kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 59 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 114 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 34 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
That’s an increase of 2 cases from yesterday’s report, with 1 additional case in Peterborough and 1 additional case in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There have been 35 deaths, with no increase in deaths from yesterday’s report. The last reported death was in Peterborough on Sunday, April 12th.
Province-wide, there are 11,735 confirmed cases, an increase of 551 from yesterday’s report, and 622 deaths, an increase of 38 from yesterday’s report. A total of 174,170 tests have been completed, an increase of 9,330 from yesterday’s report, with 5,806 cases under investigation.
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 hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 59 (increase of 1 from April 20) Confirmed negative: 1,613 (increase of 98 from April 20) Results pending: 360 (no change from April 20) Deaths: 1 (no change from April 20) Resolved: 36 (increase of 5 from April 20) Total tests completed: 2,032 (increase of 99 from April 20) Institutional Outbreaks: St. Joseph’s at Fleming*
*Number of cases not reported.
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.
Confirmed positive: 134, including 114 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (no change from April 20) Hospitalizations: 8 (decrease of 1 from April 20) Deaths: 33, including 29 in Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (no change from April 20) Resolved: 97* Institutional Outbreaks: Pinecrest Nursing Home, Ross Memorial Hospital** (no change from April 20)
*Health unit is now reporting resolved cases. **Number of cases not reported.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 34 (increase of 1 from April 20) Probable cases: 245 (increase of 6 from April 20) Deaths: 1 Institutional Outbreaks: Hastings Manor (Belleville)*. Outbreak at Hallowell House (Picton) declared over April 20.
*Number of cases not reported.
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 11,735 (increase of 551 from April 20) Hospitalized: 859 (increase of 57 from April 20) Hospitalized and in ICU: 250 (increase of 3 from April 20) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 194 (increase of 1 from April 20) Deaths: 622 (increase of 38 from April 20) Total tests completed 174,170 (increase of 9,330 from April 20) Tests under investigation: 5,546 (increase of 1,747 from April 20) Resolved: 5,806 (increase of 291 from April 20)
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario by public health unit, January 15 – April 20, 2020. (Graphic: Public Health Ontario)
The Peterborough Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing person 25-year-old Anjelica Morton.
She was last seen on Thursday, April 16th in the area of Ford Street in the City of Peterborough.
Morton is 5’10” tall and 135 lbs. with blue eyes and blonde hair. She has “Nana” tattooed on her left wrist, with another tattoo behind her left shoulder, and has piercings in her nose, lip, and right eyebrow.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.stopcrimehere.ca.
Ken Pierce and Rolf Joss of Feed The Need Havelock in a Facebook video encouraging others to do something nice for somebody as they prepare free meals at Havelock Lions Club. The two men have been preparing the meals every weekend in April and, with the help of volunteers, delivering them to people in need in Havelock, Norwood, and Campbellford. (Screenshot)
Everyone knows workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are heroes, but kawarthaNOW also wants to give a quick shout-out to those unsung heroes: volunteers in communities across the Kawarthas who are humbly working to make life better for their fellow residents.
Two of these unsung heroes are Rolf Joss and Ken Pierce of Feed The Need Havelock.
Over the past few weeks, Rolf and Ken have been cooking more than 65 free meals every weekend for people in need. With the help of other volunteers, they identify those who need the meals and deliver them to homes in Havelock, Norwood, and Campbellford.
VIDEO: Ken Pierce and Rolf Joss of Feed The Need Havelock
Hello everyone. Thanks for your support making it possible for Feed the Need Havelock to continue our free meal service. I would like to thank Ken Pierce, Orllyn Loney, Yvonne Prouty, Don Radnor, Ruth Anne Radnor and all the volunteers plus the Havelock Lions Club – Ontario and Norwood Pentecostal Church for use of their Havelock Centre facilities that make this possible. I would especially like to thank everyone for their generous donations that make it possible to continue this every week. Should you wish to make a donation, e transfers may be sent to feedtheneedhavelock@gmail.com thanks in advance for your consideration. Stay safe take care and know that you are not alone. God bless.
Rolf and Ken aren’t looking for recognition for their efforts. kawarthaNOW only found out about what the two men are doing when we received an email from volunteer Yvonne Prouty, one of several people helping with the effort. Others include Orllyn Loney, Don Radnor, Ruth Anne Radnor, and more, as well as those who are donating funds and more to the cause.
The Havelock Lions Club and Norwood Pentecostal Church have also made their facilities available to Rolf and Ken for meal preparation.
“Feeding the need is not all about food,”, Ken says in a Facebook video, while the two men were preparing mac and cheese at Havelock Lions Club on Good Friday.
