July 21 Office of the Mayor and Council Update
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Masks become mandatory at 12:01 a.m.
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At one minute after midnight, Halton’s region-wide mandatory mask by-law comes into effect. It requires everyone to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces and when physical distancing isn’t possible.
Many people are exempt from the by-law, whether it’s for age or medical conditions. We hope the community spirit Oakville is known for will shine as we navigate this new by-law. Please always be kind towards others.
Here in Oakville we’ve crushed the curve. We’ve not had a new cases since Friday, currently only have seven active cases and two hosptializations. We need to keep this up as we move into the Province’s Stage 3 of reopening on Friday and remember that masks are not a substitute for other measures.
Please continue to follow the public health advice of staying home when you’re unwell, washing and sanitizing your hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and maintaining physical distance.
Don’t forget my three Cs of COVID-caution, either: avoid confined spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.
We’ve seen a spike in the rest of the province today with more than 200 cases reported in a single day. Let’s not be part of that upward trend. We’ve come so far in the pandemic to lose ground now. Please scroll to the end of this email for the updated timeline and see where we are headed in recovery.
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Items in this update:
- COVID case counts
- No comparison to any other disease - four survivors describe their experiences
- Sign the CN intermodal e-Petition now
- How much the Halton portion of your tax bill may increase next year
- Provincial Government announcements
- Ontario unveils new approach to building long-term care homes
- Ontario takes steps to better protect lakes, rivers and fisheries
- Ontario leads top delegation at virtual Farnborough Air Show
- Bracing for more demand, Ontario seeks safe way to vaccinate during COVID-19
- Government of Canada announcements
- Creation of Essential Services Contingency Reserve through Safe Restart Agreement
- Retail sales rebound in Canada, recouping all of pandemic losses
- B.C.'s top doctor says province 'on the edge' of COVID-19 resurgence
- Alberta COVID-19 testing system overwhelmed as infections spike
- Cases spike in L.A. as 15 kids sick with rare virus-related syndrome
- New Delhi cases affect almost 25 per cent of population
- Financially troubled Lebanon sliding towards critical stage
- In other COVID-related news
- Halton school board rejects 'hybrid' model for classes this fall
- Doug Ford's mixed messages on masks not a good look
- Four charts analyze the numbers in Western Canada and Ontario
- Mayor supports delay in Toronto's move to Stage 3
- Child-care cash to help with urgent COVID-19 needs in sector, Hussen says
- Trump tweets image of himself wearing a mask, calls it 'patriotic'
- First Canadian and Black LPGA golfers used to room, travel together
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Did you receive this email from someone? Please consider signing up so you never miss an update.
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Total confirmed cases in Halton increased by
+1
from 810 to
811
with
-1
new confirmed cases in Oakville from 266 to
265.
There are currently
2
COVID-19 patient being cared for at OTMH and 7 active cases in Oakville.
There was
+1
reported recovery in Oakville, from 282 to
283
and
+3
recoveries in Halton Region from 834 to
837
.
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Ontario reported 203 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the most on any single day in about three weeks.
That brings the province’s total to
37,942
, 33,605 of which are considered resolved and 2,753 deaths. There are currently 120 COVID patients being treated in Ontario hospitals with 36 and 23 of those on ventilators.
As of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Canada has seen 111,329 coronavirus infections. Provinces and territories listed 97,566 of those as recovered or resolved, with a total of 4,872 still active.
Worldwide, almost 610,000 people have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins, with more than 14.7 million people infected.
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COVID-19 deaths per million
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‘There’s no comparison to any other disease’
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Four COVID-19 survivors describe their experiences
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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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Here’s how much the Halton portion
of your tax bill may increase next year
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Despite the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it looks like Halton residents can expect a traditional tax increase of about two per cent for 2021.
Regional council approved next year’s budget directions at its July 15 meeting that specify staff should prepare the document based on a tax increase at or below the rate of inflation of two per cent.
This would equate to an additional $5 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your home — $3 for regional services, and $2 for police services.
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Provincial Government announcements
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The Ontario government announced a new innovative Accelerated Build Pilot Program that will enable the construction of two new long-term care homes in Mississauga in a matter of months, not years. By working with Trillium Health Partners and Infrastructure Ontario, the province intends to add up to 640 new long-term care beds by 2021.
The pilot program is part of the government's plan to create new long-term care beds across the province that meet modern design standards, including features such as air conditioning and private or semi-private rooms, beginning immediately.
Through a range of accelerating measures such as modular construction, rapid procurement and the use of hospital lands, the government and its partners are targeting completion of the projects in 2021, years faster than the traditional timeline. Trillium Health Partners will work with Infrastructure Ontario to manage the day-to-day construction oversight, monitor commissioning, and provide timely status reporting on progress.
