Inspections of big box and grocery stores will be ongoing, as compliance with public health measures can help prevent further illness spread in our community. During the month of August, Health Department statistics indicated that: We’ve seen the COVID Alert App effectively being used locally, as we’ve been told by individuals in our community that they made the decision to get tested after receiving an alert through the app and subsequently tested positive. Residents living in retirement homes and other congregate living settings, such as group homes and shelters, are some of the most vulnerable in our community. Please stay informed and continue working together to protect each other and help keep everyone safe. These residents are required to participate in daily phone calls with staff for ongoing monitoring and provide up to date contact information for all individuals that they had contact with during the period when the virus could be passed to others. Regulatory amendments with respect to bars and restaurants require businesses to collect contact information for only one person in a party entering indoor or outdoor dining areas, with exceptions. Support communication and engagement with parents and local communities, as well as the broader health care sector. Thank you for your cooperation with public health staff as you are helping to prevent others from getting ill. There is also information on cooking on a budget and budget-wise recipes which may help residents who are living with lower incomes at this time. It is safest to dine at restaurants with people in your household and use public facilities at times when they are less busy and it is easier to practise physical distancing. This means that the virus is spreading in the community and is not necessarily linked to travel or other known cases. The surveillance testing will help to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the temporary foreign worker and agricultural worker populations. I urge all eligible residents to get vaccinated as soon as it is your turn. Current evidence shows that the most common person-to person transmission of COVID-19 occurs via infectious respiratory droplets, which are produced when someone coughs, sneezes or speaks. The health and safety of Durham Region residents is our number one priority. While it is true that many will be lucky enough to have very mild symptoms that will resolve quickly, unfortunately, some will need hospitalization, some will suffer serious long-term effects and sadly, some will die. For further details, please refer to the Stay-at-Home Order and Provincewide Shutdown Advice from Durham Region Health Department, the Q&A document and O. Reg. Many of you have asked the Health Department for more information to help you understand the status of the spread of COVID-19 in our community. While the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike any situation we have experienced before, our emergency planning and pandemic preparedness activities have helped to ensure that we are ready to respond to this public health emergency. Please remember to stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or you have been in close contact with anyone who has been sick with the virus. Students, parents and staff are not to congregate in, or around school property. That is why I have issued instructions to commercial establishments, currently permitted to operate under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, Ontario Regulation 263/20 – Stage 2 Closures, to have a policy in place to prohibit people not wearing a non-medical mask or face covering from entering or remaining in the premises. Since May 1, approximately 143 cases have been identified at this apartment complex, which includes 47 new cases confirmed following a Health Department on-site testing event held on May 20 for residents of the four apartment buildings in the area. It is a very stressful time for all and sadly for some within our community, the challenges and hardships are far greater than they are for others. We continue to see increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases across the province. for staff/volunteers (e.g. However, many restrictions remain in place. A key change that applies to all residents is that no more than five people are permitted in any gathering indoors (more than five people living in the same household is not considered a gathering). Provide insightful information relating to the outbreak in Durham Region through our COVID-19 Data Tracker. have not changed and are recommended to reduce the spread of germs. Avoid having multiple staff doing the same task within a space. Ford backtracks on new police COVID powers. The health and safety of Durham Region residents continues to be our main focus. The class order is a legal tool to help ensure that agricultural farm owners/operators and staff comply with the directions set out in the order. Please visit Durham Region’s COVID-19 Community Resources for a list of community agencies that can support residents who are alone or need help. At the Health Department, staff are working very hard to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in Durham Region. Residents can find: information about COVID-19 testing and accessing test results; up to date information on COVID-19 cases in Durham Region through the Durham Region COVID-19 Data Tracker; a comprehensive Community Reopening Toolkit that includes guidance to residents and businesses to prepare for the safe reopening of our community; Section 22 class orders and special instructions that I have issued; information about non-medical masks and face coverings, and resources to help residents choose, make and use non-medical masks; up to date information about travel; and, additional facts about COVID-19. We will continue to offer vaccines to more populations as vaccine becomes