Thanks to the generosity of the Peterborough community, including the efforts of volunteers, a total of 22,707 pounds of food donations has been collected for Kawartha Food Share to restock their empty shelves.

During the “Spare A Square” city-wide porch food drive, Peterborough residents were asked to leave bags filled non-perishable food items and a roll or two of toilet paper on their porch on Monday (March 23).

Beginning at 9 a.m., volunteers drove around the city to collect the items and deliver them to Kawartha Food Share’s warehouse.

In accordance with social distancing directives, the volunteers were in their own vehicles and had no face-to-face contact with people who leave bags on their front porch.

Even though volunteers did an amazing job collecting the donations, especially during a minor snow storm, some bags may have been missed.

If your bag wasn’t picked up, Kawartha Food Share is asking you to drop the donations in a collection bin located in all local grocery stores, or in the donation bins located outside of Kawartha Food Share’s warehouse at 665 Neal Drive in Peterborough.

Kawartha Food Share assists more than 8,900 people every month through 11 food banks and 20 food cupboards in the city and county of Peterborough as well as through four meal programs and six housing projects.

Those people, including families with children, who rely on Kawartha Food Share every month are particularly vulnerable. And if people on limited incomes cannot get needed items at grocery stores, they will turn to a food bank.

City of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien has declared a state of emergency for the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She made the announcement at a media teleconference on Monday (March 23).

“After careful consideration of the increasing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the corresponding need for people to take necessary precautions, I am declaring a state of emergency for the City of Peterborough,” Mayor Therrien said.

“This decision follows declarations made by the Province of Ontario for the entire province, as well as numerous other municipalities that have declared local states of emergency.”

“This emergency declaration reinforces the urgency of the situation we are in, and by declaring an emergency we are clearly stating as a community that our efforts are focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and the health and safety of everyone.”

“For the safety of yourself and others, you need to stay home except for essential outings. Follow social distancing guidelines to slow the spread of illness, and if you are asked to self-isolate, you must do so.”

“If you have returned from travel outside of Canada, you are — and everyone you live with is — required to self-isolate for 14 days.”

“Refusing to do so is irresponsible and places our community at increased risk. Do your part to flatten the curve.”

Mayor Therrien explained that municipalities can declare states of emergency under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, and doing so may provide access to provincial relief funding should it become available.

She said that police, fire, and paramedic services would continue to operate under the state of emergency, and that the city would continue to provide its core services, although with some adjusted service levels.

She also encouraged people to look to public health officials, such as Peterborough Public Health, for up-to-date and reliable information about COVID-19.

Mayor Therrien repeated the advice from public health authorities on how to slow the spread of the illness.

“Avoid non-essential gatherings. Stay at home as much as possible. Practise appropriate physical and social distancing; be at least two metres apart. Wash your hands frequently using soap, for at least 15 to 20 seconds each time. Use hand sanitizer. Cough or sneeze into your arm.”

“If you have COVID-19 symptoms, self-monitor and self-isolate. You can use the self-assessment tool at covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/. If you are having trouble breathing, or are experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911 immediately.”

“If you have travelled outside Canada recently, you must self-isolate for 14 days.”

Mayor Therrien’s announcement comes on the heels of Ontario Premier Doug Ford announcing the shutdown of all non-essential services across the province in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces is effective as of Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59 p.m. The closure will be in effect for 14 days with the possibility of extending this order as the situation evolves.

“Premier Ford’s announcement earlier this afternoon regarding the closure of non-essential businesses hit home the point. This is a public health emergency, and we all need to do our part as individuals to slow the spread. We need to be responsible, proactive, and smart. Stop going out.”

“If you have returned from outside of Canada, you need to self-isolate for 14 days. It doesn’t matter if you feel fine, if you are back from Florida, from Mexico, from anywhere, you need to self-isolate for 14 days. This means no stops for gas, no stops at the pharmacy, no stops at the grocery store. If someone picks you up from the airport, they must also self-isolate for 14 days after being in a vehicle with you.”