Large urban centres like Mississauga are areas of high service need and have a critical need for additional long-term care capacity, but they are difficult to build in due to issues like land availability and land cost. To overcome land availability and cost challenges, the homes will be built on land already owned by Trillium Health Partners.
Working together with long-term care and health system partners, Ontario continues to use innovative ideas and modern solutions to help end hallway health care and increase long-term care capacity in communities across the province.
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Ontario takes steps to better protect lakes, rivers and fisheries
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The Ontario government released its final bait management strategy to protect the province's lakes and rivers from the threat of invasive species and fish diseases. As part of this new strategy, the government will be establishing four bait management zones to limit the movement of live bait across the province.
Live bait that is harvested in one area of the province is often shipped, sold, and later used in another region. If unused bait is not disposed of properly, invasive and other illegal bait species that may be mistakenly mixed in with the bait, or fish infected with disease, have the potential to establish new populations or infect other fish in the new waterbody.
To prevent the spread of invasive species and fish diseases through the movement of live bait, four bait management zones will be established across the province. This will limit the movement of most bait to the same bait management zone where it was harvested. Individual anglers who wish to use live bait outside of their own bait management zone will be required to purchase bait from a licensed commercial bait operator in the zone where they will be fishing.
The final Sustainable Bait Management Strategy, posted on the
Environmental Registry
of Ontario, is a result of extensive engagement with bait operators, stakeholder groups, the public, and Indigenous communities. They provided input on key elements related to the use and movement of bait, the type of bait allowed, and administrative improvements.
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Ontario leads top delegation at virtual Farnborough Air Show
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The Ontario government is showcasing the province's world leading aerospace sector and innovative advanced manufacturing at
FIA Connect: A Virtual Farnborough International Airshow hosted from the U.K. from July 20 to 24, 2020. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade will be leading an online delegation of 34 companies to promote the province's strengths in aerospace technology and its advantages as a safe haven for investment, innovation, and stability in North America. The Minister will also be delivering a keynote presentation to the France Canada Chamber of Commerce highlighting Ontario's plan for economic recovery.
Among the industry's foremost annual events, the Farnborough International Air Show is transitioning to a digital format this year due to COVID-19. Ontario companies will connect with potential customers from around the world via digital business-to-business meetings, workshops and webinars, to promote Ontario's key strengths in aircraft final assembly, avionics, aerostructures and landing gear, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), engines, and satellites/spacecraft.
The Ontario government will continue to promote the innovations of the Ontario advanced manufacturing sector through its support for the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters'
Ontario Made
program. As the province reopens and continues down the path to economic recovery, the government believes it is more important than ever to support and promote Ontario's world-class manufacturing sector and its workers.
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Bracing for more demand, Ontario seeks
safe ways to vaccinate during COVID-19
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The race is on for a
COVID-19
vaccine, with scientists working around the clock to discover the key to stopping the potentially deadly disease.
But health officials are also planning for how they can safely administer hundreds of thousands of doses of a vaccine that’s already available, to prevent a perfect storm of infection in the fall.
They’re bracing for more demand while trying to navigate how they’ll deliver that vaccine in a new COVID reality that makes mass immunization clinics tricky.
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Government of Canada announcements
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Government of Canada announces creation of Essential Services Contingency Reserve through Safe Restart Agreement
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The Government of Canada is working to ensure that essential service organizations have access to the key supplies that they need to keep their members safe during COVID-19 as our economy reopens.
Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced that, as part of the Safe Restart Agreement, the Government of Canada is establishing the Essential Services Contingency Reserve, to which essential service organizations can apply for temporary, urgent access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical supplies.
The Contingency Reserve complements existing PPE support being provided to frontline health care workers by the Public Health Agency of Canada. It helps other essential service organizations bridge urgent, short-term gaps in their supplies to avoid any significant disruptions in services to Canadians. Eligible associations and organizations will be able to apply online for a range of equipment, available for purchase at cost. Support provided to provincial or territorial governments will not be cost recovered. Full details on the Contingency Reserve, including the application process and eligibility criteria, are available on the
Essential Services Contingency Reserve web page
.
This reserve marks another important step in providing support to help Canada manage through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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B.C.'S top doctor says province
'on the edge' of COVID-19 resurgence
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British Columbia’s provincial health officer says a higher number of COVID-19 cases over the last three days means the province could experience a rapid rebound of infections after successfully “bending the curve.”
Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday that B.C. recorded 102 cases of the virus since Friday because people have increased their contacts to 20 or 30 people in some cases, from a low of three to four, so it’s time to “pay attention now.”
Henry said she’s concerned the province is at a “tipping point” and it’s more challenging for public health workers to do contact tracing when an infected person has socialized with a high number of people.
