The swing bridge in Fenelon Falls, one of the many towns located in the Kawarthas Northumberland tourism region. As Ontario re-opens its economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, you have an opportunity to help the region's tourism, heritage, sport, and culture industries recover, grow, and prosper by volunteering for the board of directors of Regional Tourism Organization 8. (Photo: Fred Thornhill / RTO8)
According to the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism businesses across the province is historic and unprecedented.
As the outbreak wanes and Ontario slowly re-opens its economy, the best and the brightest people will be needed to help guide the future of tourism in the province, including in Kawarthas Northumberland.
If you have a passion for tourism — and an interest in seeing the region’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries recover, grow, and prosper — then consider volunteering for the board of directors of Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8).
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) is responsible for promoting tourism in the Kawarthas Northumberland region, which encompasses Peterborough & the Kawarthas, the Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County. The not-for-profit organization is currently seeking volunteers for its board of directors.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, RTO8 is the not-for-profit organization responsible for promoting tourism in the Kawarthas Northumberland region, which encompasses Peterborough & the Kawarthas, the Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
As an RTO8 board member, you will take part in strategic planning to shape the future of tourism in the region, while having the opportunity to collaborate with other tourism professionals. One-year, two-year, and three-year terms are available.
More than 3,000 businesses within Kawarthas Northumberland depend on RTO8 to serve and support them and to contribute to their ongoing success. During these challenging times, that support is more important than ever.
For more information and to apply to become a director of RTO8’s board, visit rto8.com/about/about-rto8/. Applications are being accepted until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15th.
This story was created in partnership with Regional Tourism Organization 8.
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for all of the greater Kawarthas region, except for Northumberland.
Conditions are favourable on Friday afternoon (May 29) for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.
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Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.
Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm watches when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
The Kirkfield Lift Lock in Kawartha Lakes is the second highest hydraulic lift lock in the world with a lift of 15 metres. (Photo: Wikipedia)
On Wednesday (May 27), Parks Canada announced the Trent-Severn Waterway would open for the 2020 navigation season on Monday, June 1st — but with one lock remaining closed and with limited visitor access and basic services everywhere else.
This year’s navigation season, which usually begins on the first Friday of the Victoria Day long weekend, was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the waterway opens, there will still be some restrictions in place along with changes to normal procedures due to the pandemic.
Beginning on June 1st, this is what will be open:
lockage
boat launches
access points
mooring areas
day-use areas (including green spaces, picnic areas, and parking lots)
day-use trails (including some cycling access on designated trails and pathways)
lockstation grounds
public toilets (where enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented).
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However, all camping facilities will remain closed until as least Sunday, June 21st. All group activities and public events are suspended until further notice.
The Swift Rapids lockstation (Lock 43 in Muskoka Lakes) will not open on June 1st due to required structural repairs. Parks Canada expects the repair work will be completed later in June and the entire system will be open for navigation at that point.
There will also be some changes to how the Trent-Severn Waterway will operate due to the pandemic:
nautical distancing must be maintained
touchless locking will be in place
boaters must stay on their vessel while locking
cashless payment is preferred
no rafting is allowed.
Parks Canada is requesting that boaters and visitors using the Trent-Severn Waterway to follow the advice of public health experts, including necessary hygiene practices and physical distancing of two metres from others.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 83 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 147 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
For the second day in a row, there are no new cases to report in the greater Kawarthas region.
There has been a total of 39 deaths. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there are 26,866 confirmed cases, an increase of 383 from yesterday. A total of 20,673 cases are resolved, an increase of 301 from yesterday. There have been 2,189 deaths, an increase of 34 from yesterday, with 1,377 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 25. A total of 662,162 tests have been completed, an increase of 17,615 from yesterday, with 11,868 tests under investigation, an increase of 51.
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’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 83 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 72 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 7,500 (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.
