Staff members of Hospice Peterborough wearing personal protective equipment. Since the beginning of March, the facility has followed an outbreak management plan by implementing and following strict pandemic protocols, precautions, and procedures. Only essential staff and visitors have been allowed to enter the London Street facility, all staff members and visitors have been provided with personal protective equipment, and deep cleaning and disinfecting has been taking place. (Photo: Hospice Peterborough / Facebook)
A resident of Hospice Peterborough has tested positive for COVID-19, the palliative care organization announced in a media release on Tuesday afternoon (April 28).
The asymptomatic resident had been transferred to the organization’s London Street location from a long-term care facility that recently experienced a COVID-19 outbreak.
“Awareness of this diagnosis has allowed us to maximize this individual’s comfort, while protecting their family and staff through isolation and other protective equipment measures and procedures,” says Hospice Peterborough medical director Dr. John Beamish. “We remain committed to our mission of providing optimal care to the dying, while supporting family and community through difficult times.”
There are no additional suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Hospice Peterborough residents or staff members.
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According to Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health has not declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the residence.
An Ontario Ministry of Health directive requires that a COVID-19 outbreak must be declared in a long-term care home when there is a single laboratory confirmed case of COViD-19 in a resident or staff member. However, the directive also states it may not be necessary to declare an outbreak for a new admission or re-admission to a long-term care home “if they have been in isolation under contact and droplet precautions since entering the home.”
Hospice Peterborough says that, since the beginning of March, the facility has followed an outbreak management plan by implementing and following strict pandemic protocols, precautions, and procedures. Only essential staff and visitors have been allowed to enter the London Street facility, all staff members and visitors have been provided with personal protective equipment, and deep cleaning and disinfecting has been taking place.
“As always the health and safety of clients, residents, family members, volunteers, staff, partners, and community members is paramount,” says Hospice Peterborough executive director Hajni Hos. “We have communicated each and every COVID-19 development and occurrence with our stakeholders and community since the beginning.”
You can now shop online for home improvement and building supplies at the new Restore website. (Photo: Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
If you’re been doing some spring cleaning and have some items to donate, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s three Habitat ReStores in Peterborough and Lindsay are now accepting donations.
You can schedule a contactless donation drop-off by calling Peterborough North ReStore at 705-750-1456, Peterborough South ReStore at 705-742-8572, or Lindsay ReStore at 705-880-4663.
For the first time, the ReStores are also accepting donations of good-condition clothing, shoes, purses, accessories, and even hangers.
ReStores in Peterborough and Lindsay are now accepting clothing donations. You must call first to schedule a contactless donation drop-off. (Graphic: Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
Donated items will be sold out of the Lindsay ReStore as part of a new pilot program.
All funds raised from sales at the Habitat ReStores cover the operational costs of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, a non-profit organization that builds affordable homes for families. This ensures that all donated funds go directly to support the building of homes.
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region has also launched a new online ReStore at habitatrestorepkr.ca.
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You can shop online for furniture, lighting, home decor and housewares, hardware, appliances, doors and windows, building materials, and more. New items are added daily.
Purchased products can be picked up, by appointment only, at each ReStore on specific pick-up days.
All pick-ups are contactless, so you need to be able to lift any purchased items into your vehicle without assistance from ReStore staff.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 86 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 138 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 39 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
That’s an increase of 6 cases, with 3 additional cases in Peterborough, 2 additional cases in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 additional case in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There have been 36 deaths, an increase of 1 from yesterday’s report. The additional death reported by Peterborough Public Health is of a person who passed away earlier this month; the person’s death was just determined to be due to complications from COVID-19.
