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Ontario reports 987 new COVID-19 cases, with 14 deaths including 11 in long-term care homes

By kawarthaNOW -

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

Today, Ontario is reporting 987 new cases of COVID-19, with the majority in Toronto (319), Peel (299), York (85), and Durham (62). There are smaller increases in Ottawa (48), Halton (47), Hamilton (32), Simcoe Muskoka (25), Waterloo (21), and Niagara (16). The remaining 24 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 10 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 52% are among people 40 and older. With 945 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 85.6%. The positivity rate has dropped by 0.3% to 3.7%, meaning that 37 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 3.

For the second day in a row, there has been a double-digit increase in the number of deaths, with 16 new deaths today, 11 of which were in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 10 to 367, with 2 additional patients in ICUs and 3 fewer patients on ventilators.

A total of 28,567 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 12,329 to 33,087.

There are 116 new cases in Ontario schools, a decrease of 18 from yesterday, with 81 student cases, 7 staff cases, and 28 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 16 cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 7 from yesterday, with 8 cases among children and 8 cases among staff.

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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 3 new cases to report. There is 1 new case in Peterborough; however, an additional case has been resolved. There is 1 new case to report in Haliburton, after a case previously reported at a different health unit was transferred based on where the case resided at the time; however, an additional case has been resolved in Northumberland. There is 1 new case in Hastings and Prince Edward counties; however, 2 additional cases have been resolved.

There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland. None of the new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.

There are currently 16 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 7 in Peterborough, 5 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 2 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 153 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (144 resolved with 2 deaths), 185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (166 resolved with 32 deaths), 50 in Northumberland County (47 resolved with 1 death), 21 in Haliburton County (19 resolved with no deaths), and 82 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (72 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.

Province-wide, there have been 79,692 confirmed cases, an increase of 987 from yesterday, with 68,189 cases resolved (85.6% of all cases), an increase of 945. There have been 3,182 deaths, an increase of 16 from yesterday, with 2,035 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 11 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 10 to 367, with 2 additional patients in ICUs and 3 fewer patients on ventilators. A total of 5,228,814 tests have been completed, an increase of 28,567 from yesterday, with 33,087 tests under investigation, an increase of 12,329 from yesterday.

This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.

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Peterborough Public Health

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.

Confirmed positive: 153 (increase of 1)
Active cases: 7 (no change)
Close contacts: 9 (decrease of 8)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 144 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 9 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 34,650 (increase of 100)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

 

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.

The health unit provides reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 256, including 185 in Kawartha Lakes, 50 in Northumberland, 21 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Haliburton)*
Active cases: 4, including 2 in Northumberland and 2 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland, increase of 1 in Haliburton)*
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 14, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 6 in Northumberland (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 232, including 166 in Kawartha Lakes, 47 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: Warkworth Long Term Care (no change)

*One previously reported case at a different health unit has been transferred based on where the case resided at the time.

 

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: 82 (increase of 1)
Active cases: 5 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU (total to date): 2 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 2 (no change)
Resolved: 72 (increase of 2)
Total tests completed: 47,615 (increase of 824)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 79,692 (increase of 987)
Resolved: 68,189 (increase of 945, 85.6% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 367 (increase of 10)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 75 (increase of 2)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 44 (decrease of 3)
Deaths: 3,182 (increase of 16)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,035 (increase of 11)
Total tests completed: 5,228,814 (increase of 28,567)
Tests under investigation: 33,087 (increase of 12,329)

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 4 - November 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 4 – November 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 deaths Ontario from October 4 - November 3, 2020. The red line is the aggregate total of deaths reported daily and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of reported deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 deaths Ontario from October 4 – November 3, 2020. The red line is the aggregate total of deaths reported daily and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of reported deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 4 - November 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)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 4 – November 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)

 

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

Ontario invests another $680 million in broadband and cellular access

By kawarthaNOW -
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the provincial government is investing an additional $630 million in broadband and celluar access across Ontario during an announcement in Minden Hills on November 4, 2020. (Photo: Office of the Premier)

The Ontario government is investing another $680 million to improve broadband and cellular access across the province, particularly in rural and remote communities.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon (November 4) at the Haliburton County Public Library in Minden Hills, accompanied by finance minister Rod Phillips, infrastructure minister and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, and Treasury Board president Peter Bethlenfalvy.

“This pandemic has shown us the importance of access to high-speed internet and reliable cell service, access that so many of us take for granted,” Ford said. “Reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury, it is necessary for everyday life. It allows people to bank, shop, learn, get their news, or watch their favourite movies.”

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Except, Ford said, for people like an area woman who has travelled the world but “is lucky to get one bar of service on her cell phone” at home.

“She says she got better cell reception as a tourist in the Serengeti desert in Africa,” Ford added. “She had five bars of service there.”

The $680 million in funding is in addition to $315 million announced in July 2019, resulting in an investment of almost $1 billion over six years.

The funding will be used for shovel-ready projects starting this year and next.

According to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, more than 1.4 million people in Ontario do not have broadband or cellular access, and as many as 12 per cent of households in Ontario — mainly in rural, remote, or northern areas — either have no broadband internet service or are underserved.

