Signs point to the main entrances at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, including the Emergency Department. (Photo: PRHC)
Three healthcare workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) have tested positive for COVID-19, the hospital has announced.
During a media briefing held Thursday afternoon (April 9), Dr. Lynn Mikula, the hospital’s vice-president, chief medical executive, and chief of staff, said an inpatient unit was placed on outbreak precaution due to hospital-acquired transmission of COVID-19, due to staff-to-staff transmission.
All three of the workers who have tested positive have mild symptoms and are self-isolating at home.
“Evidence suggests that the index case was related to community transmission of COVID-19,” Dr. Mikula said. An “index case” is the first case in group of related cases.
She said the hospital has no information on where the index case worker was infected by the virus, but it could have been any time during their day-to-day routine.
“Any close contacts of these three individuals have been identified and have been instructed to take appropriate precautions. All patients on the unit are being closely monitored for symptoms.”
Dr. Mikula said all staff continue to adhere closely to appropriate guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
“We do not currently have evidence of staff-to-patient transmission, nor of patient-to-staff transmission,” Dr. Mikula said.
Dr. Mikula said PRHC is continuing to actively screen all staff for symptoms of COVID-19 daily as they come into work.
“I want to emphasize that all PRHC staff take infection control precautions very seriously,” Dr. Mikula added. The outbreak was detected because of the hospital’s intense and active system for testing healthcare workers, she said, with a low threshold for testing healthcare workers.
“PRHC remains a safe place to come for care, and I want to express my thanks for the hard work of all our front-line healthcare workers through this pandemic,” she said.
All three staff members who tested positive work in a patient-care role in the same inpatient unit. Dr. Makula stressed all three workers were wearing appropriate PPE during all patient-care interactions, and there is no evidence the virus was transmitted to any patient.
The entire unit has been placed on outbreak precaution, which includes closing the unit to new admissions as much as possible and implementing enhanced screening and surveillance for everyone on that unit, including anyone who had close contact with the affected workers.
While no other workers have exhibited any symptoms, 27 staff members who work on that unit have been tested “out of an abundance of caution”, Dr. Makula said.
Dr. Makula said that staff are closely screened for symptoms when they arrive at work and, if they show any symptoms, they are immediately sent home. In this case, one worker developed very mild symptoms while at work and went home. The other two staff developed symptoms later while at home and did not come into work.
Dr. Makula said there was a period of less than 48 hours between identifying the index case and other two cases.
Currently, three positive COVID-19 patients (not the healthcare workers) are being treated at PRHC in the intensive care unit while another 24 patients are awaiting the results of testing.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressing Canadians on April 8, 2020 about the projections of between 11,000 to 22,000 deaths in Canada from the COVID-19 pandemic by summer 2020. (Photo: CPAC)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Canadians on Thursday (April 9) about the best-case scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, which would see between one and two million Canadians infected by the novel coronavirus and between 11,000 to 22,000 deaths by the summer.
The modelling projections were released earlier on Thursday morning by the deputy minister of health for Canada Dr. Stephen Lucas, chief public health officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam, and deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo.
And the best-case scenario for “success” is only for the first wave of the pandemic, and assumes the strongest control measures are in place to contain the spread of the virus.
“We’re at a fork in the road, between the best and the worst possible outcomes,” Trudeau said. “The best possible outcome is no easy path for any of us. The initial peak — the top of the curve — maybe in late spring, with the end of the first wave in the summer.”
The COVID-19 situation in Canada as of April 8, 2020. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
“As Dr. Tam explained, there will likely be smaller outbreaks for a number of months after that,” Trudeau added. “This will be the new normal — until a vaccine is developed. But as we saw, that is so much better than we could face if we do not rise to the challenge of this generation.”
“The path we take is up to us. It depends on what each of us does right now. It will take months of continued, determined effort.”
Trudeau urged Canadians to keep practising physical distancing, staying home, and washing our hands to reduce the number of possible deaths.
The short-term trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
Earlier in the morning, public health officials had provided three scenarios — one with no controls, one with weaker controls (to delay and reduce the peak), and one with stronger controls — to estimate the range of the Canadian population infected and the potential duration of the pandemic.
According to these projections, strong control measures will result in between one and 10 per cent of the Canadian population being infected with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
With 2.5 per cent of Canada’s population infected, there would be 934,000 cases of COVID-19, with 73,000 hospitalizations, 23,000 patients in intensive care units (ICUs), and 11,000 deaths. With five per cent of the population infected, cases would rise to 1,879,000, with 146,000 hospitalizations, 46,000 patients in ICUs, and 22,000 deaths.