available. We will continue to review new information, assess the risks to the public and will adjust our restoration plans as required. Residents may have also heard of COVID toes in the media, which refers to skin findings observed in some individuals with COVID-19, characterized by swollen, painful and/or itchy lesions on the feet, toes and fingers. Vaccine appointments will become available as soon as vaccine supply is confirmed. Are eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care. At the same time, residents should also pay attention to their health and any symptoms that require urgent attention. We have been supporting long-term care and retirement homes to implement outbreak control measures including following Ministry of Health directives, supporting appropriate use of personal protective equipment, increasing environmental sanitation, cleaning and disinfection, emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene amongst residents and staff, and we maintain daily contact with homes to provide additional public health support as needed. During the Provincewide Shutdown, Ontario’s colour-coded COVID-19 Response Framework will be paused. The Health Department’s nurses have also continued to deliver essential programs such as: providing supportive advice, education and referral to other services in the community; responding to questions about immunizations; investigating many infectious diseases to ensure those affected have the information they need; and they have ensured that clinical services such as breastfeeding and sexual health have remained open for as long as possible. As soon as notification was received, Health Department staff immediately began contacting individuals, parents, schools and child care operators to let them know what had occurred. VOC case information is also available by municipality. Completing this form helps the Health Department with the important work of contact tracing. The Health Department has launched a new online resource to provide businesses and the community with information on the various stages of reopening of services as announced by the provincial government. Special instructions and Section 22 orders for employers, workplaces and retail establishments. proper hand hygiene, staying home if feeling unwell, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces often, avoid touching one’s face, etc.) It is important that businesses reopen safely and comply with the restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. I acknowledge the dedication, care, compassion, and expertise that nurses who work in public health continue to show everyday. We are very supportive of these invaluable community initiatives and we are working closely with our community partners, such as the Durham Integrated Growers for a Sustainable Community (DIG), to provide advice, instructions and recommendations regarding the safe use of community and allotment gardens to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the community. Staff remains committed to providing support across Durham Region to ensure that all sectors and residents have the information they need to continue to protect themselves and their families. The Health Department is also reviewing all information provided by the Ministry to further understand our role, and we will be working with our local schools and school boards to develop and implement processes for responding to COVID-19 concerns. The following regions of the province to move enter the levels identified below: Grey-Lockdown: Niagara Region Public Health. Currently, individuals who are being vaccinated in Durham Region include health care workers and essential caregivers who work in hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings caring for seniors. By working together and taking preventive steps, we can limit the spread of illness and avoid a worse scenario. Please remember that it is the Health Department’s role to protect the health of the public and provide residents with the information they need to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Please continue to follow public health measures, stay at home as much as possible, avoid social gatherings, and where possible, work remotely. Health Department staff is committed to continue working with local schools and school boards to support planning and implementation of protective measures, to ensure the health and safety of staff and students in our area schools. We respond to requests quickly, facilitate testing when needed and ensure that results are received as soon as possible. This significant undertaking involves a collaborative approach which can only be achieved with the efforts and support of our local partners including long-term care homes, child care centres, Lakeridge Health, and our Social Services colleagues. Additional emergency measures to slow the introduction and spread of variants of concern have also been introduced. Community members will only benefit from using non-medical masks in public spaces when people are wearing masks appropriately. As we aim to control the spread of COVID-19 in our community, it is important that we all continue to do our part and take public health preventive measures during the holiday season. We understand that further meetings are being held between the school boards and the province on all measures related to school reopening, including issues around transportation. Performing arts facilities. Public health inspections are also still focused on ensuring that required preventative measures to safeguard against COVID-19 have been implemented. Over the past few weeks, the Health Department has implemented: enhanced surveillance testing and has supported testing of all staff and residents in long-term care homes and staff in emergency childcare centres; Region of Durham Paramedic Services is obtaining nasal swabs from