Confirmed positive: 170, including 147 in Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 11 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 145 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Kawartha Lakes Retirement Residence in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls, Empire Crossing Retirement Home in Port Hope (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change) Probable cases: 182 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 32 (no change) Total tests completed: 7,152 (increase of 95) Institutional outbreaks: None
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 26,866 (increase of 383) Hospitalized: 833 (decrease of 14) Hospitalized and in ICU: 137 (decrease of 13) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 94 (decrease of 23) Deaths: 2,189 (increase of 34) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,377 (increase of 25, 62.9% of all deaths) Total tests completed 662,162 (increase of 17,615) Tests under investigation: 11,868 (increase of 51) Resolved: 20,673 (increase of 301)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 1 – 27, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from May 1 – 27, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
The Mary J. Benson Branch of the Port Hope Public Library at 31 Queen Street in Port Hope. (Photo: Eldestpleiad / Wikipedia - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link)
The Port Hope Public Library has announced it will be offering pick-up service at its main branch beginning on Tuesday, June 2nd.
Public libraries in Cobourg and Peterborough are also offering the service, after the Ontario government announced earlier this month that libraries would be allowed to provide pick-up and delivery as of May 19th.
The pick-up service will be available at the Mary J. Benson Branch (31 Queen St., Port Hope) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during weekdays, with expanded hours expected in the future.
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Library patrons can request holds on library materials through their library account at porthopepubliclibrary.ca, or call the library at 905-885-4712 during regular hours. If you aren’t sure what you want, you can speak with a library staff member to request a selection of books, DVDs, or music, based on your preferences.
Patrons who had materials on hold before the library closed will be considered a priority.
When materials are ready for pick-up, the library will call or email. The pick-up location is in the library’s parking lot at the south side of the building. There will be no public access to the library building itself.
When arriving for pick-up, patrons should drop any library materials to be returned into the drop-box, park in one of the numbered pick-up spots, and then call the library. A staff member will bring the materials out and place them in the trunk of the vehicle.
Patrons are asked to be patient if there is a high demand for service — staff will process requests as quickly as possible.
For safety, all returned materials are quarantined for 72 hours before being placed back into circulation.
For updates and more information about the Port Hope Public Library, visit porthopepubliclibrary.ca.
Blitz the poodle mix belongs to Jenn McCallum, GreenUP's water programs coordinator. They've been enjoying many walks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Jenn has shaved down her hair so any ticks and their bites are more noticeable. "We check her for ticks after walks and we carry a tick remover with us during walks. For ourselves, we wear closed-toed shoes and pants while we are out to avoid tick bites.”
Spring and summer bring warm weather, warm sunlight, and the return of wildlife. These are wonderful seasons for being outdoors.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Shawn Brown, Trent University placement student with GreenUP.
Unfortunately, the spring and summer are also the times of year when we have to look out for a rather unpleasant eight-legged arachnid.
Although you might immediately think of spiders when you hear the word arachnid, the animal that we are talking about is the tick.
Ticks are small, round, and parasitic by nature. Since ticks have eight legs (like spiders); they are arachnids, not insects, which only have six legs.
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In North America, ticks have been expanding their range using deer and birds to bring them into new locations. The warming climate means more days above four degrees Celsius, allowing ticks to breed and reproduce more effectively in more northern locations than was previously the case.
Ticks hide in vegetation, long grasses, and leaf litter. When a human or other animal walks by, they latch onto the skin to begin feeding. Ticks can remain attached for many days if unnoticed. A tick bite usually does not hurt and most people do not even feel the tick on their skin.
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis, also known as deer ticks) are most concerning to us in Ontario. This is the only species here that hosts the bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) which causes Lyme disease. Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint aches.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi, shown here in a photograph that has been magnified 400 times. Around two hundredths of a millimetre in length, the bacteria are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. (Public domain)
Another key indication of Lyme disease is a red bulls-eye rash pattern around the location of the tick bite, which occurs on 50 per cent of infected individuals. This will appear within three to 30 days of the contraction of the bacteria.
Lyme disease is only transmitted from the tick to the host. Lyme disease is not contagious, which means that if a human or pet contracts the disease they cannot spread it to anyone else.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, ticks are expanding their range all throughout Ontario, and the Peterborough area is no exception to this. For more information from Health Canada, visit canada.ca/lymedisease.
The Ontario Lyme Disease Map Estimated Risk Areas is updated annually, providing information to assist public health professionals and clinicians in their management of Lyme disease. (Map: Public Health Ontario)
As ticks become more common locally, we can reduce our chances of contracting Lyme disease by taking the following precautions when we are enjoying the outdoors.