Cumulative deaths under different scenarios over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
In the short term, public health officials are projecting 22,580 to 31,850 cases by next Thursday (April 16), with between 500 and 700 deaths.
Strong control measures include a high degree of physical distancing, along with a high percentage of Canadians with COVID-19 been traced (as well as their contacts) and isolated or quarantined. With strong control measures, the first wave of the pandemic would peak in early summer 2020.
Weaker controls — with a low degree of physical distancing and a low percentage of case and contact tracing and isolation — would result in 25 to 50 per cent of Canadians being infected, with the first wave of the pandemic peaking in fall. With weaker controls, as many as 200,000 Canadians would die from COVID-19.
The impact of public health measures on the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
With no controls, 70 to 80 per cent of the Canadian population would be infected, with the first wave of the peaking in late summer or early fall. With no controls, as many as 300,000 Canadians would lose their lives due to COVID-19.
Even under the best-case scenario, where the first wave of the pandemic peaks in early summer, continued public health measures will be required over time to manage future waves.
This include physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, restrictions on international and domestic travel, case detection and isolation, and quarantine of contacts and incoming travellers.
The goal of public health measures is to cause the pandemic to eventually die out in Canada. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
Public health officials pointed out that Canada is at an earlier stage of the COVID-19 pandemic than some other countries, and has an opportunity now to control the spread of the virus and prepare the health system, which includes equipping hospitals to provide care for the more severe cases of COVID-19, increasing bed and clinic capacity for all COVID-19 patients, and expanding the health workforce.
The federal models contain inherent limitations. As simulations, they do not predict what will happen, but what might happen. They use both forecasting models (using data to estimate how many new cases might be expected in the coming week) and dynamic models (showing how the pandemic might unfold over the coming months).
In this week's GreenUP column, Tyler Scott, chef and co-owner of Rare in downtown Peterborough, provides some tips on how to make the best use of ingredients in your kitchen at home. Here he's pictured retrieving some striploin from his smoker. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rare and a number of other local restaurants have established safe food delivery and takeout options. (Photo: Rare / Facebook)
Every month, GreenUP features a zero waste tip or product and a giveaway contest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all need some help to make our food buying more efficient and less wasteful.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Kristen LaRocque, Coordinator of the GreenUP Store & Resource Centre.
With that in mind, this month’s zero waste feature is all about tips, tricks, and resources to help you plan meals more effectively, reduce food waste, and shop less frequently.
On the GreenUP website, we are also running a giveaway contest to win a variety pack of Abeego Beeswax Food Wraps.
Leftovers first
GreenUP’s zero waste feature and giveaway for April is Abeego beeswax food wraps, which are an environmentally friendly replacement for plastic wrap. The product is great for covering a bowl of leftovers and it is also ideal for preserving cut avocados, peppers, cauliflower, herbs … you name it! (Photo: Abeego)
In my household, leftovers are always at the front of the line. Keeping leftovers visible at the front of the shelf in your fridge helps remind you to use them before using anything else.
My rule is that all leftovers must be eaten within 48 hours.
One way that I stay within this timeline is by making leftovers the basis for breakfast or lunch the following day. For example, leftover mashed potatoes make an excellent breakfast hash alongside tofu scramble or eggs. Leftover roasted sweet potatoes and rice are great additions to black bean burritos.
Rice or noodles from last night’s supper can easily be given a second life, with just a little bit of innovation. Heat oil in a pan, add some onion, mushrooms, peppers and garlic and then toss in the carbs. This is an excellent way to use up what has already been cooked to create an easy and delicious meal.
Make your shopping list a living and shared document
One key to strategic and less frequent grocery shopping is developing a list over the course of several days, instead of only putting a list together just before you shop. Plan ahead so that you have two weeks’ worth of groceries.
Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home, recommends keeping a physical copy of the list posted in your kitchen where everyone can see it and add to it. Maintaining a shared ongoing list allows you to look at it throughout the course of the day and the week, adding to it as you encounter needs.
Chef Tyler Scott’s family uses a whiteboard in their kitchen to create lists of things to purchase, items to use up, and inspiration for their weekly meals. This approach helps them to reduce the number of trips they make and also helps to avoid food waste. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Scott)
I asked Tyler Scott, chef and co-owner of Rare in downtown Peterborough, about how his family prepares their grocery list at home.