retirement homes and other congregate settings; a new Community Reopening Toolkit was launched on May 29; there have been a number of enhancements to the Durham Region COVID-19 Data Tracker, including detailed information on institutional outbreaks and cases reported by exposure source; and, staff continues to focus on case and contact management and consistently exceeds the provincial target of contacting 90 per cent of newly identified cases within 24 hours. Visit the Durham Region COVID-19 Data Tracker often to keep informed about the status of COVID-19 across the Region. I recognize that all my staff and our partners have had to change regular activities, operations and schedules, and respond very rapidly. A BLACK Lives Matter rally will be held in Durham's Market Place on Saturday with police advising demonstrators to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions. COVID-19 inspection results and legal activities for other facilities not routinely inspected by the Health Department are also included (e.g., fitness facilities and various retail stores). As we do our work, we will not tolerate community members who engage in the use of profane, aggressive, abusive, sexist, racist or homophobic language. Our response has benefited from the expertise of administrative support staff, epidemiologists, nurses, paramedics and public health inspectors. The Health Department continues to receive numerous inquiries from residents about the availability of COVID-19 vaccine. The Federal government has introduced travel restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. Details on the definition of each indicator are available in the Technical Notes on the Data Tracker. Services are now being provided at the Breastfeeding, Oral Health and Sexual Health clinics. RDPS is made up of more than 330 advanced care and primary care paramedics serving the residents of Durham Region and surrounding area, responding to over 145,000 calls for service every year. The Health Department is continuing to fight the spread of COVID-19 across Durham Region and is working to help protect vulnerable populations in our community. The following regions in Ontario reported five or more COVID-19 cases: Toronto = 113. The virus enters a person’s body by respiratory droplets containing the virus that adhere to mucous membranes of a person’s eyes, nose or mouth. Please stay informed, follow public health instructions and continue to take public health preventive measures to keep yourselves and others safe. The class order issued for retail stores strengthens the Health Department’s ability to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the community. These limits cannot be combined; residents cannot have 35 people at their event. It is very important to stay informed and up to date with the most credible evidence possible so that you can protect yourself and others in our community. The amended order, which came into effect on Sept. 26, will: In addition, the province announced that it will work with municipalities and other partners to encourage increased enforcement of existing businesses, facilities, workplaces, etc., to comply with all public health and workplace safety measures and restrictions in the Stage 3 regulation. Have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by the Health Department or the COVID Alert app; Are a resident or staff member of a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified by the Health Department; and. We know that most members of our community are willing to do what’s right to protect all of us. Business operators should make every effort to remind customers to wear a face covering, but also be mindful that some in our community may be unable to wear a face covering for very valid reasons. Share. Our Infant and Child Development program will be providing virtual care to clients and the Immunization program will provide appointments for priority clients. All positive cases will continue to receive a call from public health; the virtual assistant helps prepare clients for further contact from Health Department staff and helps to focus the conversations on the follow-up, clarifications and instructions required thereafter. With so much material available to us, it is sometimes difficult to separate accurate information from false information. Staying informed and continuing to follow all public health guidelines will benefit the entire community. Please continue to support local businesses and follow the public health measures that they have implemented to help keep us all healthy and safe, and remember to stay local. In health care settings where aerosol-generating procedures are performed on an infected person, such as intubation, the procedures can generate airborne-spread which can scatter the virus further in the air and can be inhaled. How COVID-19 spreads: COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to others through respiratory droplets and aerosols created when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, shouts, or talks. Leave home only for essential reasons and if possible, use alternate methods to do your holiday shopping, such as on-line shopping or curbside pick-up. The gathering size limit increases to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors (previous limits have been 50 indoors and 100 people outdoors). You are urged to use the app for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, that way when people in your area report a diagnosis, you'll be notified if you were near them. People are strongly encouraged to stay home during the shutdown, except to obtain essential items such as groceries and for medical concerns. To be eligible for vaccine, all residents must be at least 18-years old on the day of their vaccination appointment. The provincial government is encouraging people throughout Ontario to establish a social