Province-wide, there are 15,381 confirmed cases, an increase of 525 from yesterday’s report, and 951 deaths, an increase of 59 from yesterday’s report. A total of 253,040 tests have been completed, an increase of 10,852 from yesterday’s report, with 6,282 cases under investigation.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 86 (increase of 3 from April 27) Confirmed negative: 2,798 (increase of 481 from April 27) Results pending: 829 (increase of 116 from April 27) Deaths: 2 (increase of 1 from April 27) Resolved: 42 (increase of 2 from April 27) Total tests completed: 3,713 (increase of 600 from April 27) Institutional Outbreaks: St. Joseph’s at Fleming, St. John’s Senior Centre, Empress Gardens Retirement Residence, Extendicare Lakefield, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change from April 27)*
*Number of cases not reported.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
Confirmed positive: 158, including 138 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (increase of 2 from April 27) Hospitalizations: 10 (no change from April 27) Deaths: 32, including 28 in Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (no change from April 27) Resolved: 115 (increase of 2 from April 27) Institutional Outbreaks: Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Case Manor in Bobcaygeon (no change from April 27))*
*Number of cases not reported.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 39 (increase of 1 from April 27) Probable cases: 212 (increase of 4 from April 27) Deaths: 2 (no change from April 27) Hospitalized: 2 (decrease of 4 from April 27) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (decrease of 1 from April 27) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change from April 27) Recovered: 19 (increase of 2 from April 27) Total tests completed: 2,113 (increase of 260 from April 27) Institutional Outbreaks: Hastings Manor in Belleville, Moira Place in Tweed (no change from April 27)*
*Number of cases not reported.
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 15,381 (increase of 525 from April 27) Hospitalized: 957 (increase of 12 from April 27) Hospitalized and in ICU: 239 (decrease of 2 from April 27) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 187 (decrease of 4 from April 27) Deaths: 951 (increase of 59 from April 27) Total tests completed 253,040 (increase of 10,852 from April 27) Tests under investigation: 6,282 (decrease of 1,281 from April 27) Resolved: 8,964 (increase of 439 from April 27)
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario by public health unit, January 15 – April 27, 2020. (Graphic: Public Health Ontario)
By having the two downtown Peterborough farmers' markets on two separate days during the week, customers will be offered more options as to when to purchase local food. (Photo: Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market)
Peterborough’s two downtown farmers’ markets have announced their 2020 summer outdoor market seasons will begin in May.
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market will continue to operate on Saturdays at the Citi-Centre courtyard at Charlotte and Aylmer streets, while the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market will now operate on Wednesdays at the newly renovated courtyard at Peterborough Square at Charlotte and Water streets.
Both markets will operate as outdoor grocery stores, taking measures to ensure customer and vendor well-being, health, and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through ongoing dialogue with Peterborough Public Health, the operations of both farmers’ markets will be adjusted as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
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“Both markets will continue to promote and facilitate the measures already put in place at the Saturday market,” says Josh Blank, board member with the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Network. “We’ve introduced hand sanitizer stations, signage prompting best practices, promotion of pre-order and pick-up, and appropriate physical distancing between vendors and customers.”
Last year, the Wednesday market operated on Charlotte Street, with the section between Aylmer and George closed to cars to create a pedestrian-friendly market. This year, the Saturday market was going to move from Citi-Centre to the Peterborough Square courtyard as its new permanent summer location, with Charlotte Street between Water and George closed on market mornings.
For the interim, the Wednesday market will operate at the Peterborough Square location instead, with the Saturday market remaining at Citi-Centre. The markets will operate from these interim locations until at least June 30th. Decisions on locations for the longer term will depend on the timing of street closure approvals from the city.
The summer season for the Saturday market begins on May 2nd, and the Wednesday market on May 13th. Both markets will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will place an emphasis on the promotion of products from verified local farmers.
Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam providing an update on the federal government's COVID-19 modelling projections at a technical briefing on April 28, 2020. (Screenshot / CPAC)
The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada is slowing because of public health measures, but public health officials are still projecting as many as 66,835 cases and 3,883 deaths by early May.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, provided an update on the federal government’s COVID-19 modelling projections at a technical briefing on Tuesday (April 28).
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke from outside of his home in Ottawa to give the “bottom line” of the federal modelling projections.
“The measures we’ve taken so far are working,” Trudeau said. “In fact, in many parts of the country, the curve has flattened.”
“But we’re not out of the woods yet. We’re in the middle of the most serious public health emergency Canada has ever seen, and if we lift measures too quickly, we might lose the progress we made.”
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As the technical briefing, Dr. Tam began by providing an overview of the current status of the epidemic in Canada.
“There are now 49,025 confirmed cases, including 2,766 deaths,” Dr. Tam said. “To date, labs across Canada have tested over 740,000 people for COVID-19, with about seven per cent of these testing positive. Over 20,000 people have been tested daily, as provinces and territories continue to increase testing capacity.”
Dr. Tam said the objective for this phase of the epidemic in Canada is to control the spread of the virus, by using self-isolation and physical distancing to reduce the number of people any one person infects to less than one other person, ending onward transmission.