“If you do not self-isolate, you are putting other peoples’ lives at risk. If you don’t self-isolate, you are being irresponsible, selfish, reckless, and a danger to your family, your friends, your neighbours, and your community.”

“If you know people who are not self-isolating, tell them. Shame them into doing it. It will save laves. Offer to get groceries for folks who are coming back from abroad; make it simple and practical for them to self-isolate. This is how we come together as a community, as we always do in times of adversity.”

Mayor Therrien said that, despite the number of questions and amount of rapidly changing information about COVID-19, the one fact that remains consistent is that staying away from others and self-isolation is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“No one, whether you have recently travelled or not, should be having friends and family over. Inviting a friend in for coffee is not self-isolating. Hosting a family birthday party is not self-isolating. This can be a life-and-death situation and we must treat it as such.”

“This is a difficult time for our community, like all communities across the nation. Our small businesses are suffering, our part-time and precariously employed workers are facing uncertainty. Our homeless and other vulnerable popualtions have their life circumstances made even more challenging.”

Mayor Therrien also said she is in regular contact with Peterborough’s provincial MPP and the federal MP, and that senior levels of government understand the impact of this crisis in both the City and County of Peterborough, and have asked for information and ideas on how forthcoming provincial and federal funding and programs can best be used.

She also said city staff would likely be recommending a deferral of the March tax penalty, and city council will be considering a variety of ways to ease the burden on residents and taxpayers. She encouraged members of the public to contact city council with any suggestions they may have.

Mayor Therrien thanked those who have been practising social distancing and those who have been helping their neighbours get groceries, medications, and other essentials. She also thanked local businesses who are pulling together to help one another, Black’s Distillery and Persian Empire who have been producing hand sanitizer, first responders, healthcare workers, and to the media for their assistance in getting key messages out. She committed to updating the public daily as the situation continues to unfold.

“Be safe, be well, and stay the heck home,” she concluded.

Following Mayor Therrien’s remarks, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones also officially declared a state of emergency for the County of Peterborough, with the county working hand in hand with the city.

“Drastic situations call for drastic measures, and we are pushing the button just as hard as we can to get people to finally understand how serious this issue is,” Warden Jones said via teleconference.

“I’m hearing more anecdotal information every day about people who just don’t get it. People in cottage country, for example, are coming up from Toronto, returning from Florida, and they’re out and about, walking together with people, and this has got to stop. People have to understand that we have to get ugly over this issue, and we are going to do just that.”

“We have to stand united, we have to be strong, and we will get through this. Whether you’re in the county or the city, please understand how serious this is.”

In response to telephone questions from the media, Mayor Therrien clarified that the declaration of a state of emergency is a tool to communicate the severity of the situation to residents.

“We’ve been hearing too many stories about folks who are not taking it seriously, who continue to gather in groups, who go out after getting back from abroad. We really need to convey this is an emergency and people need to treat it as such.”

She also explained that, while declaring a state of emergency provides an opportunity for access to financial or other programs from senior levels of government, communicating the severity of the situation is the primary reason.

“A lot of it is symbolic, for us to tell everyone how serious this is,” Warden Jones added.

Peterborough Public Health reports no new cases of COVID-19 in the Peterborough area over the weekend.

Medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra shared that news during her daily media briefing on Monday morning (March 23), noting the local count of positive cases holds steady at three. All three are self-isolating at home.

In addition, a total of 276 people in the city and county of Peterborough, Hiawatha and Curve Lake have been tested for COVID-19 to date.

Meanwhile, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien said that during a conference call on the weekend with MP Maryam Monsef, MPP Dave Smith, and County Warden J. Murray Jones, the prevailing concern was that not all people are self-isolating.

That, she added, must change and must change now.

“Peterborough is not taking this seriously enough,” said Mayor Therrien.

The first death related to COVID-19 in the Kawarthas — which was also the first case of community transmission — was reported on Sunday (March 22) by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit.

A man in his 80s was admitted to Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay last Thursday (March 19) with a high fever and influenza-like illness. Tests were conducted and late on Saturday (March 21) it was confirmed the man tested positive for COVID-19. He passed away the following afternoon with both pneumonia and COVID-19 listed as the cause of death.