“We have a white board in our kitchen that we add to when we are running low on something,” says Scott. “Before we shop, we always make sure to create a list from the notes on our board. We are old school and take pen to paper. I get produce, meat, grains, and dairy that I know my family will eat. We fill in pantry items and make sure we are fully stocked on the items that we use regularly.”
Smartphones can offer a paperless alternative to a physical list, and this may help if you are prone to forgetting your list when you go shopping. Keep in mind, though, that if the list is only on one phone that is not as suitable for shared participation.
Some apps allow for shared grocery lists, like Our Groceries, List Ease, and others.
I have not tried these myself, but I would appreciate your feedback if you use an app for grocery lists. Also, if you use your smartphone remember to keep it and your hands clean, especially during food handling and meal preparation.
Planning meals in advance and preparing a smart grocery list can help reduce the number of grocery deliveries you need or trips to the grocery store you make. Fewer trips to the grocery store helps us flatten the curve of COVID-19 and keep staff at grocery stores as safe as possible. Fewer trips by car also reduces your carbon footprint.
Follow your plan
Once you have a list prepared, follow it while you are shopping and also over the days after shopping. Be creative, but do not get distracted.
“Try new things, but don’t buy things you know you don’t like or don’t have time to learn how to prepare,” Scott suggests. “Don’t over buy things that will spoil quickly, and limit your use of prepared foods until after you’ve used your fresh ingredients.”
Commit to working with what you have at home. Be aware of the contents of your fridge and pantry and what needs to be used first to avoid food waste. Preventing food waste saves you money at the same time as saving the environment.
“During this time it is important for community members to think of ways to use what they might already have in their cupboards and fridges or freezers to limit the need to leave their homes for food,” says Erica Diamond, a registered dietitian with Peterborough Public Health. “Taking stock of what they already have will also help to reduce the likelihood of buying too much resulting in unnecessary purchases and food waste.”
If you have never planned meals in advance like this before, give yourself the time and space to observe what works and what does not work for you. It takes practice to develop effective household management strategies. What you learn will be valuable even after the crisis has passed.
Additional resources and tips
“Telehealth dietitians are available to answer community members questions regarding nutrition and health,” Diamond suggests. Call 1-866-797-0000 (press one for English, then press two to speak with a dietitian, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Unlock Food (www.unlockfood.ca) is a website maintained by registered dietitians that provides a wealth of information on a variety of healthy eating topics including cooking with unique ingredients, meal planning for different health issues and individual needs, and even how to get the kids involved with kid-approved recipes.
“The Nourish Project with the YWCA has also been exploring how to best support participants through this time,” observes Diamond. “Cooped Up Cooking is being developed to help viewers learn to cook basic meals based on what might be in their pantries.” Check out www.nourishproject.ca for more information.
“Support our local farmers to help protect their livelihoods, and our local economy while also helping to preserve our natural environment during these uncertain times,” she adds. Information about local food (including food available from farmers and local restaurants that deliver with online payment options) is available on Facebook at facebook.com/localfoodptbo/.
Tyler Scott, chef and co-owner of Rare in downtown Peterborough, suggests using the whole ingredient and saving scraps for stocks or sauces for later use. He also says large-batch cooking of one-pot meals is efficient because it gives you leftovers to freeze. (Photo: Rare / Facebook)
I also asked Tyler Scott what core ingredients he finds useful to always have in the kitchen.
“Eggs, butter, flour, milk, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, maple syrup, canola oil,” says Scott. “With these ingredients you should be able to make thousands of recipes.”
“Use resources at your fingertips to learn the basics like cookbooks and the internet. Try to use the whole ingredient and save your scraps for stocks or sauces for later use. When your vegetables are past their prime, it’s time to throw them into a braise or sauce.”
“Large-batch cooking one-pot meals is efficient because it gives you leftovers to freeze or share with your neighbours. Take advantage of pick-up at local restaurants and markets for hot meals or ready-made meals. This will support your local businesses and give you a break from cooking while still enjoying quality dinner.”
You can also visit homecooking.show for a podcast about how to cook from home during quarantine.