The status of COVID-19 in Canada as of April 27, 2020. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
Once that happens, the epidemic will die out. Currently, one person is infecting just more than one other person in Canada.
Epidemic growth has levelled off in several provinces, Dr. Tam said, with cases in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta driving recent growth.
Outbreaks in long-term care and seniors’ homes are responsible for most of the growth of the epidemic, and for 79 per cent of deaths. Outbreaks in other congregate living settings, such as homeless shelters and correctional facilities where physical distancing is difficult, are also driving the epidemic’s growth.
How Canada compares to other countries when it comes to COVID-19. (Graphic: Public Health Agency of Canada)
That said, the overall growth of the epidemic in Canada is slowing more than in many other countries. The number of positive cases in Canada was doubling every three days early in the epidemic, and is now doubling every 16 days.
The federal government first released modelling projections on April 9th. At that time, public health officials projected 22,580 to 31,850 cases by April 16th, with between 500 and 700 deaths. The actual number of cases on April 16th was just over 30,000, but with 1,200 deaths — around double the projection.
Current federal modelling is now projecting between 53,186 and 66,835 cases by May 5th, with 3,277 to 3,883 deaths.
Dr. Tam stressed that it is “critically important” to maintain current public health measures until the first wave of the epidemic is under control.
Relaxing measures too soon and too quickly could put Canada at risk of future epidemic waves, she said.
COVID-19 in Canada: Modelling Update – April 28, 2020
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). Assessment centres are also available in City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County (Cobourg and Trent Hills), and Haliburton County. (Photo: PRHC staff)
While the dramatic increase in positive COVID-19 cases reported in the Peterborough area over the weekend could be seen as discouraging, Dr. Lynn Mikula of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) says it’s a positive sign that stepped-up testing is doing its job.
“We have a lower threshold for symptoms and we are testing more people,” said Dr. Mikula, PRHC’s Chief Medical Executive and Chief of Staff, during a media briefing held on Tuesday (April 28).
“With an increased testing strategy, we expected to find more cases in the community. We’re looking harder and we’re finding them. We’re now getting a better sense of the prevalence of COVID-19 in our region.”
“I understand it’s really easy to look at the curve and see it going up all of sudden and feel discouraged,” Dr. Mikula says. “I’m not discouraged. We wanted to be doing more testing and we know it’s the first step to being able to get a handle on COVID-19.”
“I’m quite pleased that we’re starting to do this number of tests and getting a deeper understanding of what’s going on in our region. I would like to see us do even more testing.”
Since opening, the PRHC Assessment Centre has tested more than 2,600 people, but more than half of those tests have been conducted since April 16th.
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As of Tuesday (April 28), PRHC is treating one COVID-19 patient in its intensive care unit. The case of a second patient who was admitted with a COVID-19 diagnosis has been resolved.
“We have not identified any new cases among PRHC staff members,” says Dr. Mikula, adding “We continue to actively screen for symptoms in all patients, visitors and staff.”
An appointment with the PRHC Assessment Centre can be made by calling 705-876-5086. The centre is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
As of Tuesday morning (April 28), Peterborough Public Health was reporting 83 positive COVID-19 cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha — a dramatic increase since late last week when 61 cases were reported. The latest local numbers also show 713 test results are still pending.
To date, 2,317 tests have come back negative. Another 40 cases have been resolved. There has been one local COVID-19 related death: Peterborough photographer and retired psychologist Dr. George Dimitroff, 68, died April 12 at PRHC.
Across Ontario, again as of Tuesday morning (April 28), the total number of positive cases stood at 15,381 with 8,964 of those resolved and 951 deaths linked to COVID-19. A total of 253,040 people have been tested with results awaited on 6,282 tests.
Dr. Mikula noted PRHC’s Mobile Assessment Plus Response Team continues to support long-term care and retirement homes via on-site clinical assessments and testing as well as education and training on the use of Personal Protective Equipment. The team, she adds, will be on site at several homes this week.
Dr. Mikula again stressed that PRHC remains open for emergency care, noting “We have enhanced measures in safe to keep people safe.” Non-urgent tests, appointments, and procedures remain on indefinite hold.