Ontario infrastructure minister and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott Ontario during the broadband and cellular access announcement in Minden Hills on November 4, 2020. (Photo: Office of the Premier)
Ontario infrastructure minister and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott Ontario during the broadband and cellular access announcement in Minden Hills on November 4, 2020. (Photo: Office of the Premier)

“This investment will connect even more residents in communities across Ontario to faster more reliable internet and cell service,” Scott said. “Today’s commitment to connect more people to reliable broadband and cellular service — along with many others we’ve made — will make it easier for more people to work and learn from home, run their businesses and connect with others.”

Related story

$1.6 billion proposal would deliver ultra-fast gigabit internet to rural eastern Ontario

The $680 million in funding will double the investment in the Improving Connectivity in Ontario (ICON) program, which partners with telecom companies, municipal governments, First Nation communities, and non-profits to improve connectivity. With the additional funding, ICON will be able to leverage more than $900 million in total funding with program partners.

The Ontario government has also partnered with the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) to invest $71 million in a $213 million project to improve access to cellular service and mobile broadband in eastern Ontario.

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City of Kawartha Lakes mayor Andy Letham, who is chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus that created EORN, also attended Wednesday’s announcement along with Minden Hills mayor Brent Devolin.

“In the 21st century, connectivity is no longer a luxury — it is a necessity,” Letham said. “It is a social, cultural, and economic lifeline for students, families, businesses, and seniors in communities across the province. The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted this need.”

“Members of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association have been calling for investments in broadband infrastructure, particularly now as we try to recover from COVID-19 and strive for long-term prosperity,” Letham added.

“Today’s exciting announcement by the province of Ontario, on top of previous announcements in connectivity, are welcome and much appreciated. It will help connect more homes and businesses in Ontario communities, increase their economic competitiveness, and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses.”

Omemee’s Bob Young, brother of the legendary Neil Young, releases his first song at 78

By Bruce Head -
Omemee's Bob Young performing his song "Hey America" along with Peterborough musicians Ryan Weber of The Weber Brothers and Melissa Payne and Travis Good and Mike Belitsky of Toronto band The Sadies. Bob's younger brother, the legendary Neil Young, also performs in the video. (Screenshot)

If you have the passion, it’s never too old to try something new, as demonstrated by Omemee resident Bob Young. At 78 years old, he has released “Hey America”, his first-ever song.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt if your younger brother is a legendary musician. A video of “Hey America” released by Neil Young last Thursday (October 28) features a performance of Bob’s folk song by his band, Young Bob & The Peterboroughs.

Bob performs on lead vocal and acoustic guitar, with Peterborough musicians Ryan Weber of The Weber Brothers on bass and Melissa Payne on fiddle and harmony vocal, and members of Toronto band The Sadies, Travis Good on banjo and harmony vocal and Mike Belitsky on drums.

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And Bob’s famous brother also makes an appearance in the video, on harmonica and harmony vocal.

Bob says he was inspired to write “Hey America” a couple of years ago when he was watching Donald Trump on TV and wrote down a few lines.

“When I got home, I found I could play those lines on guitar,” Bob says. “Gradually, it became what it is now. It took a while to be able to play and sing the song from start to finish. When I could finally accomplish that, it was a victory.”

VIDEO: “Hey America” performed by Young Bob & The Peterboroughs

The song’s lyrics include lines such as, “Hey America / Give love a chance / It’s the beacon of freedom / Set your liberty free / Make equality real.” It’s no coincidence the song was released a few days before the U.S. election.

Bob says he was encouraged to record the song by his family and close friends, including Neil and his wife Daryl Hannah, singer-songwriter Carrie Alice Williams, the song’s co-writer Diane Marshall, and Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor.

“The recording process all happened at once,” Bob explains. “I had never done that either. It was a band performance that had spontaneity. In another session, some vocal harmony was added, and Neil played harmonica.”

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The video was directed by filmmaker Adam CK Vollick (who also worked on Neil Young’s December 2018 Home Town concert in Omemee), along with Neil Young and Daryl Hannah. It was shot at Gores Landing Hall, south of Rice Lake.

“The filming of Hey America was done in the COVID-19 environment,” Neil writes on his website, after releasing the video days before the U.S. election.

“One shot where we’re all standing together, singing without masks, was done in three separate shoots with the same background and assembled in post-production to look like three people singing together.”

Melissa Payne, Neil Young, and Travis Good singing harmony vocals to Bob Young's song "Hey America". Due to the pandemic, the three musicians were filmed separately using the same background, and the shots were assembled in post-production to make it appear they were singing together. (Screenshot)
Melissa Payne, Neil Young, and Travis Good singing harmony vocals to Bob Young’s song “Hey America”. Due to the pandemic, the three musicians were filmed separately using the same background, and the shots were assembled in post-production to make it appear they were singing together. (Screenshot)

A former golfer, Bob’s foray into songwriting isn’t his first artistic endeavour. He’s also been working on his book True Golf – Mind Power and the Art of the Direct Hit , which details his golfing experiences with his longtime friend, the late Canadian professional golfer Moe Norman.

Bob, who says he has more songs “all from the same creative spark”, is encouraging others in his generation to try something new.

“All you aging baby boomers out there, give it a shot,” Bob says. “As Yogi Berra put it, It ain’t over ’til it’s over, and even then it ain’t over. I agree.”