Gatherings should be limited to six people, mostly outdoors, and people should know who they’re connecting with as well as have a “contact keeper” in case someone in a group becomes ill, she said.
“There are hundreds of people exposed over the last few weeks,” she said of events mostly involving young people at private parties in Kelowna, where more than 60 cases have now been connected.
“We know the more people get ill the more chances, even young people, will have severe illness (and) will end up in hospital and unfortunately some people will die,” Henry said, adding it could include members of the community who work in hospitals and long-term care facilities to whom the virus is transmitted.
B.C. has recorded a total of 3,300 cases of COVID-19 and 189 deaths.
A survey of over 394,000 British Columbians indicates younger people between the ages of 18 to 29 are experiencing more mental health and financial concerns, Henry said.
Many are not working due to the pandemic in jobs including arts and entertainment, accommodation, food services and retail.
Overall, 62 per cent of respondents indicated they’re concerned about the health of a vulnerable family member.
The survey also suggests only 67 per cent of people stay home from work when they’re sick, and Henry said there’s a need to address the reasons behind that.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said the 102 cases over three days, representing an average of 34 cases a day, may not be a lot compared with other jurisdictions in Canada but they’re enough to cause discomfort in a province that could reverse its positive trend on the pandemic.
“It is, I think, a sobering reminder of how fleeting success can be when we turn our backs on COVID-19,” he said, adding British Columbians need to recommit to measures such as physical distancing.
“There’s a place for common sense but right now there’s a need for COVID sense and to use it.”
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Alberta COVID-19 testing system
overwhelmed as infections spike
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Thousands of people, largely from Calgary, using Alberta Health Services online form to request testing, agency reports.
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COVID-19 cases spike in L.A. as 15 kids
sick with rare virus-related syndrome
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The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County were at their highest level at the weekend since the pandemic began, as 15 children were diagnosed with a rare and potentially deadly virus-related inflammatory syndrome.
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New Delhi cases affect almost 25 per cent of population
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Nearly a quarter of the residents in India’s capital New Delhi have had the coronavirus, according to a sero-prevalence study conducted by the country’s disease control organization.
With a population of more than 11 million, New Delhi has so far reported 123,747 confirmed cases and 3,663 deaths. The study conducted by the National Center for Disease Control found that 23.48 per cent of the 21, 387 blood samples tested showed the prevalence of IgG antibodies.
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Financially troubled Lebanon sliding towards critical stage
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Lebanon’s health minister says the financially troubled Mediterranean country, which has so far managed to contain the coronavirus, is
sliding toward a critical stage
with a new surge in infections after lockdown restrictions were lifted and the airport reopened.
The recently recorded double and triple digits of new infections were coupled with an increase in untraceable cases, raising concerns that a dangerous spread in the community could follow, Minister of Health Hamad Hassan told The Associated Press.
Lebanon’s early lockdown and strict measures to contain the virus were praised for slowing down the initial spread of the pandemic. Authorities have also aggressively tested, carried out random tests, and swiftly isolated infected areas.
But Lebanon’s crippling economic and financial crisis has proven more difficult to manage. In late April, the authorities began gradually easing weeks-long restrictions that threw tens of thousands out of work; Lebanon’s only airport reopened on July 1.
The government doesn’t appear ready to again tighten restrictions or impose another full lockdown
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In other COVID-related news:
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Halton school board rejects ‘hybrid’ model for classes this fall
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Doug Ford’s mixed messages on masks is not a good look
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Western Canada is open for business but COVID-19 is spiking: Four charts that analyze the numbers there and in Ontario
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Mayor supports delay in Toronto’s move to Stage 3 reopening
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Child-care cash to help with urgent COVID-19 needs in sector, Hussen says
Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says a quick infusion of child-care cash to provinces will be aimed at helping daycares pay for protective gear, cleaning supplies and extra space needed to reopen safely.
Trump tweets image of himself wearing a mask, calls it 'patriotic'
U.S. President Donald Trump, who for months refused to encourage mask wearing as a way to combat the coronavirus, on Monday tweeted a picture of himself with his face covered and touted his patriotism.
First Canadian and Black LPGA golfers used to room, travel together
Today on the Golfing Channel the LPGA’s first Black female golfer, Renee Powell, discussed in an interview how she used to travel and room with Canadian Sandra Post. In the interview, Powell mentions some of the struggles they had getting a meal.
Read this 1968 Maclean’s article for more about the pair’s untidy motel rooms and what it was like to be a lady golfer in the ‘60s.
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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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Food Banks experiencing record demand
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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. I
f you know or are aware of someone who is struggling, call 211 and get help to navigate the network of health, community and social service programs. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has interpretation for over 150 languages. And, if you are able, please consider supporting the Meals on Wheels effort by making a donation.
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Call the COVID-19 hotline
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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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