Vegetable rice pilaf with diced ham, one of the free meals prepared for people in need by Rolf Joss and Ken Pierce of Feed The Need Havelock. (Photo: Rolf Joss / Facebook)
“There’s all kinds of needs out there — everyone has a need,” he says. “Pick up the phone, call a friend, call family, do whatever you can do. Everybody can do something … whether you’re cooking, whether you’re delivering, whether you’re taking medicine, there’s lots of need out there.”
“Just do something nice for somebody that you wouldn’t normally do it for,” Rolf adds — a perfect message for National Volunteer Week.
If you want to donate or volunteer for Feed The Need Havelock, or if you know someone in the Havelock area who needs a meal, email feedtheneedhavelock@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and this week is also National Volunteer Week. In 2019, volunteers with Peterborough GreenUP's Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood program planted more than 1,200 square metres of gardens, including native species of plants that have a low-water need. (Photo: GreenUP)
Wednesday (April 22) marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and this week is also National Volunteer Week.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Leif Einarson, Communications and Marketing Co-ordinator at GreenUP.
We have a lot to reflect upon and many people to recognize during this global pandemic and the ongoing climate emergency.
At the end of this article I share some recommendations about how to celebrate Earth Day during COVID-19, but I want to begin by recognizing the importance of volunteers during this time of crisis.
It’s time to applaud Canada’s volunteers
“Volunteers work year-round to address critical social, economic, and environmental issues and the generosity is only amplified during floods, forest fires, and public health emergencies,” says Paula Speevak, president and CEO of Volunteer Canada.
“This year, we want to shine the spotlight on those volunteering to support essential services during this public health crisis, and to salute those who help by staying home to protect themselves and their communities.”
April 19-20, 2020 is National Volunteer Week. This year’s annual recognition of Canada’s 13 million volunteers has special significance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including volunteer efforts to create personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers. (Graphic: Volunteer Canada)
Every year approximately 12.7 million volunteers contribute over $55 billion per year to the Canadian economy, according to Volunteer Canada. In Peterborough, volunteers are helping fight COVID-19 by sewing thousands of masks and organizing food drives.
For example, a little over a month ago the shelves at Kawartha Food Share started to look empty. Approximately 9,000 community members depend on Kawartha Food Share and would be unable to stay healthy and stay home during COVID-19 without that support.
To address that urgent need, Megan Murphy led more than one hundred volunteers who gathered more than 22,000 pounds of donated food as part of the “Spare a Square” porch food drive. On behalf of everyone at GreenUP, thank you for your remarkable work making the fight against COVID-19 sustainable for some of our most vulnerable community members.
It’s National Volunteer Week, a time to recognize the many people who contribute their time and talents to make the world a better place. Volunteer efforts have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the work of volunteer drivers who collected more than 23,000 pounds of donated food for Kawartha Food Share during the March 23, 2020 “Spare A Square” porch food drive in Peterborough. The event was also organized by volunteers. (Photo: Kawartha Food Share)
If you are in a position to help, please consider donating to Kawartha Food Share at kawarthafoodshare.com or helping with the donation requests listed on the Peterborough Regional Health Centre website at prhc.on.ca.
To celebrate National Volunteer Week, everyone at GreenUP would also like to recognize the amazing volunteers who contributed to the remarkable success of our programs and projects in 2019.
“Volunteers give our community roots,” says Heather Ray, manager of water programs at GreenUP. “In 2019 the Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood program planted over 1,200 square metres of gardens. Volunteers made that possible by getting dirty, digging, planting, watering, documenting, and most importantly smiling together. It is not merely the gardens that grow, but also the shared knowledge that is exchanged between volunteers, staff, local businesses, and additional community members.”
In seems like a lifetime ago, but in fall 2019 volunteers helped depave the boulevard outside the GreenUP Store & Resource Centre. “We had such a great time,” shares Hannah McFarlane, who has volunteered at several Depave Paradise projects. “We’re all feeling like we can do anything together now that we’ve done that!” (Photo: GreenUP)
“I am so grateful for the amazing volunteer efforts of teachers, school administrators, parents, and student leaders who support Active School Travel PTBO,” adds Lindsay Stroud, Manager of Transportation and Urban Design at GreenUP. “Without these volunteers our active school travel programs could not have engaged over 7,000 participants in 2019.”
“GreenUP Ecology Park was built by the strong support of volunteers from our community,” observes Vern Bastable, manager of Ecology Park. “During my years at Ecology Park we have had a number of spectacular volunteers. I also want to express special appreciation for the GreenUP staff, and their families and friends, who volunteer so much of their time to Ecology Park. The place is magical, but it is the people who make it sparkle.”