Omemee's Bob Young was inspired to write "Hey America" after watching Donald Trump on TV. His family and close friends encouraged the 78-year-old former golfer to record the song. The video was shot at Gores Landing Hall, south of Rice Lake. (Screenshot)
Omemee’s Bob Young was inspired to write “Hey America” after watching Donald Trump on TV. His family and close friends encouraged the 78-year-old former golfer to record the song. The video was shot at Gores Landing Hall, south of Rice Lake. (Screenshot)

Lest we forget: remembering Peterborough WWII veteran Joseph Sullivan

By Paul Rellinger -
Decorated World War II veteran Joseph "Joe" Sullivan, pictured at left in England in 1942 when he was 22 years old, passed away on November 1, 2020 at the age of 100 at Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home in Peterborough. Sullivan was one of the last surviving members of the 1st Battalion of the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division that came ashore at Juno Beach in Normandy, France in June 1944. Sullivan served as a radio operator with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. (Photos courtesy of the Sullivan family)

I know what they’re saying son
There goes old man Joe again
Well I may be mad at that I’ve seen enough
To make a man go out his brains
Well do they know what it’s like
To have a graveyard as a friend
‘Cause that’s where they are boy, all of them
Don’t seem likely I’ll get friends like that again.

– Talking Old Soldiers (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

An obituary serves its purpose well, providing a snapshot of a life lived.

In but a few words, we learn not only of one’s passing but also as many details as the writer is willing to share — family lineage, professional and personal milestones and, often, a few descriptors that speak to character.

As an obituary, the listing for Joseph (Joe) Cornelius Sullivan does its job, praising the “proud” Second World War veteran as “a selfless leader, mentor and advocate” who has left behind a “legacy of strength, courage, honour, generosity and love.” If the objective here is to make those who never crossed paths with Joe sense they have missed out, mission accomplished.

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When I learned Sunday (November 1) of Joe’s passing at age 100, my first thought — that I didn’t miss out — was admittedly totally selfish. I offer no apology for that. Rather our meeting and spending time was a privilege in every sense of the word.

On two occasions — first in November 2012 and in the same month in 2018 — I made the trip to Peterborough’s Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home and was wholly welcomed into the fourth-floor “home” of one of the then just two surviving members of the 1st Battalion of the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division that waded ashore in Normandy, France in June 1944.

Just 23 years old when French soil first muddied the soles of his army issue boots, the radio operator — a carpenter by trade — spent the next 56 days on the front line as his battalion advanced into Holland. Finding himself in the German port city of Emden when the guns fell silent in May 1945, Joe had accomplished the first objective of all who have gone to war — he was alive.

Radio operator Joseph Sullivan (rear row, right) celebrating with his signals platoon in Emden, Germany, on Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8, 1945. A signals platoon in an infantry battalion was responsible for maintaining communication between the companies of the battalion and battalion headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Sullivan)
Radio operator Joseph Sullivan (rear row, right) celebrating with his signals platoon in Emden, Germany, on Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8, 1945. A signals platoon in an infantry battalion was responsible for maintaining communication between the companies of the battalion and battalion headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Sullivan)

Joe returned to Holland in 2005 for the 60th anniversary of that country’s liberation from Nazi occupation but never returned to France. However, 10 years later, France came to Joe, awarding him the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaporte. Among the Canadians so honoured are First World War air ace Billy Bishop and singer Céline Dion — pretty good company.

Upon coming home in December 1945, Joe returned to work as a carpenter before embarking on a new career in 1967, selling real estate for Bowes and Cocks. Retiring in 1978, he was gifted with more time very well spent with his wife Ella (English). They were residing together at Fairhaven when Ella passed in February 2015 — the parents of four daughters and a son, and grandparents and great-grandparents many times over.

There you have it. The Cole’s Notes version of the life of Joseph (Joe) Cornelius Sullivan. Allow me to now tell you about the man I met on two occasions and came away full of respect for and grateful I didn’t miss out.

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For all their chest-swelling pride in their service, most veterans long gone and those still with us share another trait — silence. The assault on the senses they experienced is too painful, too fresh even after all these years. We respect their silence as we should. They’ve more than earned that.

But there are exceptions to that and, as each passing year sees us more removed from their service, we need to hear their voices. They speak to the very core of lest we forget.

With remarkable clarity, Joe remembered it all, not hesitating to talk of what he saw, what he heard, and what he felt without glorifying the experience but always, always, honouring the sacrifice and courage of his battalion mates.

A 98-year-old Joe Sullivan at Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home in Peterborough in 2018, displaying a montage of medals related to his war service. In 2015, Joseph Sullivan was awarded the French National Order of the Legion of Honour (bottom left) in recognition of his war service. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
A 98-year-old Joe Sullivan at Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home in Peterborough in 2018, displaying a montage of medals related to his war service. In 2015, Joseph Sullivan was awarded the French National Order of the Legion of Honour (bottom left) in recognition of his war service. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)

Settled in his easy chair, his many framed wall-mounted medals and citations looking down upon him, Joe admitted to being “always scared” before adding “But we knew we had a job to do.”

In that moment, Joe was in France circa the summer of 1944 and I was there with him. No, Joe didn’t have me at hello but he had me with every word that followed.

Remembrance Day 2020 has fallen victim to the scourge of COVID-19 and its associated restrictions. Annual ceremonies held at cenotaphs across the country, including the beautiful Walter Allward-designed tribute in Peterborough’s Confederation Park, will be brief and much toned down with residents urged not to attend — a dramatic departure from the you-must-attend invitation that has always been extended.

