Office of the Mayor and Council Update
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Updates on COVID-19 emergency
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By-law to enforce physical distancing signed today
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Following numerous reports of social gatherings on public property and individuals not maintaining the safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others, today I signed By-law 2020-019, the
Emergency Physical Distancing
By-law.
It supports the Provincial Orders made under the
Emergency Management Act
in order to protect Oakville residents by regulating physical distancing during the COVID-19 emergency.
Individuals not adhering to the physical distancing regulation can be fined a minimum of $750 and maximum of up to $100,000 for each offence, or issued an administrative monetary penalty in the amount of $300.
Today’s stark provincial forecast of the COVID-19 epidemic further underscores the need for additional Public Health measures, including an enhanced focus on enforcement and fines for non-compliance of physical distancing.
This is a step I would prefer not to make but I still receive daily reports of individuals who continue to take dangerous chances with their health - and the health of all the rest of us. The actions we take today will save lives.
Items in this update:
- Province releases COVID-19 modelling
- Updated list of essential services
- Call the Halton COVID-19 hotline
- Town connects with seniors
- Sign up for the Region's weekly COVID-19 report
- Changes to transit service starts Sunday
- Online portal for COVID-19 results launched
- COVID-19 cases continue to rise
- Support for food banks and organizations
- New bylaw orders Torontonians to maintain physical distance
- Healthy millennial describes COVID-19 infection
- White House projections already on the rise
- Paid and volunteer assistance services
- Safe walking and jogging tip
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Province releases COVID-19 modelling
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Today, the Province of Ontario released COVID-19 modelling projections that shows the virus could kill 3,000 to 15,000 people in the province over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the ramifications of which could last up to two years.
The modelling also shows that some 220,000 cases of COVID-19 were avoided with measures currently in place.
Read the full story
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Updated essential services list
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If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at
1-888-444-3659
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Following advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, on April 3, 2020, Ontario updated the list of essential businesses that can remain open. The restrictions are aimed at further reducing contact between people and stopping the spread of COVID-19.
By 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2020, businesses that are not identified on this list must close their physical locations.
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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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Town connects with seniors
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Staff and volunteers have reached out to 2,100 seniors services members through email and 1,000 by personal phone call. Through phone, we are in contact with about 200 members regularly so they stay socially connected and minimize the negative impacts of isolation. We are extending this program to Oakville retirement residences and looking to accommodate the Region’s request to expand to other isolated seniors including long term care clients.
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Sign up for Region’s
COVID-19 report
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Visit halton.ca/covid-19 to sign up for the Region of Halton’s COVID-19 Surveillance Report, which provides a weekly summary of COVID-19 cases in Halton.
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Changes to transit services start Sunday
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Effective Sunday, April 5, 2020, Oakville Transit will operate at a modified service level until further notice.
- Monday to Friday – Routes 3, 4, 5, 14A and 24 will operate hourly service from approximately 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Most other routes will operate hourly service from approximately 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with some routes providing rush hour only service.
- Saturday – Routes 3, 4, 5, 14A and 24 will operate hourly service from approximately 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Most other routes will operate hourly service from approximately 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday – Service will operate hourly service from approximately 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On Demand service: care-A-van and Home to Hub continue to operate with some restrictions.
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Online portal for COVID-19 test results launched
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Ontario has launched a
new user-friendly online portal
for the public to easily access their COVID-19 lab test results. By offering faster and secure access to test results on their computer or mobile device, this portal will help ease pressures on public health units and frontline workers to provide this information so that they can better focus on containing COVID-19.
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COVID-19 cases continue to rise
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There are 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Halton. As of 3 p.m., the Provincial Government is reporting 3,255 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario; this number includes those cases that have been reported as resolved or deceased. This represents an increase of 462 confirmed cases from the previous report.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, indicated that 11,747 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Canada with 152 deaths.
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Prime Minister announces support for food banks and local food organizations
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The Federal Government today announced an investment of $100 million to improve access to food for Canadians facing social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government will provide funding to national, regional, and local organizations across Canada that are able to reach people and communities experiencing food insecurity. These organizations will work with partners to meet the urgent food needs of Canadians, including Indigenous peoples and northern populations.
Food Banks Canada will receive $50 million while $20 million has been evenly divided between Second Harvest, Community Food Centres Canada, the Breakfast Club of Canada and the Salvation Army. The remaining $30 million will be kept aside to fill gaps and meet needs as they arise.
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New bylaw orders Torontonians to keep at least two metres apart in parks, public squares
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On Thursday, Toronto Mayor John Tory used his emergency power to sign a new bylaw that requires people to stay two metres apart from one another in city parks and public squares.
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I’m a healthy millennial. Getting COVID-19 was so much worse than I expected
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Breaking news reporter May Warren recounts her experience with COVID-19, citing that she felt ok, until she didn't.
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The grim death-toll projections the White House offered Monday have already been revised upward
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The graph presented from the White House on Monday stopped at about 3,500 deaths a day. The new estimate projects a possible worst-case peak of 4,400 deaths on April 21.
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Paid and volunteer services for food and errands
Oakville has a number of grocery delivery services available including Instacart, Grocery Gateway, PC Express and Walmart. However, demand for these services is high and as such, some planning is required.
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Safe walking and jogging tips
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When you're out for your walks and trying to maintain physical distance, one resident suggests that rather than zig-zagging across the road to avoid others, just walk parallel to and in the same direction as cars. This will avoid having to cross the road by simply keeping enough distance in front and behind you.
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Virtual faith and worship services
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Greening Sacred Spaces has compiled a list of virtual faith and worship services for each municipality.
Visit the Greening Sacred Spaces website for more information and links.
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Stay connected with helpful webinars
OakvilleReady is building a virtual community using Zoom technology to increase resiliency, community capacity and understanding around how we can support each other during this time.
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