Megan Murphy is organizing "Spare A Square #2", a Peterborough-wide porch food drive on October 24, 2020 to restock the shelves at Kawartha Food Share. Pictured is Megan with some of the over 24,000 pounds of food donations collected during the first Spare A Square porch food drive on March 23, 2020. (Photo: Megan Murphy)
The “Spare A Square” porch food drive returns to Peterborough on Saturday (October 24).
Once again organized by Megan Murphy, “Spare A Square #2” is a COVID-safe city-wide food drive to restock the shelves at Kawartha Food Share before the winter months.
The first food drive, held back in March, collected more than 23,000 pounds of food donations. It was called “Spare A Square” because, in the early months of the pandemic, toilet paper was in short supply and was one of the needed items.
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This time around, people are being asked to donate non-perishable food items including canned tuna, pasta and pasta sauce, easy-to-cook items that kids love (such as Alpha-getti, Kraft Dinner, and Chef Boyardee), breakfast cereal, peanut butter, any non-perishable fruit and vegetable items, rice, canned soup/stew, and baby formula, as well as feminine hygiene products and diapers.
Peterborough residents who want to participate should leave a bag of donated items on their front porch by 9 a.m. on Saturday to be picked up by volunteers, who will deliver them to the Kawartha Food Share warehouse. If you are ill, you are asked not to leave a bag of donated items on your porch.
This is a COVID-safe event. Volunteers will be in their own vehicles, wearing masks, and observing all necessary and suggested COVID-19 safety protocols. There will be no face-to-face contact between people donating and volunteers picking up the donations.
The COVID-safe “Spare A Square #2” takes place on October 24, 2020 in Peterborough. Residents are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch by 9 a.m. and volunteers will come by to pick up the donations. (Graphic: Megan Murphy)
Monetary donations — cash or cheque — will also be accepted. For every dollar donated, Kawartha Food Share can purchase up to $6 worth of food.
With the first Halloween of the pandemic less than two weeks away, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams has provided public health advice for safely celebrating Halloween.
“As Ontarians begin to prepare for Halloween this year, I’d like to remind everyone to take extra precautions to ensure you are keeping yourself and your families safe,” reads a statement for Dr. Williams.
In the province’s four COVID-19 hotspots of Ottawa, Peel, Toronto, and York Region, Dr. Williams is recommending against traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating.
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Instead, residents of these four areas should consider alternative ways to celebrate, such as encouraging kids to dress up and participate in virtual activities and parties, organizing a candy hunt with people living in your household, carving pumpkins, having a movie night or sharing scary stories, and decorating front lawns.
In all other areas of Ontario, Dr. Williams states that traditional trick-or-treating is okay as long as the following recommendations are followed:
Only go out with members of your household.
Only trick-or-treat outside (e.g. not in apartment buildings).
Both trick-or-treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering. A costume mask is not a substitute and should not be worn over a face covering because it may make it difficult to breathe.
Do not congregate or linger at doorsteps and remember to line up two metres apart if you are waiting.
Avoid high-touch surfaces and objects, such as railings and doorbells.
Whether you are collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly or use hand sanitizer.
Recognizing that some people may not feel comfortable handing out treats this year, Dr. Williams recommends letting neighbours know if you are participating by printing out one of the following posters.
The Ontario government has provided these posters so people can let their neighbours know whether they are participating in Halloween this year. If you do want to give out treats, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams recommends handing them out with tongs or similar tools rather than leaving them in a in a bucket or bowl for children to grab, which could spread the virus. (Posters: Ontario government)
If you are giving out treats, Dr. Williams recommends using tongs or other similar tools to hand out treats rather than leaving them in a bucket or bowl for children to grab, which could help spread the virus.
“It is recommended that you also check with your local municipality or public health unit for any additional advice or restrictions that may be in place,” Dr. Williams states. “It is also critical that families not travel outside of their neighbourhood to celebrate Halloween.”
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For all Ontarians, Dr. Williams also recommends avoiding gatherings with people outside of your household, and staying home if you are feeling ill — even if you have mild symptoms — or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
“I would also like to remind everyone that we are in a second wave of COVID-19,” Dr Williams states. “There have been increases in cases in many areas across the province, and the percentage of people tested who get a positive result is going up. The severity of this second wave is in our hands. Through our collective efforts, we can change the outcome of this new outbreak.”
