The Peterborough Police Service announced on Monday (July 20) that retired police service dog (PSD) Wolfe has passed away.

PSD Wolfe was donated by the Knights of Columbus and spent seven years working the streets of Peterborough with his friend and partner police constable (PC) Tim Fish.

“He was crazy tough, but was always great with kids,” PC Fish says in a police media release.

“We did so many school presentations, at all levels, including college and university,” PC Fish recalls. “We would never turn down anyone who wanted a picture or ask questions. He was the best. We always did Kids and Cops and Take Your Kid To Work Day. Every chance I had to show him off I did.”

PSD Wolfe retired from active duty in 2018 but remained a part of PC Fish’s life until his passing.

“Retirement was tough for Wolfe but he ended up loving it.” PC Fish says. “He was so amazing.”

PSD Wolfe received numerous accolades, including a Commanders Commendation in 2015 for Outstanding Police Work while arresting an armed suspect.

He was responsible for countless successful tracks and located approximately $10,000 cash, and over $20,000 in drugs during a search in Brookdale Plaza. He was also available as an invaluable support to all units, specifically front-line patrol officers and the Peterborough Police Service’s Emergency Response Team.

“PSD Wolfe will be missed,” states the police media release.

This story has been updated with an additional photo of Wolfe.

A crowdfunding campaign in support of Helen McCarthy, owner of KitCoffee Peterborough in downtown Peterborough, has raised more than $11,000 in 24 hours.

Last Wednesday (July 15), McCarthy severely broke both her ankles after an accident on a friend’s dock, requiring emergency surgery on both ankles.

“Helen is a beloved member of the Peterborough community and a loving mother to her beautiful three-year-old daughter Maggie who will be under the care of her co-parents during this difficult time,” writes Emily Amon, who organized the crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe. “This tragic incident comes after a previous emergency medical leave where Helen suffered a broken left leg in January.”

The surgery will require McCarthy to use a wheelchair until October, meaning she will have significant challenges running her business at 144 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough, which she opened last July.

“Helen is a strong, independent and positive force in this community, always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need,” Amon writes. “Her cafe is a community hub, supporting local farmers, producers and makers with diverse retail offerings from many other small businesses.”

“Helen has used her place of privilege as a downtown business owner to support both BLM and the Nogojiiwaanong Friendship Centre in recent months through personal campaigns. This community advocacy reflects a deep commitment to uplifting folks in need.”

The crowdfunding campaign is raising funds to help keep KitCoffee open while McCarthy cannot work, by paying employee wages, as well as help to pay for a wheelchair-accessible washroom and other necessary mobility adaptations at McCarthy’s home.

Funds may also be used for any unexpected physical therapy and home health care support costs.

The initial goal of the crowdfunding campaign of $10,000 was met and exceeded in less than 24 hours. As of the date of this story, $11,435 had been raised for McCarthy.

As for McCarthy herself, she writes on social media that she is “floored” by the support shown by the community.

To support McCarthy and KitCoffee, donate at gofundme.com/f/tphact-help-for-helen.

Peterborough Public Health announced on Monday (July 20) that face coverings will become mandatory for local residents in most indoor settings as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 1st.

After collaborating with local municipal leaders, Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra is invoking a directive under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to require people to wear a face covering in certain indoor public spaces.

“Under the directive, the person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall operate it in compliance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions on physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting,” reads a media release from Peterborough Public Health.

“The directive applies to all owners and operators of commercial establishments, public transit services, and commercial transportation services within the Peterborough Public Health catchment area.”

Peterborough Public Health’s catchment are includes the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, and Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations. Face masks have already been made mandatory in the health units surrounding Peterborough, including the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit serving Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Northumberland and the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health serving Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

“Although not conclusive, there is increasing scientific evidence that wearing a face covering can help reduce COVID-19 transmission,” says Dr. Salvaterra. “This measure will help both residents and visitors to our area and adds to a clear and consistent regionalized approach to mandatory face coverings across the Central Ontario region, especially as we move into Stage 3 of our restart.”

Peterborough Public Health is using existing networks to communicate to owners and operators directly. The directive will be enacted and enforced in good faith and will be primarily used as a means to educate people on mandatory mask use in enclosed public spaces.

“We have heard directly from many local residents and community partners that a clear mandatory mask directive is important to them to keep our community safe,” says Dr. Salvaterra. “Socializing and normalizing mask use in enclosed public places will help protect others, especially our most vulnerable residents.”