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I hope that by sharing here my experience of sitting down with Joe, and my lasting admiration for his service and open recollections, I can help fill a void. We don’t have to be present to remember. We simply have to remember their presence.

A twist of fate, a wrong step in any one of a number of directions, and Joe might not have come home. His would be a name long-chiseled on the cenotaph; a reminder that there once was a man who was scared but did the job he had to do.

Joseph Sullivan (second row, second from right) with the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders in Leesten, The Netherlands, for the 60th anniversary of Holland’s liberation in May 2005. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Sullivan)
Joseph Sullivan (second row, second from right) with the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders in Leesten, The Netherlands, for the 60th anniversary of Holland’s liberation in May 2005. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Sullivan)

But Joe came home — “I consider myself lucky” he said — and his gift to me, and through me to you, was his willingness to talk about that which many have refused to speak of with a singular purpose in mind: that we never forget.

 

A funeral mass for Joseph Sullivan will be held at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church (300 Wilson St., Peterborough) at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020, followed by internment at Highland Park Cemetery. COVID-19 restrictions are in place, space is limited, and face coverings are required.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to Fairhaven Long-Term Care. Online condolences may be made at www.highlandparkfuneralcentre.com.

Ontario implements new colour-coding system for public health unit regions as it reports record 1,050 COVID-19 cases

By kawarthaNOW -
Premier Doug Ford announces Ontario's new classification system for COVID-19 activity in public health units at a media conference at Queen's Park on November 3, 2020. (CPAC screenshot)

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

With Ontario reporting a single day record of 1,050 new COVID-19 cases, the provincial government released its new “COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework”, which includes classifying public health unit regions into one of five colour-coded categories to reflect the level of COVID-19 activity.

Details were announced on Tuesday (November 3) during a media conference at Queen’s Park by Premier Doug Ford, health minister Christine Elliott, finance minister Rod Phillips, Treasury Board president Peter Bethlenfalvy, and chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams.

“This framework, developed in consultation with our health experts, will serve as an early warning system allowing us to scale up and scale back public health restrictions on a regional or community basis in response to surges and waves of COVID-19,” Ford said. “By introducing public health measures sooner, we can keep this deadly virus at bay, bend the curve and reclaim a little more of our normal lives.”

The least restrictive category is Green-Prevent, which includes standard public health measures. The majority of public health units currently fall in this category, including the three in the greater Kawarthas region. The next category is Yellow-Protect, which includes strengthened measures; Brant County, Hamilton, Durham, and Halton currently fall in this category. Orange-Restrict includes intermediate measures; Toronto, Peel, York, Ottawa, and Eastern Ontario Health Unit currently fall in this category.

There are currently no health units in the two most restrictive categories: Red-Control, which includes stringent public health measures, and Grey-Lockdown, which includes maximum public health measures.

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The new system modifies existing health measures depending on the category, which in some cases are less restrictive than the current modified Stage 2 requirements affecting Toronto, Peel, York, and Ottawa.

For example, in Yellow-Protect, bars and restaurants must close at midnight, alcohol cannot be served past 11 p.m., and only 6 people can be seated together. In Orange-Restrict, bars and restaurants must close at 10 p.m., alcohol cannot be served past 9 p.m., and only 4 people can be seated together.

The list of all proposed measures, including for social gatherings, bars and restaurants, sports and recreational facilities, meeting and event spaces, retail, personal care services, casinos, bingo halls, and gaming establishments, cinemas, and performing arts facilities are included in the COVID-19 Response Framework, available below.

PDF – COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework
COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework

The new colour-coding system will go into effect as of Saturday (November 7), although Toronto may be delayed into entering the Orange-Restrict level until the following week at the request of Mayor John Tory.

Of the 1,050 new cases reported today, most are in Toronto (408), Peel (212), Halton (86), York (76), and Durham (57), with smaller increases in Ottawa (34), Niagara (31), Hamilton (34), Simcoe Muskoka (21), Southwestern Public Health (20), Waterloo (20), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (11), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (11), and Brant County (10). The remaining 20 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 13 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 51% are among people under the age of 40. With 837 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has decreased by 0.1% to 85.4%. The positivity rate remains unchanged at 4.0%, meaning that 40 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 2.

There have been 14 new deaths, including 8 new deaths in long-term care homes. Hospitalizations have increased by 29 to 357, although this increase is based on yesterday’s number that excluded data from 40 hospitals. There are 2 fewer patients in ICUs and 2 additional patient on ventilator.

A total of 25,279 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 5,361 to 20,758.

The number of cases in Ontario schools has jumped to 134, an increase of 65 from yesterday, with 82 student cases, 13 staff cases, and 39 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 23 cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 17 from yesterday, with 7 cases among children and 16 cases among staff.

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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 2 new cases to report in Peterborough; however, an additional case has been resolved, leaving 7 active cases there. There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings and Prince Edward counties. An additional case has been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, leaving 6 active cases there.

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

There are currently 17 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 7 in Peterborough, 6 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 152 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (143 resolved with 2 deaths), 185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (166 resolved with 32 deaths), 50 in Northumberland County (46 resolved with 1 death), 20 in Haliburton County (19 resolved with no deaths), and 81 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (70 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.

