August 4 Office of the Mayor and Council Update |
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Oakville crushed the curve in July |
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As we enter August, we should all take the time to reflect on the progress we made in July in reducing COVID-19 cases in Oakville and following public health guidelines.
Here are two figures to consider:
- In the month of June, we had 38 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, in July we had 19 new confirmed cases.
- In June we had 8 days with zero new confirmed cases, in July we had 19 days with zero confirmed cases.
This has been a collective effort by residents, businesses and frontline staff. By following the three Cs of COVID-caution we can continue to crush the curve in August: avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.
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On Friday the Province announced further measures for businesses and residents to follow:
I. All patrons will be required to be seated at all times, in both indoor and outdoor areas, with limited exceptions.
II. Bars and restaurants in Ontario will be required to keep client logs for a period of 30 days and to disclose the client logs to the medical officer of health or an inspector under the Health Protection and Promotion Act on request, which will support case and contact tracing.
In Halton Region’s latest COVID-19 Surveillance Report, our case and contact follow-up numbers were above the Provincial goals thanks to the hard work of our Public Health Unit.
Please scroll to the end of this email for the updated pandemic timeline.
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Items in this update:
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COVID case counts
- Even if there's a vaccine, pandemic may persist for years to come: Tam
- New study suggests a tiny fraction of Ontario has been infected with COVID-19
- Canadian privacy watchdogs support COVID-19 exposure app
Town of Oakville announcements
- Final property tax information
- Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton Documentary
- Region of Halton - Update from Halton Region's Medical Officer of Health
Provincial Government announcements
- Province Supporting Innovative Made-in-Ontario Technology to Sanitize PPE
- Ontario Provides More Supports for Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum
Government of Canada announcements
- How the COVID Alert app works
National News
- 7 in 10 Canadians signal support for new lockdown measures if COVID-19 resurges
- Canadian parents are setting up ‘pandemic pods’ during coronavirus: what are they?
- One in five Canadians report hardship due to border closure: Nanos survey
International News
- UK risks big second coronavirus wave if it reopens schools without more testing, study finds
- UN chief outlines ‘bold steps’ for education in the face of COVID-19 disruption
In related news
- COVID-19: ICU doctor runs 35 kilometres wearing face mask to disprove false claims
- Latin America exceeds 5 million COVID-19 cases, Reuters tally shows
- 90-minute tests that detect Covid-19 and other viruses to be rolled out in UK
- Manila back under lockdown as virus cases surge
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Oakville Town Council represents seven wards with a Town and Regional and Town Councillor in each riding.
Find and connect with your Councillor by clicking the link below.
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Confirmed cases in Halton increased by +1 from 827 to 828 with +1 new confirmed case in Oakville, from 271 to 272.
There are currently 2 COVID-19 patients being cared for at OTMH and 5 active cases in Oakville.
There were +6 reported recoveries in Oakville, from 286 to 292 and +7 recoveries in Halton Region, from 862 to 869.
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In Ontario there are 91 new cases today, bringing the total to 39,625, 35,601 of which are resolved. There have been 2,782 deaths in the province. Currently there are 78 COVID patients in Ontario hospitals, 28 of whom are in ICU with 15 of those on a ventilator.
There are 118,913 confirmed cases in Canada as of today with 103,284 resolved and 8,986 deaths.
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COVID-19 deaths per million |
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Even if there's a vaccine, pandemic may persist for years to come: Tam |
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says that vaccine or not, health officials are preparing to deal with the presence of the novel coronavirus and prevention of further spread for years to come.
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New study suggests a tiny fraction of Ontario has been infected with COVID-19 |
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A new study by Public Health Ontario suggests that the number of people who have been infected by COVID-19 in the province has been a tiny fraction of its total population.
From June 5 to 30, the study found 1.1 per cent of the samples were positive for COVID-19 antibodies.
Medical experts say the finding suggests the actual number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario was likely four times higher in June than the official case count.
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Canadian privacy watchdogs support COVID-19 exposure app |
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Federal and Ontario privacy commissioners have concluded their review of the country’s new COVID-19 exposure notification app and say they support its use following initial privacy and security concerns.