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 658 new COVID-19 cases — the lowest single-day increase in the past week. Over 75% of the new cases are in the province’s urban hotspots: Toronto (197), Peel (155), York (94), and Ottawa (66). Cases in Durham Region (45) are on the rise, with smaller increases in Halton (29), Simcoe Muskoka (18), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (13), Hamilton (11), and Eastern Ontario Health Unit (7).
The remaining 24 public health units reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 12 reporting no cases at all. Of today’s cases, half are among people under the age of 40. With 685 more cases resolved, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 86%.
There have been 5 new deaths. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 31 to 247, but around 40 hospitals did not submit data for today’s report so this number is likely under-reported. One patient has been discharged from an ICU, and one additional person is on a ventilator. A total of 40,850 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 10,021 to 23,609.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, Peterborough is reporting another new case, for the fifth straight day of new cases. However, as another case has been resolved, the number of active cases remains at 4. Reports are unavailable on weekends for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward counties.
There are currently 9 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 4 in Peterborough, 4 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 137 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (131 resolved with 2 deaths), 183 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (164 resolved with 32 deaths), 45 in Northumberland County (44 resolved with 1 death), 19 in Haliburton County (18 resolved with no deaths), and 65 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (56 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.
Province-wide, there have been 64,371 confirmed cases, an increase of 658 from yesterday, with 55,371 (86% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 685. There have been 3,046 deaths, an increase of 5 from yesterday, with 1,980 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 1 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has dropped from 278 to 247; however, around 40 hospitals did not submit data so this number is likely under-reported. An additional patient has been discharged from an ICU, with 1 additional patient on a ventilator. A total of 4,658,413 tests have been completed, an increase of 40,850 from yesterday, with 23,609 tests under investigation, a decrease of 10,021 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.
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: 137 (increase of 1) Active cases: 4 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 131 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 32,950 (increase of 100) 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 16.
Confirmed positive: 247, including 183 in Kawartha Lakes, 45 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 226, including 164 in Kawartha Lakes, 44 in Northumberland, 18 in Haliburton (no change) Active cases: 1 (no change) 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. These numbers are from October 16.
Confirmed positive: 65 (increase of 2) Active cases: 4 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 56 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 42,542 (increase of 67) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 64,371 (increase of 658) Resolved: 55,371 (increase of 685, 86% of all cases) Hospitalized: 247 (decrease of 31)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 71 (decrease of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 43 (increase of 1) Deaths: 3,046 (increase of 5) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,980 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 4,658,413 (increase of 40,850) Tests under investigation: 23,609 (decrease of 10,021)
*As is often the case on weekends, a number of hospitals (approximately 40) did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for October 16. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from September 17 – October 17, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from September 17 – October 17,2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Police and emergency services respond to a boating accident on Chemong Lake off the shores of Curve Lake First Nation on October 18, 2020. Of the four people on a capsized fishing boat, one male is dead, another male is missing, one female has life-threatening injuries, and another female has minor injuries. (Photo courtesy of Maris Lubbock)
Police have recovered the body of a man who went missing following a boating accident early Sunday morning (October 18) on Chemong Lake.
At around 6:40 a.m. on October 18th, Peterborough County OPP and emergency crews were called to assist at a boating accident on Chemong Lake off the shores of Curve Lake First Nation.
A boat with four people onboard had capsized while fishing on Chemong Lake near Chemong Street South.
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Officers, with the assistance of community members, rescued a man and two women from the water but were unable to locate another man who had been in the boat.
The three people rescued from the water were transported to a local hospital. The man was pronounced deceased at hospital. Police later identified him as Wei Liu, 48, of Scarborough. One of the women sustained life-threatening injuries, and the other woman was treated for minor injuries.
Police conducted an extensive search for the missing man and recovered his body on Wednesday (October 21). Police have identified him as Lie Cao, 52, or Markham.
An OPP helicopter searching for a missing male after a boating accident on Chemong Lake off the shores of Curve Lake First Nation on October 18, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Maris Lubbock)
“The Peterborough County OPP thanks the community members of Curve Lake First Nation for their support and assistance during this tragic accident,” states a media release from the OPP.