For the most recent information on COVID-19 in Ontario and the Peterborough area, visit ontario.ca/coronavirus or peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

Peterborough Regional Health Centre is also providing news, updates, information and resources on its website at prhc.on.ca/cms/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.

After receiving an increase in noise complaints, Peterborough police are reminding residents that the city by-law against noise still applies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We recognize that due to social distancing measures in place some people are now spending more time indoors and are having small gatherings,” says Inspector John Lyons. “We have certainly seen an increase in noise complaints over the past several days especially regarding loud music being played.”

The City of Peterborough’s noise by-law prohibits any noise that is likely to disturb. This is a broad definition that incorporates various sources of noise, including loud voices and music. Contrary to popular belief, the by-law is in effect 24 hours a day.

Those who are making noise should also realize that, due to self-isolating and social distancing, many people are now working from home.

“We remind citizens that we have a zero tolerance approach to this behaviour and that either a person can be charged for making the noise OR permitting the noise,” Lyons says. “We ask that residents be mindful and respectful of their neighbours who are likely also at home and may also be social distancing or self-isolating. Dispatching officers to these complaints also depletes valuable resources that may be required for higher priority calls.”

The fine under the noise by-law is $125 for a first offence. For subsequent offences, a summons may be issued, compelling the person to attend court, where the fines could reach a maximum of $2,000.

Should matters progress to extremes, where someone purposefully continues to flout the by-law, police may lay a criminal charge of mischief under the Criminal Code, which is defined as wilfully obstructing, interrupting, or interfering with “the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.”

On Friday (March 20), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a media release advising how police would be using new fines to enforce compliance with the state of emergency declared in Ontario for the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has created some confusion among some people, who are wondering why police aren’t enforcing public health recommendations.

We hope to clear up some of that confusion here.

What are the new fines being used by the police?

The OPP says the Provincial Offences Act has been updated to include three new offences with set fines for those who do not comply with Ontario’s state of emergency.

This includes a $750 fine for failure to comply with an order made during a declared emergency, a $1,000 fine for obstructing any person exercising a power in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency, and a $1,000 fine for obstructing any person performing a duty in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency. Corporations can be fined $500,000.

Any of these fines can be applied on each day that an offence occurs or continues.

Who do these fines apply to?

Prior to March 24, 2020, the fines described by the OPP were only applicable to certain types of businesses and organizations included in the state of emergency that was made on March 17, 2020 under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

These are specifically: bars and restaurants (except for the provision of takeout and food delivery), facilities providing indoor recreational programs, public libraries, private schools, licensed child care centres, movie cinemas and theatres (including those offering live performances of music, dance and other art forms), and concert venues. So, if an owner or operator of a type of business or organization that is on the above list remains open during the state of emergency, an offence has occurred and the owner or operator may be fined.

However, on March 23, 2020, the Ontario government expanded its state of emergency to order the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective as of Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59 p.m. for 14 days (see the list of essential workplaces).

This means that, effective Tuesday, March 24th, the fines will also apply to any business not deemed essential by the Ontario government that remains open.

In addition, the March 17th state of emergency also prohibited any organized public event of over 50 people, including parades, events, and communal services within places of worship. However, on March 28, 2020, the Ontario government made a new emergency order under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that prohibits public events and social gatherings of more than five people, replacing the previous emergency order prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people. Exceptions apply to private households with five people or more, child care centres supporting front-line health care workers and first responders (limit of 50 people), and funerals (limit of 10 people at a time).

So, if the organizer or host of an event (or a place of worship), holds an event with more than five people, an offence has occurred and the organizer or host (or a place of worship) may be fined.

Who do these fines NOT apply to?

Prior to March 23, 2020, these fines only applied to any types of businesses or organizations that were included in the state of emergency that was made on March 17, 2020 under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Retail stores and services, grocery stores, liquor and beer stores, drug stores, any commercial or industrial business (including manufacturers), and organizations (charitable or otherwise), were not included in the state of emergency.