First, cover up. Wear long pants when you are walking through long grasses, fields, and forests. A tick cannot suck your blood if it cannot find bare skin. Also, you can stave off both ticks and mosquitoes by wearing bug spray with DEET when going outside.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an excellent set of tips and information to protect yourself and your pets from these ticks at cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/.
The number of cases of Lyme disease in Ontario has been increasing since 2005, with a particularly large spike in 2017. (Graphic: Public Health Ontario)
Secondly, check yourself. A tick has to be attached to its host for at least 24 hours in order to transfer the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. When you get back from hikes or walks, thoroughly check yourself by removing clothes and using mirrors to check hard-to-see spots. These checks can reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease.
Third, check your pets. If you have a pet, make sure to thoroughly check their fur and skin when you get back from a nature walk.
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How to remove a tick
If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, removing it as soon as possible will reduce the chances of contracting Lyme disease.
To properly remove the tick, use tweezers or a “tick key” — a tool especially designed for removing ticks. You can usually buy a tick key from department or outdoors stores.
Tick keys are often best because they ensure you pull the tick out by the head instead of leaving the head lodged in your skin, which can result in the transmission of Lyme disease. Some tick keys can also be attached to your house keys so you know where to find them.
How to remove a tick using tweezers. (Infographic: Bay Area Lyme Foundation)
Using the tick key or tweezers, gently pull the tick straight out, not at an angle. Do not squeeze, twist, or pull it out in a way that damages the tick. Damaging the tick could release the bacteria into your skin.
After it is removed, wash your hands and skin with soap and water before using rubbing alcohol or an iodine swab to disinfect the site of the bite.
Put the tick in a sealed container or sealable plastic bag and call the public health, as they may want to test the tick for the bacterium that can cause Lyme disease.
A tick key is a tool especially designed for removing ticks. You can usually buy a tick key from department or outdoors stores.
If the tick does manage to stay on you or your pet for a period longer than 24 hours, keep in mind that only blacklegged ticks have the bacteria that spreads Lyme disease. Even if the tick does transmit Lyme disease, the disease can be treated very effectively if diagnosed at an early stage.
If you find a tick, make sure to get tested or have the tick tested to ensure you do not suffer from adverse impacts.
With the Public Health Agency of Canada cautioning us about increasing tick populations in the Peterborough area, it is important to spread this awareness and ensure friends and family are educated. Together we can ensure we are all aware and able to reduce the impact of Lyme disease.
Be mindful, perform body checks, and use proper removal techniques.
The design of the new Canadian Canoe Museum to be located beside the Peterborough Lift Lock. (Graphic: heneghan peng architects / Kearns Mancini Architects)
A major wrench has just been thrown into the plans to build a new Canadian Canoe Museum beside the Peterborough Lift Lock.
On Thursday (May 28), the museum announced that is own independent investigations have confirmed the designated site for the museum’s future building contains the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE).
A clear non-flammable liquid with a sweet smell, TCE was commonly used as an industrial solvent in the past. It is classified as a human carcinogen and a non-carcinogenic health hazard. Groundwater and drinking water contamination from industrial discharge of trichloroethylene is a major concern for human health and has resulted in numerous public health incidents and lawsuits in the U.S.
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“All of us at the Canoe Museum, our project partners, and supporters are highly concerned and extremely disappointed by the situation,” says the museum’s executive director Carolyn Hyslop.
The ground water at 353 Hunter Street East, owned by Parks Canada, is believed to have been contaminated by chemicals seeping from an adjacent property. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has issued a provincial officers order under the Environmental Protection Act to the property’s owner, directing it to undertake air quality, ground water, and additional onsite investigations and to provide associating remediation plans.
The museum has not identified the property owner, but only two factories were located in the area.
Westclox (formerly The Western Clock Company) operated a clock-making factory on Hunter Street, on the hill overlooking the Trent Canal, from 1922 until the early 1980s. The building, which has since been converted into condos and offices, is now called Time Square and is operated by the Skyline Group of Companies. It is unknown whether industrial solvents were used in the manufacture and assembly of clocks.
Fisher Gauge operated a metal die-casting plant at 194 Sophia Street near the Trent Canal. The company, which later became FisherCast Global, was acquired by DynaCast in 2008 and currently operates a factory on Neal Drive. Industrial solvents such as TCE are used for both cleaning and finishing metals.