Dr. Salvaterra adds it is important not to stigmatize those who are unable to wear face coverings for medical reasons.

“Being kind, patient and respectful to others is just as important as any infection control measure as we also must remember to support each other’s mental health during the pandemic,” she says.

As with mask-wearing directives from other public health units, some people will not be required to wear a face covering. According to the Peterborough Public Health directive, a person will be exempt from wearing a face covering if:

• The person is a child under the age of two years, or is a child under the age of five years either chronologically or developmentally and he or she refuses to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver
• The person is incapacitated and unable to remove their face covering without assistance
• Wearing a face covering would inhibit the person’s ability to breathe such as, but not limited to, during athletic, fitness or physical activity or any activity that would preclude its use (such as swimming)
• For any other medical reason, the person cannot safely wear a face covering such as, but not limited to, respiratory disease, cognitive difficulties or difficulties in hearing or processing information
• For any religious reason, the person cannot wear a face covering.

The public health directive will remain in place until provincial emergency orders expire, which were recently extended until July 29th.

However, on July 7th, the Government of Ontario introduced the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. If passed, the legislation will ensure emergency orders remain in place to address the threat of COVID-19 once the province’s state of emergency has has ended. The government continues to review emergency orders currently in place to determine when and if they can be safely eased or lifted.

PDF – Peterborough Public Health Directive on Mandatory Face Coverings
Peterborough Public Health Directive on Mandatory Face Coverings

This story has been updated to include face covering exemptions, links to the Peterborough Public Health website for additional details, and a copy of the directive.

kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.

There are no new cases to report today in Peterborough, for the 29th day in a row. The last positive case was reported on June 20 and all cases are resolved.

For the second day in a row, Ontario has seen a small spike in new cases at 164 (166 cases were reported yesterday). These two days represent the largest increase in new cases in more than a week. Ontario health minister Christine Elliott says 28 of Ontario’s 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, and that 37 of today’s cases are from Windsor-Essex with 48 from Peel region.

Health unit reports for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward are not available on weekends. The next reports will be available on July 20.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 172 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (151 are resolved), 24 in Northumberland County (21 resolved), 10 in Haliburton County (10 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (37 resolved).

There has been a total of 39 deaths since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

Province-wide, there have been 37,604 confirmed cases, an increase of 164 from yesterday’s report, with 33,407 (88.8% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 113. There have been 2,751 deaths, an increase of 3 from yesterday, with 1,731 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, a decrease of 1 (no explanation is provided for the decrease). A total of 1,866,222 tests have been completed, an increase of 26,890 from yesterday, with 18,081 tests under investigation, a decrease of 6,470.

This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.

We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.

Peterborough Public Health

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

Confirmed positive: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20)
Active cases: 0 (no change)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 93 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 20,200 (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 does not provide reports on weekends. Effective July 30th, the health unit will only be updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 17; the next report will be available on July 20.

Confirmed positive: 206, including 172 in Kawartha Lakes, 24 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 in Northumberland)*
Hospitalizations: 14 (no change)
Deaths: 32 (no change)
Resolved: 182, including 151 in Kawartha Lakes, 21 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (decrease of 1)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

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

The health unit is now only updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 17; the next report will be available on July 20.

Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18)
Probable cases: 181 (no change)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change)
Recovered: 37 (no change)
Total tests completed: 14,531 (increase of 513)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 37,604 (increase of 164)
Resolved: 33,407 (increase of 113, 88.8% of all cases are resolved)
Hospitalized: 101 (decrease of 4)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 34 (increase of 1)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 23 (increase of 1)
Deaths: 2,751 (increase of 3)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,731 (decrease of 1, 62.9% of all deaths)*
Total tests completed 1,866,222 (increase of 26,890)
Tests under investigation: 18,081 (decrease of 6,470)

*No explanation is provided for the decrease in deaths.

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

Ten people have been injured — one seriously — following a three-vehicle collision west of Omemee on Saturday night (July 18), according to a media release from Kawartha Lakes Police Service.

Just before 10 p.m., a vehicle travelling southbound on Heights Road collided with a northbound vehicle. A third southbound then struck the two vehicles.

Nine occupants of the vehicles were taken to local hospitals where they were treated for their injuries and then released.

A tenth person sustained serious injuries and was transported to a Toronto-area hospital.

Heights Road was closed Sunday (July 19) between Crosswind Road and Mount Horeb Road while Kawartha Lakes police and members of the OPP investigated the collision.