However, on Tuesday, March 23rd, that all changed when the Ontario government expanded its state of emergency to order the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces by Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59 p.m. for 14 days. This means that the fines will also now apply to all businesses except those defined as essential workplaces by the Ontario government (see the list of essential workplaces).

The fines also currently do not apply to people who are contravening the directives issued by public health authorities, such as social distancing guidelines or the recommendation for 14 days of self-isolation after returning from travel. Enforced compliance with public health recommendations is not currently included in Ontario’s state of emergency orders. However, on Wednesday, March 25th, the Government of Canada invoked the Quarantine Act to requires all travellers returning to Canada (with the exception of what the federal government is calling “essential workers”) to enter a mandatory 14-day period of isolation, regardless of whether any symptoms of COVID-19 are present. Police are waiting for instructions from the federal government on enforcement of the legislation.

Why is there confusion?

Some people are wondering why businesses that employ more than 50 people aren’t being required to shut down, or why the OPP are allowing groups of more than 50 people to congregate.

That’s because the March 17th orders under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act only restricted an “organized public event” of more than 50 people (including in places of worship). Since this restriction was based on the same recommendations we’ve been hearing about from Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, people have been confused by what’s allowed and what’s not.

Events of more than 50 people were not allowed to take place but workplaces with more than 50 people were still allowed to be open. That has now changed with the Ontario government’s March 23rd order of the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces for 14 days as of Tuesday, March 24th.

After March 24th, only some businesses will be allowed to remain open. The government will be releasing a full list of these businesses on Tuesday, March 24th (see the list of essential workplaces).

On March 28, 2020, the Ontario government made a new emergency order under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that prohibits public events and social gatherings of more than five people, replacing the previous emergency order prohibiting organized public events of more than 50 people. Exceptions apply to private households with five people or more, child care centres supporting front-line health care workers and first responders (limit of 50 people), and funerals (limit of 10 people at a time).

Why are the fines so low?

Some people may feel that a $750 fine for an individual who fails to comply with an emergency order is not punishment enough. But it’s important to note this fine is only under the Provincial Offences Act.

Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, the punishment for offences is much higher: a fine up to a $100,000 and up to a year in prison for an individual, a fine up a $500,000 and up to a year in prison for a director or officer of a corporation, and a fine up to $10 million for a corporation.

It is likely that the new offences under the Provincial Offences Act are intended to deal with situations that do not justify the much higher fines and prison terms.

With the above information in hand, if you know of an individual, business, or organization that is breaking the law, you can call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or visit opp.ca/reporting.

Why aren’t the police enforcing public health recommendations?

It seems as if everyone knows someone who isn’t following public health recommendations, such as groups of people who are gathering together, or people who are not self-isolating for 14 days after returning from travel outside the country.

While ignoring public health recommendations is socially irresponsible behaviour and a potential threat to public health, it is — currently, at least — not against the law.

It seems like it should be, especially for those of us who are undergoing inconvenience and hardship playing by the rules only to see others flaunt them.

But the police can’t charge people who are gathering together, and they can’t charge someone who is not self-isolating. They can only charge people and corporations that aren’t complying with the orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

UPDATES

On Wednesday, March 25th, the Government of Canada invoked the Quarantine Act to requires all travellers returning to Canada (with the exception of what the federal government is calling “essential workers”) to enter a mandatory 14-day period of isolation, regardless of whether any symptoms of COVID-19 are present. Police are waiting for instructions from the federal government on enforcement of the legislation; in the interim, report any non-compliance allegations to your local public health unit.

On March 28, 2020, the Ontario government made a new emergency order under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that prohibits public events and social gatherings of more than five people, replacing the previous emergency order prohibiting organized public events of more than 50 people. Exceptions apply to private households with five people or more, child care centres supporting front-line health care workers and first responders (limit of 50 people), and funerals (limit of 10 people at a time). That means that police can also now charge people who are gathering together in groups of more than five.

What can the government do to enforce public health recommendations?

Legislation is available both at the provincial and federal levels to enforce public health directives.

In Ontario, the Health Protection and Promotion Act doesn’t support the declaration of “public health emergencies” (which is why the Ontario government used the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act), but it does allow Ontario’s chief medical officer of health to order a person to go into isolation if they are infected with a communicable disease — with a fine of up to $5,000 per day for contravening the order.