A conceptual rendering of the new Canadian Canoe Museum, an 85,000-square-foot facility to be built alongside the Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway. (Illustration: Heneghan Peng and Kearns Mancini Architects)
“We are working with all parties including the Ministry, Parks Canada, and our community and funding partners to evaluate the overall impacts of these findings to our operations and our new museum build,” Hyslop says.
Ironically, the existing site of the Canadian Canoe Museum at 910 Monaghan Road (which has remained closed during the COVID-19 pandemic) was the former location of the Outboard Marine Corporation of Canada. The company, which operated from 1913 to 1990, manufactured outboard motors and related marine products, as well as other small engines, and used TCE in its manufacturing process. As was the practice at the time, the company occasionally discharged waste onto the ground — waste that included TCE.
Ground-breaking for the museum’s new facility, to be located alongside the Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway, was originally scheduled to begin this year. The 83,400 square-foot facility was designed by the award-winning Irish team of heneghan peng and Toronto’s Kearns Mancini Architects.
“While the full implications of this environmental interruption are not yet fully known, we are fully committed to building a new world-class museum that will deliver on its vision and serve the needs of its patrons and local community while honouring and preserving this unique cultural asset of national significance,” Hyslop says.
This story has been updated to include information about two factories that operated in the area.
It’s a baby step to be sure, but a small drop in the incidences of community transmission of COVID-19 in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha is cause for optimism moving forward.
Countering that good public health news, however, is a dramatic increase in the number of suspected opiod-related deaths in May.
During her weekly media briefing held Wednesday (May 27), Peterborough’s medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra reported that 16 per cent of the total 83 positive COVID-19 cases found in the region have been a result of community transmission — down from more than 17 per cent seen over prior weeks.
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Dr. Salvaterra has stated that before a return to pre-pandemic activity can occur, that number in particular must come down.
“It is encouraging to see that number come down,” she said, adding “It’s hard to know how low we can get it, but we certainly need to keep our eye on that number.”
Referring to updated COVID-19 data for the region, Dr. Salvaterra notes the total number of 83 positive cases for the region marks an increase of seven cases over the past week. Of the positive cases, 71 have been resolved while 10 cases remain active, with a total of two COVID-19 related deaths reported.
More than 7,350 people have been tested, 450 of them over the past week. One of every 20 residents in Peterborough Public Health’s catchment area has now been tested.
Meanwhile, with an earlier outbreak at Kawartha Heights Retirement Living resolved, there are currently no outbreaks reported in the region — a first since the very early days of the outbreak.
Particularly encouraging is the low number of cases locally in comparison to the provincial average. In this catchment area, there are 56 positive cases per 100,000 people compared to Ontario’s rate of 178 positives cases per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the local incidence rate over the past week is 4.7 per cent, again much lower than the provincial incidence rate of 18 per 100,000.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 1 – 26, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Dr. Salvaterra says the relative success of local public health initiatives taken during the pandemic crisis hasn’t gone unnoticed in Ontario public health circles.
“I meet with all my medical officer of health colleagues at least three times a week by phone, and two of those calls are also with the Ministry of Health Emergency Operations Centre,” she said, noting best practices are shared during those chats and that some local initiatives have been adopted by other health units.
With the current hot and humid weather conditions, Dr. Salvaterra noted the particular challenge being posed in relation to outbreak control measures. With the province having extended emergency orders to June 9th, access to typical ways of cooling off, such as public swimming and wading pools, is prohibited for the next few weeks at least.
“We need to adapt our practices and find other ways to stay safe in the heat,” said Dr. Salvaterra.
“I’m hoping people will be able to take advantage of any existing shade in our outdoor green spaces. If you have vulnerable family members or friends, please check on them. The operation of businesses within this context is putting a strain on everyone.”
“Line-ups outdoors are the norm for people shopping for groceries and other essential goods. I’m asking everyone to continue to stay at home as much as possible and reduce the number of shopping related trips to weekly.”
Particularly disturbing for Dr. Salvaterra has been the receipt of complaints about human waste in public places including parking lots.
“This is simply unacceptable … it creates a health hazard and it is illegal,” she reminded, adding “Designated shoppers must be prepared to have no access to washrooms.”