4th Line Theatre in Millbrook is Canada's premier outdoor theatre company. (Photo: 4th Line Theatre / Facebook)
4th Line Theatre, the outdoor theatre company in Millbrook, is postponing the first play of its summer season.
The Great Shadow, written by Alex Poch-Goldin and directed by Deb Williams, was originally set to premiere on Tuesday, June 30th and run through July.
The theatre company’s board of directors decided on Monday (April 27) to postpone the show until the 2021 summer season.
“I am devastated to have to tell you this news,” writes managing artistic director Kim Blackwell in a letter to supporters. “I am heartsick for all the artists who will be affected by this decision”
“The most important priority of the company is to ensure that everyone who comes to 4th Line Theatre is safe and protected and that the theatre is following all provincial regulations. And that is the framework we used to make this difficult decision.”
Poch-Goldin has previously written The Bad Luck Bank Robbers and The Right Road to Pontypool for 4th Line Theatre. The Great Shadow is a comedy set in Trenton, Ontario in the roaring ’20s.
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Blackwell says everyone who has already purchased tickets for The Great Shadow will have a credit in their account for the show’s new date in 2021.
No decision has yet been made to postpone the second play in the 2020 summer season, the world premiere of Maja Ardal’s Wishful Seeing, scheduled for the month of August. The theatre company’s board of directors will make a decision in late May, according to Blackwell.
The postponement of 4th Line Theatre’s first production also means the charitable organization no longer has a source of revenue in July. To donate, visit 4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
The story has been updated to correct a misspelling of Alex Poch-Goldin’s name.
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay and Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Services are working together to provide mobile testing for long-term care, retirement, and congregate living facilities in the City of Kawartha Lakes. (Photo courtesy of Ross Memorial Hospital)
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay is launching a mobile COVID-19 team to support long-term care, retirement, and other congregate living facilities in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The team will assist with infection prevention and control (IPAC) education, staffing, and mobile COVID-19 assessment and testing.
The hospital has already piloted some mobile testing and IPAC education services and is working with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Services, and local long-term care facilities on next steps.
There are currently two COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Kawartha Lakes, one at Pinecrest Nursing Home and one at Case Manor Care Community. Both homes are located in Bobcaygeon.
The outbreak at Pinecrest, which was declared on March 20th, resulted in the deaths of 28 residents.
The outbreak at Case Manor was declared on April 26th after four residents and four staff tested positive for COVID-19.
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Another outbreak was declared at the hospital itself on April 17th, after a patient hospitalized for an unrelated health issue in the Continuing Care Program (CCP1) unit tested positive for COVID-19.
On April 20th, two hospital workers on the unit tested positive for COVID-19, but it has since been determined through contact tracing that one of the infections was unrelated to the hospital. Both workers are self-isolating and will require negative testing before returning to work.
If you are interested in supporting Ross Memorial Hospital’s COVID-19 response:
Donate to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation by visiting foundation.rmh.org or by calling 705-328-6146
Donate personal protective equipment (PPE) including unopened or unused surgical masks, N95 respirator masks, gloves, and waterproof gowns. To arrange a donation, contact Marc Sorensen at msorensen@rmh.org or 705-324-6111 ext. 8952.
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, 136 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 38 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
That’s an increase of 14 cases, with 5 additional cases in Peterborough and 9 additional cases in Kawartha Lakes. This is the third straight day of double-digit increases in positive cases (17 on April 26th and 10 on April 25th).
There have been 35 deaths, with no change since yesterday’s report. The most recent death was reported by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health on April 26th.
Four new COVID-19 institutional outbreaks have been declared: Empress Gardens Retirement Residence, Extendicare Lakefield, and Peterborough Retirement Residence in Peterborough and Peterborough County and Case Manor in Bobcaygeon in the Kawartha Lakes.