Last but not least, visit www.greenup.on.ca/greenup-store/ where you can now shop online for many of your favourite items in our store.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
This report is based on data supplied by the region’s three public health units, as retrieved by province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS). This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We update each daily report throughout the day to reflect the most current information available (usually by mid-afternoon). 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: 51* Confirmed negative: 757 Under investigation: 285 Deaths: 0 Resolved: 14 Local Institutional Outbreaks: St. Joseph’s at Fleming, Riverview Manor **
* At 12 p.m. on April 8, Peterborough Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra reported 45 positive cases to the media. This increase of six cases was posted on the health unit’s website at 3:23 p.m.
**Number of cases not provided.
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: 99 (84* in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland, 2 in Haliburton) Hospitalizations: 4 Deaths: 29 (25 in Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon**)
*Provincial direction has changed so now all residents and staff in a long-term care home in an outbreak are to be tested for COVID-19.
**The administrator of Pinecrest Nursing Home has reported 28 deaths as of April 8, 2020.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 5,276 (up 550 from April 7) Under investigation: 1,102 (up 411 from April 7) Hospitalized: 605 (down 9 from April 7) Hospitalized and in ICU: 246 (up 13 from April 7) Hospitalized and in ICU with ventilator: 195 (up 8 from April 7) Deaths: 174 (up 21 from April 7) Resolved: 2,074 (up 272 from April 7)
Pinecrest Nursing Home is a 65-bed long-term care facility in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. (Photo: Central East CCAC / YouTube)
On Wednesday (April 8), Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon shared the tragic news that another resident of the home passed away late last night from COVID-19.
The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the home now stands at 28.
“Pinecrest’s experience and findings continue to be shared with the chief medical officer and other public health authorities to inform process and procedure,” writes Pinecrest administrator Mary Carr in an update to the community.
“Our aim is to share as much information as possible with other homes across the province to prioritize the health and safety of long-term care residents in Ontario. This is a situation that is unfolding and, as the understanding of this virus changes, we are implementing all new care directives issued by local and provincial public health authorities.”
“We continue to be focused on providing the highest quality care to our residents during this time and thank our front-line staff and community for their dedication and support,” she states.
Public health nurse Simone Jackson wearing personal protective equipment as she prepares to open a swab to test a patient for COVID-19 in Peterborough Public Health's clinic. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)
Peterborough Public Health is reporting only four new cases of COVID-19 since last Friday (April 3) — an average of one per day — in its catchment area of Peterborough city and county and Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations.
It’s “a significant slowing of our rate of increase”, according to Peterborough Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra.
During her weekly media briefing held on Wednesday (April 8), Dr. Salvaterra notes there have been 45 positive cases confirmed in the Peterborough region since the outbreak began — with just three of those the result of community transmission.
In addition, 1,055 COVID-19 tests have been conducted locally, with results awaited on 260 of those tested. Another 750 tests have come back negative, while 10 cases have now been resolved.
“Our case rate per 100,000 is 28, which is lower than the provincial case rate of almost 32 per 100,000,” notes Dr. Salvaterra.
“I would interpret the (low) number (of positive cases since April 3) as some immediate feedback on whether our measures are working,” she says. “We’ve asked people to give up quite a bit. The numbers are moving in the right direction and may be an early indication that our measures are having an effect.”
“What I can tell you is the slope of the curve has flattened. We were doubling every four days. We’re not seeing that doubling. If that was the case, our number (of positive cases) would be in the eighties. That is promising.”
However, Dr. Salvaterra warns this isn’t the time for complacency.
“We can’t let down our guard down. I shared those numbers to let people know ‘Wow, it’s working.’ I ask people to stay with us on this and not give up, but instead feel that they are making a difference.”
Regarding the earlier outbreaks at both St. Joseph’s at Fleming and Riverview, Dr. Salvaterra says both are “contained” with no cases reported at any other local long-term care residences.
Selwyn resident Ashton Kelly sings and performs in "Something to Do-ah (The Isolation Song)", a parody song to the tune of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' with lyrics written by her step-father Mark Russell with help from Ashton's mom Deborah. Ashton's younger brother Isaiah also appears in the video. (Screenshot)
A Selwyn Township family has made creative use of their self-isolation time during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a parody song about … self-isolation.
In a YouTube video, 22-year-old Ashton Kelly sings “Something to Do-ah (The Isolation Song)” to the tune of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.
The idea came after Ashton’s grandfather Peter tagged her when sharing a Facebook video of a dance parody. Ashton and her mom Deborah decided to take it once step further and create an entire song.
