July 20 Office of the Mayor and Council Update
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Halton to move to Stage 3 on Friday
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Today Halton was given the green light to enter into the province’s Stage 3 of the reopening plan. That means on Friday, July 24 at 12:01 a.m. more businesses will be able to re-open, more people can go back to work and other services will resume.
This is welcome news for places like gyms and movie theaters that have been unable to operate since mid-March. Under the province's guidelines, it also means playgrounds can reopen.
As with each step of the reopening plan, the town has been closely monitoring the province’s rules and watching the municipalities around us reopen in advance. Our primary concern remains the safety and well-being of our community and as such, will be resuming services with these precautions in mind.
Just because we’re entering the province’s restart stage does not mean you should let your guard down.
On Wednesday, July 22 the regional mask by-law comes into effect, requiring face masks in all public indoor spaces in Halton. There are many exemptions so if you see someone without a mask I encourage you to be kind.
Also remember that mandatory masks are not a substitute for any of the other public health advice. Stay home if you’re unwell, wash and sanitize your hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes and keep your distance.
My three Cs of COVID-caution should also be followed: avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.
We’ve come so far in the COVID-19 pandemic – scroll to the end of this email for an updated timeline as we look ahead to the recovery.
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Items in this update:
- COVID case counts
- Unknowing superspreaders propel coronavirus pandemic
- The key metric that will tell if Canada is headed for a U.S.-style crisis
- Breathtaking global virus number show normal life is still far away
- Children over 10 spread COVID-19 as much as adults
- Early results find U.K. vaccines safe, induces immune reaction
- Town of Oakville Announcements
- Tree damage following yesterday's storm
- Oakville Hydro quickly restores power after storm
- Public computer access coming soon to OPL
- Halton to host interactive webinar for small businesses on new by-law
- Lakeshore Road reconstruction update
- Oakville and Bronte legions financially stable despite lengthy lockdown
- Provincial Government announcements
- More regions moving into Stage 3
- Province invites Ontarians to safely enjoy summer at Ontario Place
- Toronto asks for additional measures for restaurant, bars, indoor dining ahead of Stage 3 reopening
- Ontario Medical Association tells province to rethink allowing bars to resume serving indoors
- What Doug Ford, province got right and wrong
- Government of Canada announcements
- Emergency funds to organizations delivering support to those fleeing violence, abuse
- Government introduces legislation to support Canadian workers, businesses and persons with disabilities
- Canada Child Benefit is increasing again
- Liberals review rollout of social finance fund to combat pandemic fallout
- Feds order supplies to give two doses of COVID vaccine when ready
- Liberals revise wage subsidy, ease eligibility
- Alberta has most active cases per capita
- Millions of students in U.S. told return to school in fall unlikely
- Coronavirus patients swamp ERs in some U.S. states
- Outbreaks vary across China
- Cases continue to surge in India
- In other COVID-related news
- Yearning to travel as COVID-19 drags on? Here's what you need to know now
- How To Help Your Kids Turn Your Old T-Shirt Into Their Own No-Sew Mask
- What restaurants, their employees and customers should know about the new risks under Stage 3
- Doctor who survived COVID-19 bewildered by public disregard
- Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto after federal government rejects plan
- Lockdown fatigue, 'invincibility' causing more COVID-19 infections in young people
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Today’s Halton figures include data from Saturday and Sunday.
Total confirmed cases in Halton increased by
+7
from 803 to
810
with
0
new confirmed cases in Oakville holding at
266.
There are currently
2
COVID-19 patient being cared for at OTMH and 9 active cases in Oakville.
There were
+3
reported recoveries in Oakville, from 279 to
282
and
+13
recoveries in Halton Region from 821 to
834
.
Ontario is reporting 135 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death from the virus today.
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The total number of cases now stands at 37,739, which includes a death toll of 2,752.
There are currently 115 COVID patients hospitalized in Ontario, 37 of which are in ICU and 24 on a ventilator.
As of today Canada has 110,340 coronavirus infections. Provinces and territories listed 97,051 of those as recovered or resolved.
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COVID-19 deaths per million
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‘Superspreading’ events, triggered by people who may not even know they are infected, propel coronavirus pandemic
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Most spread the virus to only a few people — or none at all. But studies show a small percentage transmit it with alarming efficiency.