Grammy award-winning record producer Greg Wells has launched the Don Skuce Memorial Music Collective to honour the memory of the late Don Skuce, pictured here at the now-closed Moondance Music in Peterborough in Feruary 2018. Skuce passed away in June 2018 away at the age of 66 after a long battle with an incurable cancer. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Peterborough native and Grammy award-winning record producer and musician Greg Wells has launched The Don Skuce Memorial Music Collective in support of Peterborough-area musicians.
The initiative is named in honour of Well’s friend, the late musician and guitar luthier Don Skuce who was the former owner of Ed’s Music Workshop. Skuce passed away on June 10, 2018 at the age of 66 after a long battle with an incurable cancer.
“The Don Skuce Memorial Music Collective will support local Peterborough musicians and songwriters by funding the recording of one song at producer James McKenty’s Peterborough recording studio,” according to an announcement on Wells’ Instagram on Sunday (October 18).
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Musicians, either solo singers or bands, can submit up to three simple song demos for consideration. A board of adjudicators comprising established Peterborough musicians led by Peterborough musician and songwriter John Crown will review the submissions, choose the song to be recorded, and determine the recording budget and all recording costs including additional hired musicians if needed. Wells will mix and master the finished recording in Los Angeles.
“There are no strings attached, no cost of any kind to the applicant, and all original ownership of the songwriting and the master recording will belong to the winning applicant,” the announcement states.
Three winners will be selected every year (one every four months), with the first winner to be announced in February 2021. Application proposals, including song demos, can be emailed to donskucemmc@gmail.com.
“Don Skuce had a wise, warm, and generous spirit who loved to support local musicians in their journey,” the announcement reads. “Don’s deep love of music creation will live on through the work of this Collective, and will support and document the musical output of the great city of Peterborough.”
Wells, who grew up in Peterborough, is a record producer, songwriter, musician, and audio engineer with songs on over 130 million albums sold, and streaming numbers in billions.
He has produced and written with John Legend, Adele, Rufus Wainwright, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams, Keith Urban, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Weezer, Aerosmith, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Count Basie Orchestra, and many more.
Greg Wells at his Rocket Carousel Studio in Los Angeles in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Greg Wells)
Wells has received three Grammy nominations, winning one in 2018 for best compilation soundtrack for visual media for the 2017 film The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron.
Police released this photo of a single-vehicle collision on Glamorgan Road in Haliburton County on October 16, 2020. 44-year-old Jeffrey Teatro of Haliburton later died in hospital from injuries he sustained in the collision. (OPP-supplied photo)
A Haliburton man has died following a single-vehicle collision in Haliburton County on Friday evening (October 16).
At around 7:50 p.m., police, fire, and paramedics responded to reports of a collision on Glamorgan Road in Highlands East township.
The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
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Haliburton Highlands OPP have identified the victim as 44-year-old Jeffrey Teatro of Haliburton.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled.
Glamorgan Road was closed for several hours while police investigated. Police say the cause of the collision is still under investigation.
The newly launched Lavender and Play Family Boutique and Studio in Peterborough is an innovative partnership between Rooted Lavender owner Sonja Martin and Play Café owner Sarah Susnar. Located at 1434 Chemong Road, Lavender and Play offers a variety of sustainable and socially responsible apparel, toys, puzzles, books and accessories, and toy subscriptions, as well as family support services and classes for moms and kids. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Local moms and their kids have reason to celebrate with the recent launch of Peterborough’s new Lavender and Play Family Boutique and Studio.
Lavender and Play is the result of a partnership between the owners of two family-focused businesses, Sonja Martin of Rooted Lavender and Sarah Susnar of Play Café. The two women have merged their two businesses under the new brand, which launched in September.
Located at 1434 Chemong Road, Lavender and Play offers a variety of sustainable and socially responsible apparel, toys, puzzles, books and accessories, a toy rental subscription with curated high-end toys and equipment, paper crafts for under $5, a wooden activity box subscription (available for 3, 6, or 12 months), as well as custom gift boxes.
Lavender and Play’s boutique and online store feature a thoughtfully curated collection of ethically made and environmentally friendly products made from natural materials as well as merchandise from 12 local makers and artisans, including watercolour prints, body and bath products, wooden and crochet toys, sensory tools, playdough, and much more. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Customers can also purchase items through Lavender and Play’s new online store at lavenderandplay.ca.
Lavender and Play also takes its services a notch further by specializing in postpartum doula support, yoga, and behavioural consultations.
