July 8 Office of the Mayor and Council Update
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Special Council Meeting tonight discuss need for mandatory masks in Oakville and Halton
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The debate surrounding the use of non-medical face masks has been heard around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here at home, we've chosen to follow the Region's Medical Officer of Health's advice that they should be worn in situations where physical distancing isn't possible while municipalities around us have been passing bylaws making masks mandatory in all public indoor spaces.
I've been wearing my mask since April when one was kindly gifted to me by a friend and strongly encouraged others to do the same, all along supporting our Medical Officer of Health's experience, expertise and advice to follow all of the public health measures, including keeping a physical distance of two metres from others, washing and sanitizing our hands and covering our coughs and sneezes.
Tonight, Oakville Town Council will discuss the cases for and against mandatory masks in Oakville and Halton Region. Our Medical Officer of Health has acknowledged her support of making masks mandatory if that's the conclusion we come to.We've heard from a great many residents and thank you for your input. Tune in live to tonight's meeting at 7 p.m. at Oakville.ca.
For a reminder how far we've come in the pandemic, please scroll to the end of this email for an updated timeline, which also looks ahead through our recovery.
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Items in this update:
- COVID case counts
- Pandemic accelerating, global peak still to come says WHO
- Public Health warns threat of resurgence not just hypothetical
- Town of Oakville announcements
- Paul Boissonneault appointed as new fire chief
- Provincial Government announcements
- Ontario starting down the path to growth, renewal and economic recovery
- Families of long term care residents warn of sweltering conditions
- Government of Canada announcements
- Plan provides Canadians with support to get through the economic crisis
- Highlights from today's fiscal snapshot
- B.C. extends state of emergency
- Africa's confirmed coronavirus cases top a half-million
- Brazil President confident in recovery
- In other COVID-related news
- These are the most likely — and least likely — ways to spread COVID-19
- 'Silent spreaders' may be responsible for half of U.S. COVID-19 cases
- Ontario mask bylaws could be difficult for businesses to enforce
- How Canadians and Americans are responding differently to wearing masks
- Canadians' COVID-19 fears are rising again — and the U.S. might be to blame
- Scientists say COVID-19 can lead to brain damage
- School pandemic plans don't work for working parents province told
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Total confirmed cases in Halton increased by
4
from 779 to
783
with
+2
new confirmed cases in Oakville, from 257 to
259.
There are currently
0
COVID-19 patients being cared for at OTMH at 12 active cases in Oakville.
There were
+2
reported recoveries in Oakville, from 270 to
272
and
+6
recoveries in Halton Region from 784 to
790
.
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Today, Ontario reported
118 new cases for a total of 36,178
Canada has 106,368 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases. Provinces and territories listed 70,166 of the cases as recovered or resolved.
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus has hit 3 million, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University. But U.S. health officials say the real number of infections is probably 10 times higher, or close to 10 per cent of the population.
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COVID-19 deaths per million
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Pandemic accelerating, global peak still to come: WHO chief
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After a record number of new COVID-19 cases were reported worldwide over the weekend, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that the pandemic is worsening despite some regions having appeared to slow its spread.
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Canada's public health agency warns threat of COVID-19 resurgence in Canada 'not just hypothetical
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While the COVID-19 epidemic in Canada remains "largely under control," one of Canada's top public health officials is warning that the potential for a significant spike in new cases "is not just hypothetical, as this is exactly what we are already seeing in some other parts of the world."
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Town of Oakville announcements
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Paul Boissonneault appointed as new fire chief
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There’s a new fire chief in town. At Monday’s meeting, Council appointed Paul Boissonneault
to the top position responsible for leading the Oakville Fire department. Boissonneault will replace Brian Durdin who retired as chief at the end of June.
Paul Boissonneault joined the town as deputy fire chief of operations in 2016. Prior to that, he served as a fire chief for the County of Brant from 2009 to 2016, and fire chief for the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio from 2004 to 2009. He also served on the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs as elected
p
resident from 2013-2016 and executive board member from 2009-2016.
"With more than 22 years of experience, including over 16 years in senior fire leadership roles, Council is pleased to welcome Paul Boissonneault to his new position as fire chief," Mayor Rob Burton said. "We are confident that his skills and years of experience will benefit Oakville Fire and support the continued delivery of first class emergency and fire protection services in the community. We are also extremely grateful for the exceptional leadership Chief Brian Durdin has provided to the fire department over the years and wish him all the best in retirement."
During his career with Oakville Fire, Boissonneault has led the operations division and has been actively involved as co-chair of the joint health and safety committee, program lead for Qlikview data analytics, dispatch and communications, recruitment and hiring, and labour relations.
“It’s an honour to accept this appointment,” said Boissonneault. “I look forward to serving the Oakville community in this new role and continuing to work with the exceptional team from all divisions of the Oakville Fire department.”
In the coming months, the town will be recruiting for another deputy fire chief to complete the Oakville Fire department’s leadership team.
Fire and rescue services in the town are delivered by more than 245 full-time personnel. The Oakville Fire department is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure the safety of Oakville residents and visitors.
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Provincial Government announcements
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The Ontario government is taking the first step in a made-in-Ontario plan for growth, renewal and economic recovery. Today, the province introduced the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, proposed legislation that lays the foundation to restart jobs and development, strengthen communities, and create opportunity for people in every region of the province.