Her stepfather Mark Russell wrote the lyrics in a single morning, Ashton says.
“I was looking to capture the irony that, yeah, we’re all stuck inside right now but we’ve never had more things available to keep us entertained,” Mark tells The Wolf. “I also wanted to fill it with pop culture references that were relevant to the isolation period that we’re going through, and I wanted to drop some Canadian references in there as well.”
Ashton’s mom helped tweak some of the lyrics in the rough draft, Mark says, to make sure the references were really current. The song contains clever stanzas such as:
You’ve binged Tiger King again and again
Did Carole Baskin kill her husband?
I hope you cool cats and kittens
Find something to do-ah
The video also features Ashton’s younger brother Isaiah.
“He was a good sport,” Ashton tells The Wolf. “He doesn’t like to be on camera.”
Since being posted on YouTube on Sunday (April 5), the video has almost 5,000 views so far with 127 likes as of the date of this story.
kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger at work in the produce section during his shift as a part-time produce clerk at Morello's Independent Grocer in Willowcreek Centre at 400 Lansdowne Street East in Peterborough. Like all grocery store retailers, owner Dave Morello has put into place new health and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus among employees and customers. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Listening as Dave Morello spoke early this past Saturday morning, my mind immediately wandered — something that happens with increasing regularity as I grow, uh, more mature.
What came to mind was the opening scene of the 1970 film Patton that sees George C. Scott, portraying the title character, address an unseen audience of American troops on the cusp of battle during the Second World War.
The four-star general’s monologue is brimming with typical American bravado, the intent being to motivate his troops.
Produce clerk Ethan Howcroft sanitizes shopping carts inside the front entrance of Morello’s Independent Grocer in Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Morello is very much in the motivation business these days.
At 7:45 a.m. daily since mid-March, when the severity of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak first became clear, Morello has rallied his troops: the men and women who work at Morello’s Independent Grocer in Peterborough — many of them for several years now and myself among them.
How I came to be employed part-time as a produce clerk at the Lansdowne Street East grocery store is a story unto itself.
Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Morello’s Independent Grocer in Peterborough has recently disallowed the use of re-usable bags by customers. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
When my corporate media bosses determined I was no longer useful to them back in January 2016, Morello told me I was useful to him, giving me a much-needed sense of purpose that lifted my spirits while I established myself as a freelance writer.
More than four years later, I’m still lugging bananas and the like. Why? Plain and simple, besides putting a few extra bucks in my pocket, I like the people I work with. It’s as simple as that. Nearing 62 years old, my days of playing workplace games are well behind me. This is a perfect fit.
So it is I’m now an “essential” worker, with my work — and that of my Morello’s colleagues — deemed much too important to society not to carry it on. People have got to eat, right?
Signs throughout the store remind customers to maintain a distance of six feet (two metres) from other customers. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
When the severity of COVID-19 was first made clear, I considered requesting a leave of absence or, if necessary, turning in my name badge and trimming knife for good. Like you, I don’t want to get sick. But then I saw and experienced, firsthand, the extensive and decisive measures that Morello has put in place to keep his customers, staff, and suppliers safe — and I was all in.
The daily morning huddle, as Morello terms it, sees him review those measures and remind all within earshot to be vigilant. Most all of those measures are related in some way to the maintaining of physical distancing. He also updates staff on new steps he’s considering, as well as hammers home the renewed importance of near constant cleaning and sanitizing.
But Morello does something else still rare in all too many workplaces: he says thank you and means it, his tone and body language speaking clearly to the sincerity of that sentiment.
Floor markers at deli counters encourage customers to keep their distance. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Regarding the intensified store-cleaning measures, Morello’s was well positioned to take that to the next level. If I had a dollar for every shift that saw me clean produce shelves, counters, and the like, I’d be in a higher tax bracket. Cleaning is nothing new. The reason for doing it more, and doing it better, is and it is absolutely vital.
So as I now play dodge ball minus the ball with customers and co-workers alike, I’m developing a greater appreciation for all those who remain at their jobs so our community can ride out the COVID-19 storm.
That includes the management and staff of all grocery stores in the region, as well as other retail outlets deemed essential. Like at Morello’s, each has stepped up in very big ways to keep all as safe as possible.