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Dr. Salvaterra also addressed a recent dramatic increase in the number of local suspected opioid-related deaths with three reported in the last 48 hours, bringing to six for the total in May.
“That is more than the COVID-related deaths that we’ve had since March,” she said.
“We need to continue to address this critical public health crisis which in some ways is intensifying due to COVID-19. Know what to when an overdose occurs and call 9-1-1 right away.”
The substance causing these poisonings is not yet confirmed. However, Peterborough Public Health says there are some reports of a blue (both a bright blue and a dark shade of blue) and dark purple opioid product that is suspected to primarily contain fentanyl.
Users are reminded to never use drugs alone, avoid mixing drugs, carry a naloxone kit and keep it visible for others to see, do not use drugs at the same time as those with you, and test your drug using a small amount first.
In relation to the COVID-19 connection to the increase in suspected drug overdoses, health promoter Deanna Vandenbroek suggested a possible reason.
“One, for example, could be changes to the drug supply. There are limits to the borders and ports which affect what drug supply could potentially be here. If certain drugs are less available, people could be turning to more toxic drugs which they may have little to no tolerance for.”
Also participating in Wednesday’s media briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien, and Selwyn Mayor and Peterborough Board of Health chair Andy Mitchell.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 83 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 147 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There are no new cases to report today.
There has been a total of 39 deaths. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there are 26,483 confirmed cases, an increase of 292 from yesterday — the smallest increase since yesterday. A total of 20,372 cases are resolved, an increase of 414 from yesterday. There have been 2,155 deaths, an increase of 32 from yesterday, with 1,352 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 17. A total of 644,547 tests have been completed, an increase of 15,133 from yesterday, with 11,817 tests under investigation, an increase of 4,856.
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’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 83 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 71 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 7,350 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.
Confirmed positive: 170, including 147 in Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 11 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 145 Institutional outbreaks: Kawartha Lakes Retirement Residence in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls, Empire Crossing Retirement Home in Port Hope (no change)
*One positive case was transferred to a different health unit based on the person’s current residence.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change) Probable cases: 183 (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: 32 (no change) Total tests completed: 7,057 (increase of 36) Institutional outbreaks: None
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 26,483 (increase of 292) Hospitalized: 847 (decrease of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU: 150 (increase of 7) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 117 (increase of 4) Deaths: 2,155 (increase of 32) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,352 (increase of 17, 62.7% of all deaths) Total tests completed 644,547 (increase of 15,133) Tests under investigation: 11,817 (increase of 4,856) Resolved: 20,372 (increase of 414)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 1 – 26, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from May 1 – 26, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Members of the Peterborough Public Library can reserve library materials beginning May 28, 2020 and pick them up outside the library starting June 3, 2020. All returned materials will be quarantined for three days before being made available for other members. (Photo: Peterborough Public Library website)
Beginning on Wednesday, June 3rd, the Peterborough Public Library is offering curbside pick-up at its main branch at 345 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough.
On May 14th, the Ontario government announced the first stage of reopening the province during the COVID-19 outbreak, including that libraries would be allowed to provide pick-up and delivery as of May 19th.
Since that time, the library has been working to implement curbside pick-up in a way that protects the health of both library employees and members.
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While the library itself remains closed to the public, library members will be able to place holds on library material as soon as Thursday, May 28th.
Members will receive a notification from the library when their items are ready to be picked up. Items must be placed on hold prior to visiting the library; walk-up requests will not be accepted.
Scheduled curbside pick-up times are Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
During curbside pick-up, library employees will be practising physical distancing measures and frequent hand-washing, as well as using personal protective equipment when it is appropriate to do so.
You can place a hold on library materials by calling 705-745-5382 ext. 2340, or by visiting your account at ptbolibrary.ca. If you don’t have a library card, you can request a membership online at forms.ptbolibrary.ca/New-Library-Cards.
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Library material can be returned at any time to the exterior return slot, located on the north side of the library building off Simcoe Street and the Library Commons parking lot.
Library employees will not accept returned materials directly from members. All returned materials will be isolated for the recommended 72 hours before being returned to the library inventory for circulation.
The library also continues to offer digital resources on its website where members can access e-books, audio books, magazines, streaming video, and e-learning opportunities.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
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