A spacious studio hosts physically distanced family wellness classes such as parent and toddler yoga, mom and baby groups — where topics such as sleep, pelvic floor health and nutrition are covered — and postpartum workshops where moms can share triumphs and lighten the load when it all feels like things are too intense to manage. Some sessions are offered virtually.
Sarah Susnar, co-owner of Lavender and Play Family Boutique and Studio in Peterborough, previously operated Play Café for five years in Peterborough. She has worked as an early childhood educator for nine years and recently added birth and postpartum doula to her wheelhouse. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
The merging of the two businesses is a sign of resilience, agility, and creativity to survive the pandemic, explains Martin, who owned and operated her Rooted Lavender business for four years.
Last November, Play Café — which Susnar founded in 2015 — moved from Brookdale Plaza to a larger space further north on Chemong Road to accommodate its quickly growing business. Then in March, the café was forced to close its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Much of Play Café’s success had depended on drop-in customers as well as birthday parties, mom and baby groups, and family paint nights. Being forced to close took a crippling toll on Susnar’s business, according to Martin.
Lavender and Play’s spacious studio hosts physically distanced family wellness classes such as parent and toddler yoga, mom and baby groups, and postpartum workshops where moms can share triumphs and lighten the load when it all feels like things are too intense to manage. Some sessions are offered virtually. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
“The loss of revenue from the café’s services and the growing overhead costs were getting harder to manage,” Martin explains. “Sarah was closely watching other play-based cafés in different cities and noticed that they were either closing or pivoting to online retail.”
It left Susnar at a crossroads: either innovate or implode. So, over the summer, she approached Martin, who she had gotten to know well over the years while Martin was teaching part-time yoga, meditation, infant massage, and baby sign language classes at the café.
Susnar offered her an enticing business proposition: blend their complementary skills and open a kids’ boutique, coupled with family support services and classes for moms trying navigating the stages and challenges of parenthood.
Sonja Martin, co-owner of Lavender and Play Family Boutique and Studio in Peterborough, previously operated Rooted Lavender. A behaviour therapist with 25 years of practice under her belt, she’s also a registered yoga and meditation teacher, core confidence specialist, postpartum doula, La Leche League leader, and certified infant massage instructor. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
The merging of the two businesses made sense, with both women having vast experience in both child care and health and wellness.
Aside from running Play Café, Susnar worked as an early childhood educator for nine years and recently added birth and postpartum doula to her wheelhouse. Martin, a behaviour therapist, has 25 years of practice under her belt. She’s also a registered yoga and meditation teacher, core confidence specialist, postpartum doula, La Leche League leader, and certified infant massage instructor.
In an effort to remain true to Susnar’s vision when she opened Play Café five years ago, Martin says Lavender and Play will give mothers some much-needed stress relief, if only for a short time.
Lavender and Play’s new online store at lavenderandplay.ca offers curbside pick-up and items are delivered at no cost within Peterborough. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
“Parenting is hard and the coronavirus is adding an extra layer of stress on families,” Martin notes. “Sarah and I are moms and we understand how difficult it can be. It’s such a wonderful yet challenging time of your life — and you need support.”
The boutique and online store display a thoughtfully curated collection of ethically made and environmentally friendly products made from natural materials such as wood, felt, cork, and bamboo.
Both the physical and virtual stores are also stocked with merchandise created by 12 local makers and artisans, including watercolour prints, body and bath products, wooden and crochet toys, sensory tools, playdough, and much more.
Rooted Lavender’s Sonja Martin previously taught part-time yoga, meditation, infant massage, and baby sign language classes at Sarah Susnar’s Play Café. When Susnar decided it was time to reinvent her business because of the pandemic, she proposed to Martin that the two women blend their complementary skills and open a kids’ boutique, coupled with family support services and classes for moms trying navigating the stages and challenges of parenthood. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
“We painstakingly analyze every product that we add to the store,” Martin explains. “We want to be sure that each item meets a need for a child and is offered at a price point that parents can afford.”
Lavender and Play offers curbside pick-up and items are delivered at no cost within Peterborough.
Charming product offerings aside, Martin says Lavender and Play is all about delivering superior customer service with a personal touch. Both Martin and Susnar thrive on the one-on-one connections they have made with their customers, including those who have supported them since day one.
“Play Café’s customers have supported Sarah for five years,” Martin reflects. “And that has worked in our favour because they know the great customer service they’re going to continue to receive.”