circle of no more than 10 people who can interact and come into close contact with one another without physical distancing. Mobile clinics have been vaccinating certain priority groups and individuals who may have difficulty accessing larger clinics. We are committed to keeping area residents informed throughout the pandemic. Local businesses will depend on the continued support and cooperation of their clients to ensure everyone’s safety. Travel between regions should be avoided as it will greatly increase the potential for spikes in community spread and undo all the progress we have made. For more information on when to call 911, please visit the Emergency Services web page on durham.ca. We recognize how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has been on daily life, especially on the regular activities of children. Planning a fun outdoor activity such as a scavenger hunt with those in your household. The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA), one of Durham Region’s community partners, will re-open conservation areas on May 20. HMRC webinars for employers, employees and self-employed. Social gatherings increase the risk of illness for all attendees and those they have close contact with. Please leave only one message and your call will be returned in priority sequence. Beyond Stage 3, the government has acknowledged that further loosening of restrictions will depend largely on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, which could be months away. Stage 2 allows for the reopening of many businesses and workplaces including restaurant patios, recreational water facilities, some personal service settings, malls and other area services. Non-medical masks or face coverings can protect others from exposure to respiratory droplets of the individual wearing the mask. Appointments are also available at the Oshawa site located at Durham College/Ontario Tech University Campus Ice Centre. We know that older adults are at greater risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and physical distancing may be challenging for those living in group settings and using shared spaces. This year, it is safest to celebrate Halloween with members of your household and enjoy virtual celebrations with others. Effective Feb. 10, secondary students are required to provide daily confirmation/proof that they have self screened and must wear a mask while on school premises. In public spaces, including while swimming, playing and relaxing at the beach, it is very important for residents to practise physical distancing and stay at least two metres (six feet) away from anyone outside of their household or social circle. We will provide further information as soon as it is available. The Health Department has expertise in vaccine distribution and administration that spans many years. Ontario's new restrictions on outdoor gatherings raise eyebrows. Thank you to all our nurses who work in public health. Stay apart– Maintain a 2 metre (6 foot) distance from anyone who doesn’t live with you or who is not your essential caregiver. Please visit durham.ca/novelcoronavirus often to remain informed about local public health advice, measures and restrictions. As the provincial government has lifted numerous restrictions under Stage 3 and more businesses and facilities continue to reopen, the potential for community exposure to COVID-19 has increased. Users can also now easily filter for active outbreaks and type of facility/institution on the Institutional Outbreaks, and School and Child Care Centre Outbreaks tabs. If residents choose to wear gloves at a grocery store, touch an infected surface and then proceed to rub their eyes with their glove, there is a serious risk of infection. As at June 22nd in County Durham, there were 2,059 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases at a rate of 390.7 per 100,0001. Please visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines for the most up to date information about COVID-19 vaccine, priority groups and vaccine clinic locations. Provincial data show that an increase in illness is partly related to private social gatherings, along with outbreak clusters in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including strip clubs, with most cases in the 20 to 39 age group. Durham Region has now moved to the Red-Control level of the provincial government’s COVID-19 Response Framework. The Health Department’s response has benefited from the specialized skills of a diverse team of administrative and professional staff. When going outside for a walk, keep at least two metres (6 feet) away from others and remind your children to do the same. During Stage 2, we have seen many local businesses and workplaces reopen including restaurant patios, recreational water facilities, some personal service settings, malls and other area services. As key members of the Health Department team, our nurses have played a vital role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and we will continue to rely on them to help us through this challenging time. Due to the pandemic, we are seeing fewer clients than normal due to the need to maintain physical distancing. Now that we are beginning to see a decrease in the number of new cases reported in our Region, we can broaden the number of individuals with whom we maintain close contact. How many COVID-19 cases are there in Durham Region? Social gatherings of more than five people are also prohibited at this time. Clinical programs began to see clients on July 6 and we will slowly be increasing availability and the range of services throughout the summer. Ontario outdoor gathering rules raise eyebrows. As we are now managing vaccine administration in addition to other COVID-19 response efforts, the Health Department is receiving assistance from the Provincial Workforce for case and contact management. As of Nov. 7, Durham