Province-wide, there are 14,856 confirmed cases, an increase of 424 from yesterday’s report, and 892 deaths, an increase of 57 from yesterday’s report. A total of 242,188 tests have been completed, an increase of 12,550 from yesterday’s report, with 5,001 cases under investigation.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 83 (increase of 5 from April 26) Confirmed negative: 2,317 (increase of 161 from April 26) Results pending: 713 (increase of 211 from April 26) Deaths: 1 (no change from April 26) Resolved: 40 (no change from April 26) Total tests completed: 3,113 (increase of 377 from April 26) Institutional Outbreaks: St. Joseph’s at Fleming, St. John’s Senior Centre, Empress Gardens Retirement Residence, Extendicare Lakefield, Peterborough Retirement Residence (increase of 3 from April 26)*
*Number of cases not reported.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
Confirmed positive: 156, including 136 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (increase of 9 from April 26) Hospitalizations: 10 (no change from April 26) Deaths: 32, including 28 in Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (no change from April 26) Resolved: 113 (increase of 1 from April 26) Institutional Outbreaks: Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Case Manor in Bobcaygeon (increase of 1 from April 26)*
*Number of cases not reported.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 38 (no change from April 26) Probable cases: 208 (decrease of 29 from April 26) Deaths: 2 (no change from April 26) Hospitalized: 2 (decrease of 4 from April 26) Hospitalized and in ICU: 1 (decrease of 1 from April 26) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change from April 26) Recovered: 17 (no change from April 26) Total tests completed: 1,853 (increase of 91 from April 26) Institutional Outbreaks: Hastings Manor in Belleville, Moira Place in Tweed (no change from April 26)*
*Number of cases not reported.
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 14,856 (increase of 424 from April 26) Hospitalized: 945 (increase of 7 from April 26) Hospitalized and in ICU: 241 (decrease of 11 from April 26) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 191 (decrease of 4 from April 26) Deaths: 892 (increase of 57 from April 26) Total tests completed 242,188 (increase of 12,550 from April 26) Tests under investigation: 5,001 (decrease of 2,416 from April 26) Resolved: 8,525 (increase of 525 from April 26)
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario by public health unit, January 15 – April 26, 2020. (Graphic: Public Health Ontario)
On April 27, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces a framework for reopening the province after COVID-19. (Screenshot / YouTube)
On Monday (April 27), Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled the government’s framework for eventually reopening the province’s economy after the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ford was joined at the announcement by Health Minister Christine Elliott, Minister of Finance Rod Phillips, and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli.
“Our government has developed a framework for reopening Ontario’s economy,” Ford said. “This framework is a roadmap. It will guide our collective decision making. It lays out the threshold we need to hit, the targets we need to work towards.”
Reopening will be gradual and occur in three stages, with no set timeframes for the stages. There will be two-to-four weeks between the launch of each stage to allow health officials to assess conditions before moving to the next one. This will determine if measures should be adjusted, loosened or tightened.
“The framework is about how we are reopening, not when we are reopening,” Ford added. “Let me be crystal clear: as long as this virus remains a threat to Ontario, we will continue to take every precaution necessary. We will continue to act based on the best advice available to us.”
“No-one wants the economy to open up more than I do, but we can’t take anything for granted. We can’t take unnecessary risks because, we’ve seen around the world, all it takes is one person. If precautions are not taken, one person infected with this virus can spread it to hundreds of others.”
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Here are three stages:
The first stage would include opening select workplaces that can meet current public health guidelines, allowing essential gatherings of a limited number of people, and opening some outdoor spaces.
The second stage would include opening more workplaces with significant mitigation plans, opening more public spaces, and allowing some larger public gatherings.
The third and final stage would include opening all workplaces responsibly and relaxing restrictions on public gatherings.
During all three stages, there would be continued protections for vulnerable populations.
When making decisions for each stage, the Ontario government will consider factors such as the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and the ability to implement protective and preventative measures in the workplace.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will advise the government on when it may begin to ease public health measures using a range of criteria, including:
a consistent two-to-four week decrease in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases
sufficient acute and critical care capacity, including access to ventilators and ongoing availability of personal protective equipment
approximately 90% of new COVID-19 contacts are being reached by local public health officials within one day, with guidance and direction to contain community spread
ongoing testing of suspected COVID-19 cases, especially of vulnerable populations, to detect new outbreaks quickly
The government also announced the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee to support Ontario’s recovery efforts by consulting Ontarians and developing a plan to stimulate economic growth and job creation, while maintaining the health and safety of the people of Ontario.
The committee includes:
Rod Phillips, Chair, Minister of Finance
Vic Fedeli, Vice Chair, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board
Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation
Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs
John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure
Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries
Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
The committee, along with MPPs, will be meeting with people and businesses across all sectors impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ontario first declared a state of emergency on March 17th and ordered the closure of businesses it deemed non-essential. On April 14th, the province extended the state of emergency until May 12th.
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