Province-wide, there have been 78,705 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,050 from yesterday, with 67,244 cases resolved (85.4% of all cases), an increase of 837. There have been 3,166 deaths, an increase of 14 from yesterday, with 2,024 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 8 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 29 to 357, although this increase is based on yesterday’s number that did not include data from 40 hospitals. There are 2 fewer patients in ICUs and 2 additional patients on ventilators. A total of 5,200,247 tests have been completed, an increase of 20,758 from yesterday, with 20,758 tests under investigation, an increase of 5,361 from yesterday.

This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.

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Peterborough Public Health

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.

Confirmed positive: 152 (increase of 2)
Active cases: 7 (increase of 1)
Close contacts: 17 (no change)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 143 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 9 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 34,550 (increase of 50)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*An outbreak at Fairhaven Long-Term Care in Peterborough was declared on October 31 after a caregiver tested positive.

 

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: 255, including 185 in Kawartha Lakes, 50 in Northumberland, 20 in Haliburton (no change)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 14, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 6 in Northumberland (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 231, including 166 in Kawartha Lakes, 46 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (no change)
Active cases: 4, including 3 in Northumberland and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: Warkworth Long Term Care (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: 81 (no change)
Active cases: 6 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU (total to date): 2 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 2 (no change)
Resolved: 70 (increase of 1)
Total tests completed: 46,791 (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 78,705 (increase of 1,050)
Resolved: 67,244 (increase of 837, 85.4% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 357 (increase of 29)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 73 (decrease of 2)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 47 (increase of 2)
Deaths: 3,166 (increase of 14)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,024 (increase of 8)
Total tests completed: 5,200,247 (increase of 25,279)
Tests under investigation: 20,758 (increase of 5,361)

*This increase is from data reported on November 2, which did not include numbers from 40 hospitals. The number of hospitalizations reported on November 1 was 350.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 3 - November 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)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 3 – November 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 October 3 - November 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)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 3 – November 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)

 

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

This story has been updated with today’s numbers from Peterborough Public Health.

Police arrest Minden Hills man suspected in conducted energy weapon robberies

By kawarthaNOW -
Security footage of a suspect brandishing a conducted energy weapon during a robbery attempt at a drive-thru ATM in Orillia on October 26, 2020. Sebastian Gaudino, 46, of Minden Hills Township was arrested by police on October 30, 2020 and faces three charges. (Police-supplied photo)

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested a Minden Hills man suspected in four robberies in Coboconk, Orillia, and Gravenhurst on October 25 and 26.

Related story

Police seek suspect in four robberies in Coboconk, Orillia, and Gravenhurst

In two of the incidents, the suspect approached people at an ATM, brandished a conducted energy weapon, and demanded cash.

In the other two incidents, the suspect entered a convenience store with what appeared to be a firearm and demanded cash.

On Friday (October 30) at around 10:50 a.m., members of the OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit located and arrested the suspect on Highway 12, near Concession 10, in the Township of Ramara.

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Orillia OPP, in conjunction with York Regional Police, had identified the suspect earlier in the day and were actively searching for him at the time of the arrest.

Sebastian Gaudino, 46, of Minden Hills Township, has been charged with robbery with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and unauthorized possession of a weapon.

The accused man is set to appear on December 1, 2020, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia.

Ontario reports 948 new COVID-19 cases, including 5 in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

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

Ontario is reporting 948 new cases today, with most of today’s new cases in Toronto (315), Peel (269), York (81), and Ottawa (64).

There are smaller increases in Durham (32), Hamilton (30), Simcoe Muskoka (28), Niagara (24), Windsor-Essex (23), Halton (19), Waterloo (19), Southwestern Public Health (11), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (11), and Middlesex-London (7). The remaining 20 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 11 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 55% are among people under the age of 40. With 826 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 85.5%. The positivity rate has increased by 1.0% to 4.0%, meaning that 40 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on November 1.

There have been 7 new deaths, including 3 new deaths in long-term care homes. Hospitalizations have dropped by 22 to 328, although 40 hospitals did not submit data for this report. There are 3 additional patients in ICUs and 1 less patient on a ventilator.

A total of 27,908 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 8,536 to 15,397.

There are 69 new cases in Ontario schools reported today, a increase of 8 since October 30, with 41 student cases, 6 staff cases, and 22 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 6 cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 3 from October 30, with 5 cases among children and 1 case among staff.

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In the greater Kawarthas region, there is 1 new case to report today in Northumberland and 1 new case in Haliburton, with an additional case resolved in Kawarthas Lakes. There are 3 new cases to report in Hastings and Prince Edward counties; however, 3 additional cases have been resolved, leaving no change in the number of active cases there. There are no new cases to report in Peterborough.

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

There are currently 17 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 6 in Peterborough, 7 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 150 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (142 resolved with 2 deaths), 185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (166 resolved with 32 deaths), 50 in Northumberland County (46 resolved with 1 death), 20 in Haliburton County (19 resolved with no deaths), and 81 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (69 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.

Province-wide, there have been 77,655 confirmed cases, an increase of 948 from yesterday, with 66,407 cases resolved (85.5% of all cases), an increase of 826. There have been 3,152 deaths, an increase of 7 from yesterday, with 2,016 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 3 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has dropped by 22 to 328, although 40 hospitals did not report data for this report. There are 3 additional patients in ICUs and 1 less patient on a ventilator. A total of 5,174,968 tests have been completed, an increase of 27,908 from yesterday, with 15,397 tests under investigation, a decrease of 8,536 from yesterday.