If passed, the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act will:
- Restart jobs and development to get Ontario's economic engine roaring again by getting key infrastructure projects built faster, attracting more jobs and investment, and cutting red tape to help businesses adapt to the new environment.
- Strengthen communities by ensuring municipalities are equipped with the tools they need to continue to provide the critical services people rely on every day, including allowing municipalities and their local boards to continue to choose to hold meetings electronically at any time and putting in place a new community benefits charge to help municipalities pay for the infrastructure and services needed for growing communities.
- Create opportunity for people as they recover their lives and livelihoods by protecting consumers, modernizing services, improving the education system and removing the social and economic barriers that stand in the way of success for young people.
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Families of long term care residents warn of sweltering conditions in homes
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he's open to changing legislation that governs the province's long term care homes to mandate air conditioning after CBC Toronto asked him about families whose loved ones are living in sweltering conditions.
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Government of Canada announcements
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COVID-19 plan provides Canadians with support to get through the economic crisis
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The COVID-19 crisis is the challenge of our generation. The Government of Canada has responded with rapid and broad-based emergency support measures to protect the health and economic well-being of Canadians.
Today, Finance Minister Bill Morneau presented an economic and fiscal snapshot. The federal government has used its strong fiscal position to stabilize the economy and support Canadians by putting in place the largest economic aid package in generations.
While the toll of COVID-19 on the broader economy in 2020 is expected to be the largest and most sudden economic contraction since the Great Depression, measures to flatten the pandemic curve in Canada are paying off, and efforts are underway across the country to safely and gradually reopen the Canadian economy. The actions and investments of governments across Canada to date have helped us get this far. But the road towards recovery remains long and uncertain. Today, and in the months to come, our economic health will largely depend on our public health.
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan is ensuring Canadians have the support they need to put food on the table and keep a roof over their head. Representing nearly 14 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP), the Plan includes more than $230 billion in measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians and provide direct support to Canadians, businesses and other employers, and up to $85 billion in tax and customs duty payment deferrals to meet liquidity needs of businesses and Canadian families.
With comparatively low levels of debt, the Government of Canada has the room to borrow and support the Canadian economy. In fact, even given Canada’s increased borrowing needs due to the COVID-19 response, public debt charges are expected to fall in 2020-21, as a result of historically low borrowing rates.
Through responsible fiscal management, the government is building a bridge from an emergency to a safer place where we can build a more resilient economy for the future.
The government will continue to ensure Canadians are supported through this crisis and stands ready to take additional actions to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
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Highlights of Bill Morneau's 2020 fiscal 'snapshot'
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Finance Minister Bill Morneau has delivered an update on federal spending and economic projections linked to the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morneau is calling today's statement an "economic and fiscal snapshot" than the traditional economic and fiscal statement that comes between budgets.
Morneau was forced to put off his spring budget in March after the devastating economic effects of the pandemic became clearer.
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B.C. confirms 12 more cases of COVID-19 as province extends state of emergency to late July
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As B.C. once again extends its state of emergency, another 12 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, but no new deaths have been recorded.
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Africa's confirmed coronavirus cases top a half-million
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The continent-wide total is over 508,000, according to figures released Wednesday by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after South Africa recorded another day of more than 10,000 confirmed cases as a new global hot spot.
The true number of cases among Africa’s 1.3 billion people is unknown as its 54 countries continue to face a serious shortage of testing materials for the virus. “A tremendous problem, a real crisis of access,” the World Health Organization’s Africa chief, Matshidiso Moeti, said last week.
So far most testing has been concentrated in capital cities, but infections in many cases have spread beyond them.
Africa’s health systems are the most poorly funded and thinly staffed in the world, and already more than 2,000 health workers have been infected by the virus, according to the WHO.
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Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro confident in recovery
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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he is
confident that he will swiftly recover
from the new coronavirus thanks to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has not been proven effective against COVID-19.
Bolsonaro said he tested positive for the new coronavirus on Tuesday after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country.
The president told reporters he underwent a lung X-ray on Monday after experiencing fever, muscle aches and malaise. As of Tuesday, his fever had subsided, he said, and he attributed the improvement to hydroxychloroquine.
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In other COVID-related news:
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These are the most likely — and least likely — ways to spread COVID-19
From sitting on a patio to getting a haircut, 10 activities and their relative risk levels.
'Silent spreaders' may be responsible for half of U.S. COVID-19 cases, study finds
While no one wants to think of themselves as a super spreader of COVID-19, a new study has given support to the idea that "silent transmission" -- the spread of virus by someone with no obvious symptoms -- could be responsible for half of all novel coronavirus cases in the United States
.
Ontario mask bylaws could be difficult for businesses to enforce, legal experts say
As Ontario municipalities enact new measures regarding the use of masks in commercial locations, business owners could face difficulty when it comes to dealing with customers who refuse to comply.
How Canadians and Americans are responding differently to wearing face masks
Canadians are more likely than Americans to praise their government's handling of COVID-19 and keep their hands to themselves in public, but less likely to wear masks when out of the house, according to recent polling data.
Canadians' COVID-19 fears are rising again — and the U.S. might be to blame
Cases are down but COVID-19 concerns are rising in Canada as the outbreak runs uncontrolled in the U.S.
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Scientists say COVID-19 can lead to brain damage
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School pandemic plans don’t work for working parents, province told
l
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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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