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Town of Oakville announcements |
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Final property tax information |
The 2020 final tax installment due dates have been extended to August 25 and October 26 for all property owners. Penalty and interest on all outstanding property tax for the remainder of the 2020 tax year are waived until the first working day in January 2021.
Any property taxes outstanding by January 1, 2021 will have penalty and interest applied, at a rate of 1.25 per cent per month as per Town By-law.
Final tax bills were mailed the week of July 6. Please contact ServiceOakville if you have not received yours by the first week of August.
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Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton Emancipation Day Celebration |
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As a part of the Virtual Emancipation Day celebrations the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton premiered their Legacy Voices documentary.
The documentary is now available to watch and share online.
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Update from Halton Region's Medical Officer of Health |
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Dr. Hamidah Meghani discusses the mental and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Take time to acknowledge the impact of recent stresses on your mental health. Remember: your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and taking care of yourself ensures you can be there for family, friends and others who may be struggling.
Here are some tips
• Stay informed but avoid too much exposure to media coverage.
• Structure your daily routine, such as when you go to bed, get up, exercise, eat, shower, dress, work and clean. Stay focused by controlling what you can.
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals. While it may be a little more challenging during barbecue season, try to focus on whole, plant-based foods as outlined in Canada's Food Guide.
• Be mindful of your alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption. You can consult Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines for ways to reduce the health risks of alcohol consumption. Call 311 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 and press 3 to get assistance to quit smoking.
• Try to get enough sleep. If you are having problems sleeping, cut back on caffeine and avoid screen time before bed.
• Exercise regularly to help your body cope with stress. Even 10 minute sessions of physical activity can boost your health.
• Learn how to meditate or practice mindfulness.
• Stay positive by looking for opportunities to laugh and have fun. Connect with others outside your social circles regularly by phone, text, email or video chat.
• Reach out to loved ones or call a mental health professional in the community if you need support.
• Remember to be patient with others. For some members of our community, public health measures such as physical distancing and wearing masks are especially difficult.
• And finally, resilience and hope are essential to the wellbeing of our community – please share examples of positive stories whenever and wherever you are able.
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Region of Halton looking for feedback
on Regional Official Plan
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The Region is seeking community feedback by September 28, 2020, in two ways:
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Take the general questionnaire: Provide high-level feedback on theme areas relating to the Regional Official Plan.
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Complete the technical questionnaire: Provide detailed feedback on theme areas relating to the Regional Official Plan. The technical questionnaire contains questions on each of the five discussion papers. It is designed to enable participants to only answer those questions for which they have an interest.
You can access the Regional Official Plan discussion papers and other related information on the Regional Official Plan Review at:
LPS52-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Natural Heritage Discussion Paper
LPS53-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Rural and Agricultural System Discussion Paper
LPS54-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Climate Change Discussion Paper
LPS55-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - North Aldershot Planning Area Discussion Paper
LPS56-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Regional Urban Structure Discussion Paper
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Provincial Government announcements |
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Province Supporting Innovative Made-in-Ontario Technology to Sanitize PPE |
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The Ontario government is providing Clean Works Medical and Pure Life Machinery with $2 million from the Ontario Together Fund to help manufacture a one-of-a-kind, sanitizing device called the Clean Flow Healthcare Mini. This Ontario-made device can decontaminate up to 800 N95 masks per hour along with other personal protective equipment.
The announcement was made today by Premier Doug Ford and Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
"This is an incredible success story about an Ontario apple farmer taking technology used to decontaminate produce and converting it into a device that can decontaminate personal protective equipment," said Premier Ford. "By making targeted investments and supporting these homegrown innovative trailblazers, we are not only supporting our economic recovery, we are also making sure we are ready with the necessary PPE and equipment should the need arise in the future."
With Ontario's support, the company will scale up the production of its Clean Flow Healthcare Mini portable disinfectant device to nearly triple its current capacity. The device is a Health Canada-approved innovation based on existing technology designed to disinfect fresh produce. The technology uses UV light, hydrogen peroxide and ozone to decontaminate surfaces. The technology can destroy up to 99.99 per cent of pathogens and viruses on surfaces, making them as sterile as an operating room.