Peterborough residents are used to one-way streets, so one-way grocery store aisles shouldn’t be a challenge. The one-way aisles are intended to help keep customers a safe distance apart while they are shopping. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
That said, I’m not at all comfortable with the “hero” tag that’s applied all too loosely to grocery and retail workers. Where I come from, heroes have been, and remain, doctors, nurses and front-line emergency responders who put themselves in danger to the benefit of another, not just now but always.
I don’t carry a water hose into a burning building. I take apples from a box and stack them in a way that they won’t fall victim to gravity. That’s tricky for sure, but hardly heroic.
Morello would never admit it or show it but he’s tired — a combination of quite longer than normal hours at the store, combined with the responsibility he bears for all who enter the front doors. His response to the heightened anxiety he does admit to feeling is to remain outwardly calm — to, as he did well before COVID-19 emerged, lead by example.
His morning huddles, he says, serve the purpose of providing information and updates that are as accurate as they can be. The sharing of information with his employees that is wrong would only make a very tough situation tougher.
I sense, and Morello agrees, that some of the COVID-19 related measures put in place — such as the plexiglas dividers separating cashiers from customers — will be a permanent fixture moving forward. As well, the heightened sanitizing is likely to stay remain in place.
All check-out stations have plexiglass shields to protect the health and safety of both employees and customers. The plexiglas dividers will become a permanent fixture moving forward. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)Every other check-out lane is closed so that customers can keep their distance in two dimensions. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Morello is not a four-star general leading soldiers into military battle. But he, like all of us and like open grocery and retail store owners and managers everywhere, is at war against a stubborn foe that shows no sign of letting up any time soon.
Aided in a big way by his store management team, which includes his wife Kim, Morello has taken charge and fought back.
No one can say with any certainty when the COVID-19 crisis will abate. But it will end at some point.
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but so do proper food handling procedures. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
My hope is that the experience will have served to cast grocery store and retail workers in a new light; that the value of their service will receive the attention it has always deserved.
When the chips were down, they showed up and did what they do to the best of their ability. Not even Patton himself could demand more than that.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
This report is based on data supplied by the region’s three public health units, as retrieved by province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS). This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We update each daily report throughout the day to reflect the most current information available (usually by mid-afternoon). 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: 45 Confirmed negative: 749* Under investigation: 221* Deaths: 0 Resolved: 10 Local Institutional Outbreaks: St. Joseph’s at Fleming: 4 cases; Riverview Manor: 1 case
*These numbers are the same as April 6th; they will be updated in the April 8th report.
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: 99 (84* in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland, 2 in Haliburton) Hospitalizations: 3 Deaths: 29 (25 in Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon**)
*Provincial direction has changed so now all residents and staff in a long-term care home in an outbreak are to be tested for COVID-19.
**The administrator of Pinecrest Nursing Home has reported 27 deaths as of April 7, 2020.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 4,726 Under investigation: 691 Hospitalized: 614 Hospitalized and in ICU: 233 Hospitalized and in ICU with ventilator: 187 Deaths: 153 Resolved: 1,802
The Easter Bunny has been declared an essential worker in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic, but can't deliver treats in public spaces.
Kids of all ages will be happy to learn that one thing not getting cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic is the Easter Bunny.
That’s because Ontario Premier Doug Ford has just declared the Easter Bunny an essential service.
Ford issued a formal declaration on Tuesday afternoon (April 7) confirming the Easter Bunny “is an essential service provider and will be authorized to deliver Easter chocolate, candy and related treats to the children of Ontario.”
Ford’s declaration followed a similar declaration by Toronto Mayor John Tory on Tuesday, who tweeted that both the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are essential workers. He urged Ford to make the same declaration for all of the province.
Asked about declaring Easter Bunny & Tooth Fairy essential as NZ did. Confirmed of course the Easter Bunny & Tooth Fairy are essential workers in Toronto. Asked @fordnation to make sure they are essential provincewide as well. Thanks to everyone planning to #StayHome for Easter.
On Monday (April 6), New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern started the bunny ball rolling by adding both the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy to her country’s list of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, while the Easter Bunny can continue to deliver treats to children this weekend in Ontario, there are some limits.
Ford’s declaration does prohibits the Easter Bunny from delivering treats in “parks, playgrounds, and all other outdoor recreational amenities” because of physical distancing requirements.
“I know it is tough for the younger kids to explain what is going on right now and the kids have simple things they are worried about like the Easter Bunny,” Ford said during a media conference at Queen’s Park. “So kids, the Easter Bunny has become an essential service and he will make sure they have chocolates ready for Easter.”
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