This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.

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Peterborough Public Health

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.

Confirmed positive: 150 (no change)
Active cases: 6 (no change)
Close contacts: 17 (no change)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 142 (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 9 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 34,500 (increase of 50)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (increase of 1)*

*An outbreak at Fairhaven Long-Term Care in Peterborough was declared on October 31 after a caregiver tested positive.

 

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: 255, including 185 in Kawartha Lakes, 50 in Northumberland, 20 in Haliburton (increase of 2, 1 in Northumberland and 1 in Haliburton)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 14, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 6 in Northumberland (no net change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 231, including 166 in Kawartha Lakes, 46 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (increase of 2)
Active cases: 4, including 3 in Northumberland and 1 in Haliburton (net increase of 1)
Institutional outbreaks: Warkworth Long Term Care (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: 81 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 7 (no net change)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU (total to date): 2 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 2 (no change)
Resolved: 69 (increase of 3)
Total tests completed: 46,791 (increase of 718)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 77,655 (increase of 948)
Resolved: 66,407 (increase of 826, 85.5% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 328 (decrease of 22)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 75 (increase of 3)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 45 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 3,152 (increase of 7)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,016 (increase of 3)
Total tests completed: 5,174,968 (increase of 27,908)
Tests under investigation: 15,397 (decrease of 8,536)

*Approximately 40 hospitals did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for October 31. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 2 - November 1, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 2 – November 1, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 2 - November 1, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 2 – November 1, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)

 

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

Third COVID-19 outbreak declared at Fairhaven in Peterborough after caregiver tests positive

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

For the third time since September, a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home in Peterborough.

On Saturday (October 31), Fairhaven executive director Lionel Towns said COVID-19 had been detected in a swab test of a caregiver on Westview 2 at Fairhaven.

He said Peterborough Public Health confirmed the test result on Saturday afternoon and subsequently declared an outbreak at the home.

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Towns said no residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and that all residents, staff members, and contract service providers on Westview 2 will be tested for the virus.

The health unit is also conducting contact tracing for the caregiver who tested positive, Towns added.

“All general visits will cease until the outbreak is declared over,” Towns said. “Palliative visits will continue.”

While general visitors are not allowed during an outbreak, under provincial guidelines issued on October 5th, essential visitors — including support workers and caregivers — are allowed access to the home during an outbreak, including a maximum of one caregiver per resident at a time.

However, Towns is requesting caregivers consider postponing any visits until the home is out of outbreak.

“While we have been informed by the ministry that we cannot prevent essential caregivers from visiting, I believe that it is in the best interest of the home, its residents and staff, if loved ones wait until the outbreak period is over (hopefully two weeks),” Towns said.

“A short period of time away, unlike the months of isolation imposed at the start of the pandemic, will potentially be the difference between a short outbreak and a longer period of time with the potential for the coronavirus to be in the building.”

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Peterborough Public Health has declared two previous outbreaks at Fairhaven: one from September 15th to 28th, and another from September 28th to October 13th.

In each of those outbreaks, a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.

Ontario reports 977 new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations jump by 30

By kawarthaNOW -

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

After reporting 1,015 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, Ontario is reporting 977 new cases today.

Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (279), Peel (238), Ottawa (130), and York (113). There’s a new outbreak in Brant County, which is reporting 25 cases today compared to 3 yesterday.

Other increases include Durham (31), Niagara (31), Waterloo (26), Simcoe Muskoka (23), Hamilton (21), Halton (16), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (9), Windsor-Essex (7), and Middlesex-London (6). The remaining 20 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 7 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s cases, 53% are among people under the age of 40. With 864 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 85.5%. The positivity rate is unavailable on weekends.

There have been 9 new deaths, including 4 new deaths in long-term care homes. Hospitalizations have jumped by 30 to 350, and this number does include 40 hospitals that failed to submit data for the report. However, there is one less patient in an ICU and 8 fewer patients on ventilators.

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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are no new cases to report in Peterborough, and an additional 2 cases have been resolved, leaving 6 active cases. Reports are unavailable on weekends for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

There are currently 16 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 6 in Peterborough, 7 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and 2 in Northumberland.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 150 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (142 resolved with 2 deaths), 185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (165 resolved with 32 deaths), 49 in Northumberland County (46 resolved with 1 death), 19 in Haliburton County (19 resolved with no deaths), and 78 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (66 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.

Province-wide, there have been 76,707 confirmed cases, an increase of 977 from yesterday, with 65,581 cases resolved (85.5% of all cases), an increase of 864. There have been 3,145 deaths, an increase of 9 from yesterday, with 2,013 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 4 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has jumped by 30 to 350 (with 40 hospitals not reporting data), but the number of patients in ICUs has decreased by 1 and the number of patients on ventilators decreasing by 8. A total of 5,147,060 tests have been completed, an increase of 37,133 from yesterday, with 23,933 tests under investigation, a decrease of 12,329 from yesterday.

This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.

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Peterborough Public Health

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.