Region was moved to the Yellow-Protect level. The provincial government continues to ease restrictions and more businesses and services are opening in Durham Region. Readers can review: key highlights; a summary of cases over time; a detailed explanation of institutional outbreaks; a summary of case demographics; an explanation of how public health determines exposure source; and, an overview of case severity and outcomes. The Stay at Home Order requires everyone to remain home except for essential purposes such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health services, going outdoors for exercise, going to school or for work that cannot be done remotely. The Province of Ontario has provided a list of mental health and addictions services that are accessible online or by phone to support children, youth and adults who may be experiencing anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges, and for individuals who are unable to access their regular in-person counselling supports. Appointments for these new eligibility groups are now available for booking at www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or by calling 1-888-444-5113. The health and safety of all residents, including those in our area long-term care and retirement homes, are our top priority. Remind guests of public health advice to follow during the event, including physical distancing and wearing a non-medical mask or face covering indoors, and wearing one outdoors if physical distancing is not possible. Please visit us at durham.ca/novelcoronavirus often and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates. Our strategy to reach residents who live in these communities includes advising those who are 50+ or those who are turning 50 this year to register at a mass immunization clinic, establishing pop-up clinics for those 18+ living in these hard hit communities, and providing hot spot mobile clinics to further reach these target populations. We understand that personal health information needs to be shared to prevent and manage COVID-19, and that public health concerns are front of mind in this current pandemic. Residents can also visit the provincial COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres webpage for information on cases in schools and child care centres. Whether it is a public health nurse on the phone answering questions or working closely with a resident who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 to help identify potential risk for others, or a public health inspector who is responding to an outbreak or conducting an inspection to ensure public health measures are followed, please remember that their advice, direction or instruction is intended to prevent illness spread and deaths in our community. While this is a time of year when many of us usually look forward to spending the holidays with family and friends, sharing meals and having large gatherings, COVID-19 continues to spread across our region and we must remain committed to our fight against illness. The Health Department’s COVID-19 response to reduce the spread of illness and protect the health and safety of area residents is a true team effort. Social gatherings increase risks of illness spread for all attendees. Case management begins with notifying positive cases and collecting important information from people infected with COVID-19 to determine potential risk for the community. While our current focus is to support the implementation of precautionary public health measures in schools, Health Department staff will monitor any potential cases of COVID-19 in schools and is prepared to respond, and will engage in outbreak management with local schools based on forthcoming provincial guidance. These individuals have been pulled from their regular activities and quickly learned new skills to provide support and help keep the community informed and protected. The Health Department has a team of highly skilled nurses who have been working with their colleagues to keep residents and local stakeholders informed, support residents who are ill and protect those at risk of becoming ill. Over the past three months, our nurses have completed more than 48,000 phone interactions with residents and community partners, managed more than 1,100 COVID-19 cases, followed almost 2,200 contacts of confirmed cases of COVID-19, and completed more than 14,000 nursing assessments to determine if further medical intervention is required. This is not statistically significantly different to the North East region. On April 25, the Ontario government announced that community and allotment gardens can be used across the province. The new provincial framework includes some additional public health measures for business owners/operators and the public. The enhanced measures also provide them with the authority to disperse crowds indoors and outdoors, and closed premises. Between March 1st and June 12th there have been 657 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths registered in County Durham2. Please continue to stay informed, follow instructions and stay home when possible, so we can decrease the number of new COVID-19 cases in our community. Ontario has announced what level of COVID-19 response framework 27 public health units will move into on Feb. 16. Residents living in hot spot areas can also continue to book appointments at hot spot pop-up clinics. The province is continuing to expand eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine as part of its targeted approach focusing on hot spot communities and essential workers most impacted by COVID-19. Warnings, orders or tickets were issued for non-compliance with various public health measures such as: having a safety plan, active staff screening, proper use of masks or face coverings, and proper cleaning and disinfection.
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