"The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, and Ontario's innovators continue to step up and support our frontline workers, as well as our economy," said Minister Fedeli. "These projects are equipping Ontario with innovative solutions that can be deployed to help keep everyone safe as the province reopens and recovers."
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Ontario Provides More Supports for Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum |
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Ontario is providing families in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) with services to support their child's ongoing learning and development. Foundational family services such as family and peer mentoring, caregiver workshops and coaching will be tailored to the unique regional and cultural needs in different communities. These services will build on existing virtual and remote options introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak. The first phase of foundational family services is part of the ongoing implementation of the new needs-based, sustainable and family-centred OAP.
"Feedback received through public consultations and the OAP Advisory Panel highlighted the importance of having ongoing capacity-building supports available to families," said Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. "That's why family supports that put children at the centre of care are a key element of our new needs-based Ontario Autism Program. We know having virtual services as an option during this challenging time has become critical to families and service providers."
The first phase of foundational family services is launching August 7, 2020. Services will be offered at no cost in a variety of formats with individual and group supports and virtual and in-person sessions. Options may vary during the first phase of implementation as providers continue to expand their services and as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. For example, families may participate in an online group workshop to learn strategies to help toilet train their child and then receive one-on-one clinical follow-up afterward, or they may access coaching sessions to help with managing challenging behaviours. The services are based on a family's changing needs over time and their child's needs, strengths and developmental stage.
"In these unprecedented times, the needs of children and youth on the autism spectrum and their families are greater than ever," said Marg Spoelstra, co-chair, OAP Advisory Panel. "It is encouraging to see the new foundational family services being implemented province-wide as recommended by the panel and now through the sustained efforts of the OAP Implementation Working Group."
"Ontario's publicly supported providers are ready to increase their offerings for this essential component of the new OAP," said Jennifer Churchill, CEO of Empowered Kids Ontario - Enfants Avenir Ontario. "Building on the system that is in place aligns with the recommendations of the OAP Advisory Panel. The government is responding and that's good news."
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Social circles of 10 people will likely last until 2021, Ontario premier says |
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Social circles of up to 10 people will likely be sticking around until at least the new year, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says.
“This pandemic is not over,” Ford warned residents during his afternoon news conference on Tuesday. “It’s going to continue going and in my opinion – I could be wrong, I’m no medical professional – but, in my opinion, this is going until January, until we get a vaccine or hopefully sooner when we get a vaccine.”
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How the COVID Alert app works |
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Starting in Ontario
Ontario is the first province where people can use COVID Alert to report a COVID-19 diagnosis.
The app uses Bluetooth to exchange random codes with nearby phones.
Every day, it checks a list of random codes from people who tell the app they tested positive.
If you've been near one of those codes in the past 14 days, you'll get a notification
What's an exposure?
The app estimates how near people are by the strength of Bluetooth signals.
If you're closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes, the app will record an exposure.
Getting a positive test
If someone with the app is diagnosed with COVID-19, they can choose to upload the random codes their phone sent. The codes go into a central server.
The server only gets the codes. It does not get any information about the person.
Looking for exposures
Every day, whenever it has an Internet connection, your phone will get a list of the random codes from people who reported a diagnosis.
If it finds codes that match, the app notifies you that you've been exposed and explains what to do next.
Download the app:
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7 in 10 Canadians signal support for new lockdown measures if COVID-19 resurges |
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A strong majority of Canadians say they would support, or somewhat support, returning to lockdown in the event of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
A new poll conducted for The Globe and Mail by Nanos Research found that more than seven in 10 respondents indicated some level of support for closing all but essential businesses and asking exposed Canadians to self-isolate.
“Even with the economic uncertainty, Canadians are quite receptive to a shutdown of the economy again if there was a resurgence,” pollster Nik Nanos said.
“It’s pretty clear that Canadians understand that even though we may be doing okay, this is not over.”
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Canadian parents are setting up ‘pandemic pods’ during coronavirus: what are they? |
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With just a few more weeks of summer, Canadian parents are left with a tough decision: send their kids back to school during the coronavirus pandemic or attempt to homeschool.
Although the latter may not be economically feasible for all families, some parents are exploring taking homeschooling one step further by creating “pandemic pods.”