And of course there’s Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which the government has already used and could use again to make it illegal to contravene public health directives.

The federal Quarantine Act, which was created in 2005 following Canada’s SARS outbreak, allows the federal government to quarantine individuals arriving in the country to prevent the “introduction and spread of communicable diseases.” It was used during the current COVID-19 pandemic to quarantine Canadians, repatriated from cruise ships, at a military base in Trenton, Ontario. Anyone who breaks quarantine under that legislation can be fined up to $1 million and imprisoned for up to three years.

On Wednesday, March 25th, the Government of Canada invoked the Quarantine Act to requires all travellers returning to Canada (with the exception of what the federal government is calling “essential workers”) to enter a mandatory 14-day period of isolation, regardless of whether any symptoms of COVID-19 are present. Police are waiting for instructions from the federal government on enforcement of the legislation.

There’s also the federal Emergencies Act, which authorizes the taking of special temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies. In 1988, it replaced the War Measures Act which was used during both the First and Second World Wars and during the 1970 October Crisis. The Emergencies Act has never been used.

So far, the federal government has expressed reluctance at using the Emergencies Act for public health directives, primarily because it requires significant resources for enforcement and suspends civil rights — the equivalent of martial law.

However, if enough people continue to ignore public health directives and if the COVID-19 pandemic gets out of control, the federal government may be left with no choice.

For all of our sakes, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

This story was originally published prior to the Ontario government expanding the state of emergency to order the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces for 14 days effective March 24, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect this development, as well as the federal government invoking the Quarantine Act to require all travellers returning to Canada to enter a mandatory 14-day period of isolation, and the expansion of Ontario’s state of emergency to prohibit gatherings of more than five people.

A man in his 80s is the first COVID-19 related death, and also the first case of community transmission, in the Kawarthas.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit reports the man was admitted to Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay last Thursday (March 19) with a high fever and influenza-like illness.

Tests were conducted and late on Saturday (March 21) it was confirmed the man tested positive for COVID-19. He passed away the following afternoon with both pneumonia and COVID-19 listed as the cause of death.

The man had no travel history or contact with anyone confirmed to have COVID-19, making this the first identified case of community transmission in the Kawarthas.

“We offer our sincere condolences to this man’s family and our thoughts are with them during this sad time,” says Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, the HKPR District Health Unit’s medical officer of health. “Unfortunately, this man’s tragic passing highlights that we now have community transmission of COVID-19 in our area.”

Dr. Noseworthy says this means it’s more important now than ever that everyone works together to protect themselves and others against the spread of the virus. Everyone is urged to follow the public health recommendations for self-isolation if someone is ill; self-isolating if they have returned from travel recently, washing their hands frequently and thoroughly and covering coughs and sneezes.

As well, everyone is urged to practise social distancing which includes staying home if possible, staying at least two metres from others, limiting time out for necessary purchases and avoiding public settings.

“Our team continues to work collaboratively with HKPR, regional, and provincial partners on a coordinated response to COVID-19,” says RMH interim president and CEO Veronica Nelson.

“Seniors are especially vulnerable to this virus, which means that a large portion of our community is particularly at risk. Protect them by taking steps to ‘flatten the curve,’ and that means self-isolation, especially for those returning to Canada.”

If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care. If you need further assistance, call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or your health care provider. You can also call the HKPR Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5020 (leave a detailed message and someone will get back to you as soon as possible).

If you have other non-urgent questions or concerns about COVID-19, email the Health Unit at info@hkpr.on.ca or visit www.hkpr.on.ca.

Visit Ontario’s website at ontario.ca/coronavirus to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

Canada’s grocery store chains are ramping up their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including managing increased customer demand and health and safety requirements.

Many grocery stores have placed a limit on the maximum number of items of any one product that a customer can buy, and have dedicated the first hour of operation to serving seniors and those with disabilities.

Stores have also reduced operating hours, mainly to allow extra time for staff to sanitize frequentlly used services (including self-service cash registers and shopping baskets and carts).