Confirmed positive: 150 (no change)
Active cases: 6 (decrease of 2)
Close contacts: 17 (decrease of 2)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 142 (increase of 2)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 9 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 34,450 (increase of 200)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

 

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.

The health unit provides reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from October 30.

Confirmed positive: 253, including 185 in Kawartha Lakes, 49 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland)*
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
High-risk contacts: 14, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes and 8 in Northumberland (decrease of 5 in Kawartha Lakes, increase of 5 in Northumberland)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 229, including 165 in Kawartha Lakes, 46 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland)
Active cases: 3, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland (no net change)
Institutional outbreaks: Warkworth Long Term Care (increase of 1)*

*An outbreak was declared at Warkworth Long Term Care on October 29 after a staff person tested positive.

 

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.

The health unit provides reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from October 30.

Confirmed positive: 78 (increase of 3)
Active cases: 7 (increase of 2)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized (total to date): 7 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU (total to date): 2 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 2 (no change)
Resolved: 66 (increase of 1)
Total tests completed: 46,073 (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 76,707 (increase of 977)
Resolved: 65,581 (increase of 864, 85.5% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 350 (increase of 30)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 72 (decrease of 1)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 46 (decrease of 8)
Deaths: 3,145 (increase of 9)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,013 (increase of 4)
Total tests completed: 5,147,060 (increase of 37,133)
Tests under investigation: 23,933 (decrease of 12,329)

*Approximately 40 hospitals did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for October 30. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 1 - October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from October 1 – October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 1 - October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from October 1 – October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario from October 1 - October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of new hospitalizations reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new hospitalizations. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario from October 1 – October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of new hospitalizations reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new hospitalizations. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from October 1 - October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of new deaths reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from October 1 – October 31, 2020. The red line is the number of new deaths reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)

 

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

East City residents demand changes to detours caused by Parkhill Road bridge closure

By Paul Rellinger -
Old Norwood Road is one of three roads connecting Television Road to Ashburnham Drive the City of Peterborough has closed to through traffic until Parks Canada completes construction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Residents living on McFarlane Street aside, few have the front-row seat to traffic on that road that Fergus Crough has occupied over the past three years.

As the crossing guard for Armour Heights Public School students, Crough is seeing not only more traffic and speeding on McFarlane Street but also an increase in the number of trucks using the road.

“You would rarely see a big truck here … maybe a dozen over the past few years,” he says, adding “Now I’m seeing two or three per day. Big tandems, tractor trailers … all sizes of trucks.”

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Related stories

Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill in Peterborough to close from October until spring

Here are the detour routes during the closure of Warsaw Swing Bridge in Peterborough

Since October 5th, McFarlane Street has been one of a number of East City roads greatly impacted as a result of a number of detours put in place by the City of Peterborough to accommodate Park Canada’s reconstruction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road.

That work is scheduled to be completed by spring 2021. Until then, with Parkhill Road East at the bridge closed to all but local traffic.

Eastbound traffic is being diverted to use University Road, Nassau Mills Road and Armour Road, while westbound traffic is being steered toward Television Road, Lansdowne Street East, and Ashburnham Drive.

Meanwhile, MacFarlane Avenue, Old Norwood Road, and Maniece Avenue between Ashburnham Drive and Television Road are each closed to all but local traffic. (MacFarlane Avenue connects to McFarlane Street via Trentview Road, which is also closed to through traffic).

A car turns southbound onto Television Road from Parkhill Road East on the afternoon of Saturday, October 31st, due to the closure of Parkhill Road to through traffic between Armour Road and Television Road until Parks Canada completes construction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
A car turns southbound onto Television Road from Parkhill Road East on the afternoon of Saturday, October 31st, due to the closure of Parkhill Road to through traffic between Armour Road and Television Road until Parks Canada completes construction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)

Since the detours came into effect, a growing and very loud collective voice has resonated from East City where a number of residents are expressing their concerns — not only over the resulting traffic gridlock but also the fact they weren’t consulted prior to the detour decision.

Even more maddening for concerned residents, they aren’t hearing back from city officials despite several attempts to seek some resolution.

“We understood that when the work on the swing bridge happened, we would face interruptions and inconveniences, but I don’t think anyone was prepared for the city to shut down several access streets to East City like they have,” says Euclid Avenue resident Andrew MacGregor, referring to the closures of through traffic on McFarlane Avenue, Old Norwood Road, and Maniece Avenue.

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“Parks Canada closing the bridge to work on it isn’t the problem, that work really needs to get done,” MacGregor adds. “The problem is we can’t exit our neighbourhoods.”

Using the East City Ptbo Facebook page as its social media platform, a large group of East City residents, MacGregor among them, have been pushing hard for a review of, and modifications to, the detour plan.

Among the more outspoken of the group has been Armour Road resident Brenda Cowan, a hearing aid practitioner whose business, The Ear Depot, is located near the swing bridge on Parkhill Road East. While she says her business hasn’t been adversely affected by the closure of Parkhill Road East, she has seen a substantial increase in traffic on Armour Road as a result.

VIDEO: Detour traffic in East City, Peterborough – October 31, 2020

“There has been a domino effect of safety issues, infrastructure issues, and signage issues that have resulted from the closure of Maniece Avenue and Old Norwood Road,” says Cowan.