Dedicated volunteers, board members, committee members, and advocates have helped GreenUP accomplish so much over the years. This week and every week, we thank you.
How you can safely celebrate Earth Day this year
While there are no community clean-up events during April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still do your part to reduce waste and fight climate change, such as by avoiding single-use plastic products whenever possible. (Photo: Earth Day Network)
During COVID-19, GreenUP is encouraging everyone to celebrate volunteers and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by following the instructions of Peterborough Public Health. Stay home as much as you can. Practice physical distancing. Wash your hands properly. If you must go out, wear a mask.
I am sad to say that these measures mean there are no Earth Day community clean-up events, but learning how to live in more healthy and sustainable ways is not cancelled. In fact, some sustainability tips and tricks can be quite helpful during COVID-19.
To celebrate Earth Day during COVID-19, GreenUP encourages two things. First, if you are in a position to help essential workers, healthcare workers, and the more vulnerable individuals in our community during COVID-19, please do so. The more we all work together to get through this, the more sustainable our collective efforts will be.
Second, consider celebrating Earth Day everyday by reflecting on your own personal choices and these four categories of waste reduction as you spend more time at home.
1. Consider choices that support a circular economy (re-using) instead of a linear economy (single-use only)
This may seem tricky during COVID-19. For example, we need to respect that many grocery stores are prohibiting re-usable grocery bags and re-fillable containers in order to protect front-line workers and other shoppers from the spread of COVID-19.
Instead, during COVID-19 look for ways to shift away from ownership and towards access. For example, instead of thinking of Amazon as your go-to for purchases and deliveries, consider alternatives like accessing e-books and streaming services through the Peterborough Public Library.
Also, try to re-use plastics and, before recycling them, ensure they are clean and properly sorted according to local requirements. You can learn more at plasticactioncentre.ca.
2. Try some sustainable approaches to maintaining your wardrobe and textiles
Peterborough’s Madderhouse Textile Studios owner Leslie Menagh with some of the donated fabric to make headbands and caps for front-line healthcare workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The New Canadians Centre’s sewing collective is also involved in the project, as is Repair Cafe Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
If you want to repurpose fabrics in your stash, Madderhouse Textiles Studios, in partnership with the New Canadian Centre and Repair Cafe Peterborough, is accepting fabric donations so that local volunteers can sew caps and masks. For more information, visit madderhouse.com/volunteer.
Textiles Tuesday is a Waste Reduction Week in Canada awareness initiative that encourages repairing, repurposing, and donating clothing. For more information, including textile resources, visit wrwcanada.com. Editor’s note: Hold on to any textiles you want to donate, as charities are not accepting donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Reduce electronic waste
Many of us are relying on electronic devices to work or learn from home during COVID-19.
If you need something, reach out to reBOOT Canada for a repair or a refurbished product before considering a new product.
Tyler Scott, Chef at Rare restaurant in downtown Peterborough, uses a whiteboard for better grocery and menu planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Scott)
Many people are now cooking more at home and reducing shopping trip frequency.
Read our recent article about grocery planning during COVID-19 for tips and tricks that save food and save money.
We are already facing many challenges because of COVID-19. This year it may not be healthy for you to feel pressured to rise to multiple challenges for Earth Day. Instead, let’s work together to find solutions and make life at home during this difficult time more sustainable for us and for the environment.
If you are looking for more tips and ideas, or have some of your own to share, please find us @PtboGreenUP on social media.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire Kawarthas region for strong and gusty winds on Tuesday afternoon and evening (April 21).
In the wake of a sharp Arctic cold front that blasted across the region in the morning, west winds with frequent gusts of 70 km/h will occur on Tuesday.
A few gusts to 80 km/h are possible on Tuesday afternoon. These winds are strong enough to cause isolated power outages.
Temperatures will drop to zero on Tuesday afternoon and fall to -3°C with a wind chill of -10°C overnight.
There’s also a 60 per cent chance of flurries on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 58 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 114 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 33 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
That’s an increase of 5 cases from yesterday’s report, with 3 additional cases in Kawartha Lakes and 2 additional cases in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There have been 35 deaths, with no increase in deaths from yesterday’s report. The last reported death was in Peterborough on Sunday, April 12th.
Province-wide, there are 11,184 confirmed cases, an increase of 606 from yesterday’s report, and 584 deaths, an increase of 31 from yesterday’s report. A total of 164,840 tests have been completed, an increase of 8,743 from yesterday’s report, with 3,799 cases under investigation.