Grocery stores are also beginning to restrict the number of customers allowed in a store during busy times, to make it easier for customers and staff to practise social distancing. Some stores have begun to place floor markers at check-out lines to remind customers of the recommendation for two metres (six feet).

Most chains are also beginning to install plexiglass shields for check-out counters. Here are what specific grocery store chains are doing:

In Peterborough, some residents are maintaining a list in real time (below) of what’s in stock at local grocery stores, along with other stores that sell food and household items. You can help view and help maintain the Google Sheets spreadsheet. There is also a resource list available for Peterborough residents on Google Drive.

Loblaw, No Frills, and Shoppers Drug Mart

• Supermarkets will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the first hour dedicated to seniors and those with disabilities. Hours at Shoppers Drug Mart stores, some of which are located in rural areas, will be based on the needs of each community.
• The number of customers allowed in the busiest stores at the same time will be restricted. For those stores, the specific capacity will be determined based on their size. Wherever possible, only every other checkout lane will be open to encourage social distancing.
• Loose or bulk items in certain supermarkets will be eliminated and some service departments, such as seafood, will more to exclusively pre-packed products. All food sampling has been stopped.
• Beauty testers have been removed in Shoppers Drug Mart stores, with cosmetic services like makeovers and skincare consultations suspended.
• The use of debit or credit over cash is being encouraged.
• The $0.05 plastic bag fee is being temporarily waived to discourage the use of reusable bags in stores where cashiers still pack groceries. Customers who bring reusable bags will have to pack their own items.
• Plexiglass shields for the checkout counters are being installed in stores.

Sobeys and FreshCo

• Store hours have been temporarily reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
• Stores will being to have floor markers at checkout to help facilitate a two-metre distance between customers.
• Senior shopping hour takes place from 8 to 9 a.m., for elderly and vulnerable people.
• Bulk baked goods and bulk foods in self-serve areas, such as dry nutes and chocolate-covered almonds, are no longer available.
• Plexiglass shields for the checkout counters are being installed in stores.

Metro and Food Basics

• Store hours have been temporarily reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
• Senior shopping hour takes place from 8 to 9 a.m., for elderly and vulnerable people.
• All testers from beauty and perfume sections have been removed, and the use of testers in the cosmetic department of in-store pharmacies has been suspended.

Peterborough residents won’t be celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday this year — at least not with a public fireworks display.

With the continued uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings, the Rotary Victoria Day Fireworks and Family Night in Peterborough has been cancelled.

The 18th annual free event had been scheduled for Saturday, May 16th at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough.

Presented jointly by the Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha, last year’s event featured live music, children’s activities, food and drink vendors, and a fireworks display above Little Lake.

The event is expected to return in 2021.

A COVID-19 screening procedure conducted early Friday morning (March 20) at a manufacturing plant east of Peterborough left at least one employee both angry and concerned — pointing to the challenges faced by companies that are attempting to keep their employees safe by conducting screening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

McCloskey International in Otonabee-South Monaghan makes equipment used in the mining, aggregates, recycling, and process industries. According to an employee who contacted kawarthaNOW, workers were told on Thursday (March 19) they would be screened on arrival for work early the next day, but the procedure put in place was much different than what they were told.

“We were told we would be screened in our cars when we arrived at work today, and everybody was kind of okay with that,” said the employee, who requested his name be withheld out of concern for his job. “But when we arrived, we were told to park our cars and go in one entrance, use the same punch clock, and then everyone was packed into a very narrow alleyway of a warehouse to stand and wait to have their temperature taken and sign a little questionnaire.”

“Everyone was packed tight together. There were no masks or gloves. I wore my neck warmer over my nose and mouth and I had my work gloves on.”

Joe Sullivan, McCloskey International’s manager of human resources and health and safety, says the company implemented the screening procedure to “make our facility as safe as possible” for employees. He points out the company was adhering to the recommendation from Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, issued last Monday (March 16), which advises that Ontarians avoid large gatherings of over 50 people.