Rooted Lavender and Play Café have merged under the new brand Lavender and Play Family Boutique and Studio. (Logo design: Laura Hervieux)
Lavender and Play’s grand opening takes place on Saturday, October 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1434 Chemong Road, Unit #1, in Peterborough. Visitors can take advantage of a few sales during the celebration.
Health and safety guidelines will be place to keep everyone safe, and masks will be mandatory to enter the store.
Lavender and Play Boutique and Family Studio is located at 1434 Chemong Road, Unit #1, in Peterborough. For more information, email lavenderandplay@gmail.com or visit lavenderandplay.ca, where you can learn more about their classes, register for a class, or purchase a product. You can also follow Lavender and Play Boutique and Family Studio on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This story was created in partnership with Lavender and Play Boutique and Family Studio. The support of local sponsors and local advertisers like Lavender and Play means kawarthaNOW can keep all of its content free and available to everyone with no paywall or registration required.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 805 new COVID-19 cases today, although this number includes cases from Toronto that should have been reported yesterday but were not due to a data upload error.
Most of the new cases are in Toronto (374), Peel (107), York (93), and Ottawa (70), with smaller increases in Durham (30), Halton (25), Waterloo (19), Hamilton (12), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (10), Middlesex-London (9), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (9), Brant County (8), Niagara (7), Simcoe Muskoka (6), and Windsor-Essex (6).
The remaining 19 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 8 reporting no cases at all. Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under the age of 40. With 682 more cases resolved, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 85.8%.
There have been 10 new deaths and 17 additional people have been hospitalized since yesterday, for a total of 278, with 5 more people admitted to ICUs and 6 more patients on ventilators. A total of 44,722 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased by 3,525 to 33,630.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, Peterborough is reporting new cases for the fourth day in a row. Today, there are 2 new cases in Peterborough, for a total of 4 active cases.
Reports are unavailable on weekends for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward counties.
There are currently 9 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 4 in Peterborough, 4 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 136 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (130 resolved with 2 deaths), 183 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (164 resolved with 32 deaths), 45 in Northumberland County (44 resolved with 1 death), 19 in Haliburton County (18 resolved with no deaths), and 65 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (56 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.
Province-wide, there have been 63,713 confirmed cases, an increase of 805 from yesterday (this number includes cases from Toronto that should have been reported yesterday), with 54,686 (85.8% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 682. There have been 3,041 deaths, an increase of 10 from yesterday, with 1,979 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 5 from yesterday. An additional 17 people have been hospitalized, with 5 more people admitted to ICUs and 6 more patients on ventilators. A total of 4,617,563 tests have been completed, an increase of 44,722 from yesterday, with 33,630 tests under investigation, a decrease of 3,525 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.
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: 136 (increase of 2) Active cases: 4 (increase of 2) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 130 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 32,850 (increase of 150) 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 16.
Confirmed positive: 247, including 183 in Kawartha Lakes, 45 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 226, including 164 in Kawartha Lakes, 44 in Northumberland, 18 in Haliburton (no change) Active cases: 1 (no change) 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. These numbers are from October 16.
Confirmed positive: 65 (increase of 2) Active cases: 4 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 56 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 42,542 (increase of 67) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 63,713 (increase of 805)* Resolved: 54,686 (increase of 682, 85.8% of all cases) Hospitalized: 278 (increase of 17) Hospitalized and in ICU: 72 (increase of 5) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 42 (increase of 6) Deaths: 3,041 (increase of 10) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,979 (increase of 5) Total tests completed: 4,617,563 (increase of 44,722) Tests under investigation: 33,630 (decrease of 3,525)
*Due to an upload error that has since been corrected, today’s numbers include cases from Toronto Public Health that should have been captured in yesterday’s count.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from September 16 – October 16, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from September 16 – October 16,2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announcing York Region will move into a modified Stage 2 during a media conference at Roche Canada in Mississauga on October 16, 2020. (CPAC screenshot)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 712 new COVID-19 cases today and, with York Region becoming the latest hotspot in the province, the Ontario government has announced that, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday (October 19), York Region will join Ottawa, Peel and Toronto public health regions in a modified Stage 2 for the next 28 days.
“This was not an easy decision to make,” Premier Doug Ford said during a media conference at Roche Canada in Mississauga on Friday (October 16). “I know this will be very, very difficult for many people to hear, but we can’t allow this virus to get into our long-term care homes. We need to protect our schools and communities. We need to keep performing vital surgeries in our hospitals. We need to stop the spread before things get worse. We need to avoid a full lockdown.”
