they are encouraged to get tested and self-isolate while awaiting test results.”
Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, smell/tasting disorder, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or runny nose or nasal congestion.
Advertisement - content continues below
The health unit states that, while it does not routinely share the location of workplace outbreaks, it’s challenging to complete contact tracing for a food premise.
“Doing case and contact management for a confirmed case or an outbreak is a very detailed and lengthy process,” Dr. Noseworthy says.
“Information is always evolving, and you are always learning more about the situation. When we declared the outbreak yesterday, we did not have the complete picture we now have.”
The health unit says it will now routinely report workplace outbreaks on its website at www.hkpr.on.ca/ and may also share information about a workplace if the workplace requests public notification — even if there is no risk to the public.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