The idea is to have a small group of children — a pod — learning together. The parents, on rotation, can educate the children, or they can pool together funds to hire a tutor or teacher.
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One in five Canadians report hardship due to border closure: Nanos survey |
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Approximately 20 per cent of Canadians say they or their families have experienced some form of hardship due to the closure of the Canada-U.S. land border.
A new Nanos Research survey shows that while most Canadians report that they and their families have not been adversely affected by the closure, which has now been in place for more than four months, a significant number say they have been.
The survey was commissioned by CTV News and released on Sunday.
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UK risks big second coronavirus wave if it reopens schools without more testing, study finds |
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Britain risks a second wave of COVID-19 this winter twice as large as the initial outbreak if it reopens schools full-time without improving its test-and-trace system, according to a study published on Tuesday.
Researchers from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine modelled the impact of reopening schools, combined with continuing to gradually ease social-distancing measures, under a range of scenarios.
If schools reopened full-time, 75% of people with COVID-19 symptoms would need to be diagnosed and isolated and 68% of their contacts would need to be traced, according to their study published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal.
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UN chief outlines ‘bold steps’ for education in the face of COVID-19 disruption |
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The UN estimates that the pandemic has affected more than one billion students worldwide.
Despite efforts to continue learning during the crisis, including through delivering lessons by radio, television and online, many are still not being reached.
The UN chief said learners with disabilities, members of minority or disadvantaged communities, as well as refugees and displaced persons, are among those at highest risk of being left behind.
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In other COVID-related news: |
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ICU doctor runs 35 kilometres wearing face mask to disprove false claims
An ICU doctor in the United Kingdom decided to prove that it’s possible to do most activities while wearing a face mask, even going on a 35-kilometre run during a humid summer day.
Latin America exceeds 5 million COVID-19 cases, Reuters tally shows
Latin America broke through 5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, a Reuters tally showed, underscoring that the region is the area of the world hardest hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
90-minute tests that detect Covid-19 and other viruses to be rolled out in UK
The British government has procured "millions" of two separate coronavirus tests that can detect not only coronavirus but several other viruses common in autumn, winter and spring, the UK's Department of Health said Monday.
The tests will be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and labs across the UK from next week.
Manila back under lockdown as virus cases surge
Commuter trains, buses and other public vehicles stayed off the main roads of the Philippine capital Tuesday and police were again staffing checkpoints to restrict public travel as surging virus cases forced another lockdown.
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Halton Environmental Network is launching Pop-up Clean-ups! The socially distanced clean-ups are a safe and fun way to enjoy the outdoors while making a difference in your community. Not only will you be cleaning up litter, but you’ll be tracking the waste you find. The collected data will empower our community to make informed decisions on how to protect our environment.
You can either lead a clean-up or take part in one! Students also have the opportunity to gain volunteer hours for school credit with each clean-up they do. If you are interested, please register here.
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Sign the CN intermodal e-Petition now |
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This e-Petition is a collaborative effort between Milton RAIL, Milton Says No and Halton Region, to serve as the response from Halton residents during this last, vital public consultation period in the environmental assessment process.
The Review Panel Report states that the Project (CN intermodal terminal AKA Milton Logistics Hub) is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects on human health caused by air quality.
The Federal Government can still determine that the environmental effects to human health - 1,600 transport trucks on the roads every day plus the operation of a dangerous industrial facility - are justified. This would be set a devastating precedent for Canadian municipalities.
This petition is meant to ensure the Federal Government understands that significant adverse effects to human health cannot be justified.
Instructions:
1. Sign the petition
- There is no minimum age to sign
- Every signature, however, must have a unique email address (an email address may only be used once on the petition).
2. Watch for an email from the House of Commons! You must verify and confirm your signature, it will not count unless you complete this step.
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Food Banks experiencing record demand |
Oakville's food banks are in record-breaking demand. If you can donate anything, please do. Your help is needed.
Kerr Street Mission: 905-845-7485 or donate online at kerrstreet.com
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Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate under increased safety measures.
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Call the COVID-19 hotline |
For the duration of the pandemic, if a member of the public wishes to report an incident of non-compliance with the emergency orders, they may contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722
It is critical that our residents use 911 for emergencies only.
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