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 hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 58 (no change from April 19) Confirmed negative: 1,515 (increase of 68 from April 19) Results pending: 360 (increase of 34 from April 19) Deaths: 1 (no change from April 19) Resolved: 32 (increase of 1 from April 19) Institutional Outbreaks: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, St. Joseph’s at Fleming, Riverview Manor* (no change from April 19)
*Number of cases not reported.
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.
Confirmed positive: 134, including 114 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (increase of 3 from April 19) Hospitalizations: 9 (no change from April 19) Deaths: 33, including 29 in Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (no change from April 19) Institutional Outbreaks: Pinecrest Nursing Home, Ross Memorial Hospital* (no change from April 19)
**Number of cases not reported.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 33 (increase of 2 from April 19) Probable cases: 239 (decrease of 2 from April 19) Deaths: 1 Institutional Outbreaks: Hastings Manor (Belleville)*. Outbreak at Hallowell House (Picton) declared over April 20.
**Number of cases not reported.
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 11,184 (increase of 606 from April 19) Hospitalized: 802 (decrease of 7 from April 19) Hospitalized and in ICU: 247 (no change from April 19) Hospitalized and in ICU with ventilator: 193 (decrease of 3 from April 19) Deaths: 584 (increase of 31 from April 19) Total tests completed 164,840 (increase of 8,743 from April 19) Tests under investigation: 3,799 (decrease of 1,937 from April 19) Resolved: 5,515 (increase of 306 from April 19)
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario by public health unit, January 15 – April 19, 2020. (Graphic: Public Health Ontario)
Two staff members at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay have tested positive for COVID-19.
The hospital began increased surveillance and testing of all patients and staff, after an inpatient on the hospital’s CCP1 (Continuing Care Program) unit tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday (April 17).
Following the positive result, the hospital declared a COVID-19 outbreak — defined as one or more positive cases — and is testing all staff and physicians who work on the unit, as well anyone who was in close contact with the patient.
So far, testing has revealed the two staff members who have COVID-19. The two individuals are self-isolating and will require negative testing before returning to work.
The hospital’s contact tracing also identified two patients recently discharged from the unit to long-term care. These patients were tested for COVID-19 prior to their discharge with negative results and, in alignment with current public health directives, were placed in 14-day isolation at the homes.
The hospital has closed the CCP1 unit to all visitors and admissions. All hospital staff and physicians, including the team on the unit, are being required to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and wear appropriate personal protective equipment in the course of their work.
Staff are also screened at the entrance each day, including having their temperature taken.
As well as the patient who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 17, another patient is being treated for COVID-19 at the hospital, but this case is unrelated to the outbreak.
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).(Photo: PRHC)
Testing for COVID-19 at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has increased considerably over the past week with more than 100 people now being tested daily — a considerable increase from the 20 to 40 people being tested just a week ago.
During a media briefing held Monday morning (April 20), Dr. Lynn Mikula, the hospital’s vice-president, chief medical executive and chief of staff, said the increase is “due to the fact we have opened testing up to more people” at the hospital’s COVID-19 assessment centre.
“With provincial guidance, last week we opened up the testing criteria considerably,” says Dr. Mikula, noting that more than 1,700 tests have been done at the hospital to date.
“We’re now testing people with even very mild symptoms and we’re not asking people to first go through the online screening tool. They can call the assessment centre directly and then come in for an appointment.”
An appointment with the PRHC assessment centre can be made by calling 705-876-5086. The centre is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, PRHC continues to treat two COVID-19 patients in its intensive care unit. Dr. Mikula says she is unable to comment on their clinical condition.
Four hospital staff members who earlier tested positive continue to self-isolate at home.
Dr. Mikula also announced the formation of a new COVID-19 Mobile Assessment Plus Response Team that is working with local long-term care homes, providing clinical assessment and testing for mildly symptomatic residents where they reside as well as provide education on infection prevention and control practices.
As for those who need to visit the hospital’s emergency department for non COVID-related treatment, Dr. Mikula says “an unfortunate trend” is being seen.
“Some people seem to be avoiding calling their doctor’s office or coming to the emergency room for care. Waiting too long for care can have negative consequences. Both the hospital and your GP (General Practitioner) are open and have taken steps to make sure it is safe for you to obtain medical care. If you need to see a doctor, please do so.”
While Dr. Mikula was delivering the briefing, Ontario’s public health officials released new modelling projections showing that the community spread of COVID-19 in Ontario appears to have peaked — although the number of cases in long-term care homes continues to climb, with half of Ontario’s COVID-19 deaths to date occurring in the homes.