“We never exceeded 50 people but we got to the point where it was just too much, so we asked people to disperse,” he explains. “It shouldn’t have been, but it got to the point where it was close to 50 people. When we look at it now, that just won’t be allowed to happen again.”

Sullivan admits there were problems with the screening procedure, but points out it was the first day the procedure was done.

“Can we do better? Absolutely. Our quest is to get this thing done right. It’s uncharted waters for many people and people are concerned. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to mitigate the concerns and keep people healthy. That was our first go at it today. The good news is, at the end of the day, all checked out fine. We had no symptoms, no major concerns. We’re very, very thankful for that.”

kawarthaNOW also contacted Peterborough Public Health, which did not comment on the screening procedure at McCloskey but instead pointed to infection control resources for workplaces, including providing clean hand-washing facilities, disinfecting surfaces, removing shared items (dishes, cutlery, magazines) from employee common areas, implementing staggered shifts, enforcing social distancing guidelines, and more.

“We’ve communicated all the steps were put to us through the public health unit, and posted our necessary signage indicating our staff respect social distancing,” Sullivan observes. “We’ve got sanitizer stations set up.”

Sullivan says McCloskey has also reached out to Peterborough Public Health for additional guidance on how to control groups that tend to congregate.

For his part, the employee noted he has serious concerns about being potentially exposed to the virus, as he has both elderly parents who are vulnerable to illness and young children.

“My supervisor said they were going to try something different Monday, so who knows what the plan will be then,” the employee said.

“We definitely are going to continue to screen,” Sullivan said. “That gives everyone peace of mind. For us, it was about making sure that we did that, and now turn around and scrub the system to make it even better and more effective and safer yet.”

“The last thing we want to do is scare people. We want to make sure we’re going in the right direction. The big find for us was that everyone screened well and there was no issue.”

If you want to support patients, frontline healthcare workers, and staff at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) during the COVID-19 crisis, the PRHC Foundation is encouraging donations.

PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway says the COVID-19 crisis is going to bring unprecedented challenges to PRHC.

“Your hospital needs you now more than ever,” she says. We must ensure our frontline healthcare professionals and staff have the tools, technology, and supports they need to care for their sickest patients — and for themselves — during this difficult time.”

The hospital’s key needs range from lifesaving equipment and technology to supports for patients and frontline healthcare workers and staff, according to Heighway.

She says “critical funds” are required now to ensure PRHC can respond quickly to the hospital’s fast-evolving needs as the impact of this virus is felt.

“PRHC’s expert healthcare professionals, staff, and leaders are on the frontline of this crisis and they’re mobilizing,” Heighway explains. “They’re ramping up to ensure the right resources are in place, getting ready to take care of us and the people we love with the same expertise, compassion, and dedication they demonstrate every day.”

“In the same way that PRHC’s teams are mobilizing to support you, we’re mobilizing now so we can be ready to support them as soon as help is needed. We must act quickly and do whatever we can to lessen the impact on our community, our hospital, its patients, and our frontline healthcare professionals.”

Heighway encourages anyone wishing to show their gratitude to PRHC’s healthcare professionals and staff to share a special message of hope or thanks through the PRHC Foundation’s “Share Your Message” option at its website at www.prhcfoundation.ca. No donation is required to share your message.

If you are able to donate, you can share your message and make your donation through PRHC Foundation’s Grateful Hearts program.

Working in partnership with PRHC, the Foundation has committed to sharing these messages daily with the hospital’s doctors, nurses, and staff via the hospital’s internal communications channels — providing a boost to morale when it’s needed most.

“The continued spread of COVID-19 both here at home and around the world has many of us feeling understandably anxious and worried,” Heighway notes.

“It’s also inspiring many of us to wonder how we can help. By making a donation and sharing a message of hope and thanks, you’ll be standing behind our frontline healthcare workers as they respond to the challenge ahead, helping to ease their burden.”

For more information or to donate to PRHC Foundation over the phone, call 705-876-5000. To donate online, send a Grateful Hearts message, or to send a message without a donation, visit www.prhcfoundation.ca. Donations will also be accepted by mail, care of PRHC Foundation, 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, ON  K9J 7C6.