York Region has reported an average of 79 new cases over each of the past 4 days, has a positivity rate near 2.8% (well above the provincial average), and has seen a doubling in the number of hospitalizations along with a significant jump in ICU admissions and ventilated patients.
Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (213), Peel (135), Ottawa (108), York (62), and Halton (46), with smaller increases in Durham (27), Hamilton (22), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (18), Middlesex-London (12), Windsor-Essex (12), Waterloo (12), Simcoe Muskoka (11), and Lambton (9). The remaining 21 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 9 reporting no cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 54% are among people under the age of 40. The positivity rate has decreased by 0.9% to 2% (this means that 2% of the tests that were performed on October 15 were positive for COVID-19). With 713 more cases resolved, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 85.8%.
There have been 8 new deaths and 8 additional people have been hospitalized since yesterday, for a total of 261, with 5 more people admitted to ICUs and 5 more patients on ventilators. A total of 38,507 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 841 to 37,155.
The number of new cases in Ontario schools today is 98, a decrease of 2 from yesterday, with 55 student cases, 12 staff cases, and 31 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 11 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 9 from yesterday, with 7 cases among children and 4 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there is another new case to report in Peterborough, for the third straight day in a row. However, an additional 2 cases have been resolved, leaving 2 active cases. There are also 2 new cases to report in Hastings and Prince Edward counties; however, an additional case has been resolved, leaving 4 active cases. There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, or Haliburton.
None of the new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 7 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 2 in Peterborough, 4 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 134 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (130 resolved with 2 deaths), 183 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (164 resolved with 32 deaths), 45 in Northumberland County (44 resolved with 1 death), 19 in Haliburton County (18 resolved with no deaths), and 65 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (56 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8
Province-wide, there have been 62,908 confirmed cases, an increase of 712 from yesterday, with 54,004 (85.8% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 713. There have been 3,031 deaths, an increase of 8 from yesterday, with 1,974 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 4 from yesterday. An additional 8 people have been hospitalized, with 5 more people admitted to ICUs and 5 more patients on ventilators. A total of 4,572,841 tests have been completed, an increase of 38,507 from yesterday, with 37,155 tests under investigation, an increase of 841 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.
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: 134 (increase of 1) Active cases: 2 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 130 (increase of 2) Total tests completed: Over 32,700 (increase of 150) 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.
Confirmed positive: 247, including 183 in Kawartha Lakes, 45 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 226, including 164 in Kawartha Lakes, 44 in Northumberland, 18 in Haliburton (no change) Active cases: 1 (no change) 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: 65 (increase of 2) Active cases: 4 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 56 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 42,542 (increase of 67) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 62,908 (increase of 712) Resolved: 54,004 (increase of 713, 85.8% of all cases) Hospitalized: 261 (increase of 8) Hospitalized and in ICU: 67 (increase of 5) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 36 (increase of 5) Deaths: 3,031 (increase of 9) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,974 (increase of 5) Total tests completed: 4,572,841 (increase of 38,507) Tests under investigation: 37,155 (increase of 841)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from September 15 – October 15, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from September 15 – October 15,2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
These face masks, branded with the Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market logo and produced by Madderhouse Textile Studios and the Newcomer Sewing Crew, are available for purchase at the market merchandise booth. The Peterborough Regional Farmers' Marke reeturns to its indoor winter location at Peterborough Square on October 17, 2020, with COVID-19 safety measures in place. (Photo: Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market)
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market is returning to its indoor winter location at Peterborough Square on Saturday (October 17), but it won’t be the same as last year due to the pandemic.
The indoor market’s COVID-19 safety measures, developed with Peterborough Public Health and Peterborough Square, include:
Directional traffic flows.
Physical distance between vendors.
Stanchions for managing lineups.
Designated dining area maintained by a dedicated staff member.
Hand washing and sanitizing stations.
Regularly cleaned and maintained ventilation system.
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In addition, all market attendees are required to wear face masks, except while eating in the designated dining area. People who have a health condition that prevents them from safely wearing a mask and children under two years of age are also exempt from wearing masks.
The market runs in the lower level of Peterborough Square every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information about the market’s COVID-19 health and safety measures for vendors and customers, read the COVID-19 Market Guidebook.
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