As of Monday morning (April 20), Peterborough Public Health reported a total of 56 positive COVID-19 cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha. However, 326 test results are still pending.
There has been one local COVID-19 related death: Peterborough photographer and retired psychologist Dr. George Dimitroff, 68, died on Sunday, April 12th at PRHC.
Across Ontario, again as of Monday morning (April 20), the total number of positive cases stood at 11,184 with 5,515 of those resolved and 584 deaths linked to COVID-19. A total of 164,840 people have been tested with results awaited on 3,799 tests.
Dr. Steini Brown, dean of the University of Toronto's public health department, releases new modelling projections for the province on April 20, 2020. (Photo: Premier of Ontario / YouTube)
Ontario’s public health officials have announced both good and bad news about the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province, during a technical briefing on Monday (April 20).
The briefing was presented by Dr. Steini Brown, dean of the University of Toronto’s public health department, Ontario Health president and CEO Matthew Anderson, and associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe.
The good news is that the community spread of COVID-19 in Ontario appears to have peaked and is coming under control, as a result of public health interventions that were put in place.
“We’re hoping to see a reduction in cases as we go along,” Dr. Brown said, adding that the number of community deaths are expected to decrease.
Modelling projections released by the Ontario government on April 3rd had projected the peak happening in May, with 80,000 cases by the end of April.
With the peak now taking place in April, the total number of cases for the span of the outbreak is now expected to be less than 20,000 by the end of April.
The rate of growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations has also slowed, while the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units has remained relatively constant over the past week.
VIDEO: Dr. Steini Brown – COVID-19 technical briefing – April 20 2020
If current measures restricting spread of the disease remain in place, officials say Ontario appears to be tracking toward a “best case” scenario similar to the experience of South Korea.
The bad news is that the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care and other congregate settings such as homeless shelters seems to be growing.
Half of the deaths in Ontario have occurred in long-term care facilities, Dr. Brown said.
Dr. Yaffe said Ontario is urgently implementing its COVID-19 action plan for protecting long-term care homes, which includes: aggressive testing, screening and surveillance; managing outbreaks and spread of the disease; and growing the long-term care workforce by redeploying staff from hospitals and home care and community care as well as recruitment.
Cumulative cases of COVID-19 cases among residents and staff of long-term care facilities and resident deaths. Unlike the flattening of the curve for community spread of COVID-19, the curves continue to climb for the spread of the virus in congregate settings. (Graphic: Ontario Ministry of Health)
Dr. Yaffe added that implementation of enhanced public health measures will continue. She stressed that everyone needs to stay home as much as possible and maintain physical distancing to ensure the provincecontinues to stop the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve.
“These actions are making a big difference,” Dr. Yaffe said. “You need to stay the course and stay strong to save lives. Thank you all very much for your work in helping us keep this terrible infection from spreading more.”
In response to a media question on when we will be able to go back to normal life, Dr. Yaffe said there is no clear answer.
“When we do start to lift some of the measures, it will not be a light switch, on-off,” she said. “It will be very gradual, and we’ll have to measure the impact of each change as we make it, and make sure that we’re not seeing more infections as we lift it. Because once we lift it, it will be very hard to go back.”
She added that the current data reflects infections that happened two or three weeks ago, because of the virus’s incubation period of up to 14 days.
“We have to give it time,” she said. “People really have to stay the course for now.”
This story has been updated to include a video of Dr. Steini Brown speaking about the progress of COVID-19 in Ontario.
The Peterborough Police Service is encouraging local business owners to provide police with contact information.
Because only essential businesses are allowed to remain open during Ontario’s state of emergency, some local businesses are closed and vacant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police are asking businesses to complete an online form at peterboroughpolice.com/request/business-property/ to provide information about the business, its location, whether it is currently vacant, and key-holder contact information.
The police will use this information if they need to gain access to the business while it is vacant or closed. The information is only for police use and will be kept confidential.
Businesses can update the information as required by returning to the online form later.
Police are also offering the following crime prevention tips for local businesses that have shut down because of the pandemic:
Keep the lights on
Remove all cash and receipts
Do NOT leave any valuables visible or accessible
All safe and registers/tills should be emptied and moved offsite for safe storage
Keep all cash tills and drawers empty and open to show that there is nothing in them
Have all ATMs emptied and moved off-site
Remove all alcohol products from restaurant/bar areas and move them to a secure storage area (no alcohol should be left visible from the outside)
Consider posting “no cash or valuables on-premises” signage
Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings for cleaners and delivery services
Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the time that this is done to discourage establishing a pattern)
For more information or for any questions, contact the Peterborough Police Service Communications Centre at 705-876-1122 ext. 225.
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