“We (the group) don’t want committees. We don’t want discussion. We don’t want studies. We want the (local traffic only) signs removed from Maniece and Old Norwood Road. They’re public roads. They’re not under construction. It’s a cash grab with a $110 fine and two demerit points for disobeying road signs.”

“Residents living on those streets are no more important than we are. Why don’t we just close Armour Road because I don’t like the traffic? I don’t have a problem at all when there’s construction on the roads closed. They’ve closed public roads paid for by our taxes. They’re closing these roads because we’re not in the same bracket as residents on those streets. I’ve lived long enough in this town to know that’s the case.”

A vehicle waits to cross the single-lane bridge on McFarlane Street via Ashburnham Drive. An increasing amount of traffic (including heavy trucks) has been using McFarlane Street via Ashburnham Drive as an alternate route during the closure of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road. kawarthaNOW visited the bridge at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, October 31st and stopped counting after 100 vehicles used the route in a period of 10 minutes; the traffic situation is even worse on weekdays. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
A vehicle waits to cross the single-lane bridge on McFarlane Street via Ashburnham Drive. An increasing amount of traffic (including heavy trucks) has been using McFarlane Street via Ashburnham Drive as an alternate route during the closure of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road. kawarthaNOW visited the bridge at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, October 31st and stopped counting after 100 vehicles used the route in a period of 10 minutes; the traffic situation is even worse on weekdays. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Then there’s the matter of increased traffic on McFarlane Street and the adverse effect that heavy truck traffic in particular may be having on the four-ton limit single-lane McFarlane Street bridge.

“Because there’s no proper signage at Lansdowne and Ashburnham Drive for trucks coming off the highway, they’re going up Ashburnham and over the bridge,” says Cowan, adding “Someone is going to get critically hurt or killed if that bridge collapses.”

Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel, along with his ward councillor colleague Gary Baldwin, has heard it good from the group. While Riel dismisses outright any suggestion that road closure decisions are made with residents’ income status or property tax contribution in mind, he agrees this road detour plan is in need of revision.

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“There was no consultation with council on this, this was a city staff decision,” he says.

“I probably have more questions than solutions, but something has to be done. We’re looking at eight months of these road closures that are not conducive to moving people.”

Councillor Riel will have the opportunity to ask his questions this Tuesday (November 3rd) when a meeting on the issue is held, involving himself and Councillor Baldwin, city staff, Mayor Diane Therrien, and neighbouring county officials and politicians.

“Decisions were made based on the fact that the roads (MacFarlane Avenue, Old Norwood Road, and Maniece Avenue) aren’t designed or engineered to handle the (anticipated) volume but it has turned political,” assesses Mayor Therrien.

“The decision was made to try and limit those roads to local traffic only and direct everyone else to roads that were designed to handle higher volume. We’re open to any feedback if there is anything that can make it easier.”

Maniece Avenue at Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough's East City. The road is one of three connecting Ashburnham Drive to Television Road the City of Peterborough has closed to through traffic until Parks Canada completes construction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road in the spring of 2021. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Maniece Avenue at Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough’s East City. The road is one of three connecting Ashburnham Drive to Television Road the City of Peterborough has closed to through traffic until Parks Canada completes construction of the Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road in the spring of 2021. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

For his part, MacGregor wants to hear acknowledgement that what is in place isn’t working and revisions are going to be made.

“Nobody is suggesting that we shouldn’t be detouring cars or we shouldn’t be doing the bridge work, but the inconveniences that have been imposed are overstepping.”

Should that meeting amount to nothing in terms of no changes, MacGregor promises an escalation of the group’s efforts.

“It was easy to put these restrictions in place, so it’s easy to remove them,” he says, adding a petition on the matter is prepared and ready to be issued via social media. “We won’t take no for answer.”

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Cowan, however, is not optimistic the November 3rd meeting will result in any changes. She’s basing that on the fact that the group’s pleas have been, according to her, ignored — outside of Councillor Riel’s efforts.

“They (city staff) have been very poor responding to us because they want it to go away,” she says.

“I want to see the politicians stand up and do the job they were elected for. They were very quick to come to our door and want our vote. They better be just as quick to reach out when their constituents don’t like decisions that been made.”

“I’m 71 years old. I don’t care about people’s egos or toes being stepped on at City Hall. They are there to represent us. It’s not a dictatorship but they’re using COVID-19 as a cover for pushing through things improperly.”

One of the concerns expressed by East City residents is the increasing use of the single-lane McFarlane Street bridge by tractor trailors and other heavy trucks using Ashburnham Drive to enter the city from Highway 115. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
One of the concerns expressed by East City residents is the increasing use of the single-lane McFarlane Street bridge by tractor trailors and other heavy trucks using Ashburnham Drive to enter the city from Highway 115. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Both MacGregor and Cowan say, if anything, this exercise in citizen dissent has proven there is power in numbers.

“When we start to show that we’re willing to put time and effort into making this something bigger than just simply emailing councillors, that sends a very big message,” MacGregor says. “We’re not waiting for them to come back and tell us they’re not going to do anything.”

He adds the group’s perception is they’re being viewed at City Hall as simply “neighbours making noise.”

“Some level of injustice has happened here. City staff went ahead and made decisions unilaterally without consultation from the neighbourhood or city council. That would have taken time, but taking time is necessary. Yes, we’re making a loud noise. What we are wanting to hear is they agree this situation isn’t working and that they’re going to make changes.”

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