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The key metric that will tell us if Canada is headed for a U.S.-style COVID-19 crisis
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A recurring fear looms over newly reopened bars and restaurants, lurking over crowded aisles, clinking glasses and face-to-face banter enlivened by alcohol.
Are we sleepwalking toward an American-style coronavirus crisis?
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Breathtaking global virus numbers
show normal life is still far away
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South Africa was poised on Saturday to join the top five countries most affected by the coronavirus, while breathtaking numbers around the world were a reminder that a return to normal life is still far from sight.
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Children over age 10 spread COVID-19
as much as adults, study finds
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A new study has found that older children transmit the novel coronavirus to others as well as adults do, contradicting the perception that COVID-19 affects all young people less than it does the elderly.
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Early results find U.K. coronavirus vaccine
‘safe and induces an immune reaction
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Early data from a U.K. trial of a coronavirus vaccine shows that it appears to induce an immune response.
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Town of Oakville announcements
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Tree damage following yesterday’s storm
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Following yesterday’s thunderstorm there was some tree damage in town. Forestry staff are taking care of all unsafe situations first and will return in the coming days to properly prune trees damaged by the storm.
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Public Computer Access coming soon to OPL
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On Thursday, July 23 Oakville Public Library will be reopening Central Branch and Glen Abbey Branch for limited computer, public WiFi and printing services. Service time will be by appointment, with some drop-in availability. Visit
opl.ca
and OPL’s social media channels for more information.
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Halton to host interactive webinar for
small businesses on new regional mask by-law
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The Halton Region Economic Development Department is hosting a one-hour, interactive webinar on small business guidelines for the new Regional Mask By-law on
Tuesday, July 21
at 10 a.m.
The webinar will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Public health guidance on masks and face coverings
- By-law implications for businesses in Halton
- Resources to support businesses
Guest speakers will include:
- Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health
- Kelly Yerxa, Senior Legal Counsel / Jing Bo Yu, Assistant Corporate Counsel, Halton Region
- Jing Bo Yu, Halton Region Assistant Corporate Counsel
The webinar will also include a Q&A session. Participants will be able to submit their questions in advance upon registration.
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Lakeshore Road reconstruction update
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What's happening now
Allan to Reynolds
- Completion of granite pavers on north side
- Granite tree wells on south side
- Start installation of granite pavers on south side
- Removal of temporary wooden streetlights
Reynolds to Trafalgar
- Granite curb installation underway, south side
- Preparation for sidewalk installation south side
- Granular road base
Trafalgar to Dunn
- Installation of new services north side
Navy to Dunn
- Preparation for street furniture installation
- Navy intersection restoration
- George intersection deficiencies addressed
- New sidewalk on east side of George
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What's been completed
Allan to Reynolds
- Sidewalk poured south side
- Installation of granite paver base on south side
- Granite tree wells underway on south side
- Granite paver base installed south side
- Decorative street light poles installed
Reynolds to Trafalgar
Concrete road base removed
Installation of granular road base
Sidewalk removal on south side
Trafalgar to Dunn
- Services complete on south side
Navy to Dunn
- Granite paver and planter curb installation ongoing
- George intersection bollards complete
- Sidewalk pour north west corner of George
- Curb replacement north east corner of George
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Provincial Government announcements
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The Ontario government is allowing seven more regions to enter Stage 3 on Friday, increasing the number of businesses and public spaces that will reopen across the province. This decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and is based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower or low transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing.
The following public health units will be allowed to move into Stage 3 on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.:
- Durham Region Health Department;
- Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
- Halton Region Health Department;
- Hamilton Public Health Services;
- Lambton Health Unit;
- Niagara Region Public Health Department; and
- York Region Public Health Services.
The following regions will remain in Stage 2 until local trends of key public health indicators demonstrate readiness to move into Stage 3:
- Peel Public Health;
- Toronto Public Health; and
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Ontario will continue to assess trends in the public health indicators to determine when these final public health unit regions can progress to Stage 3. The Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health experts also continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to advise when public health restrictions can be further loosened or if they need to be tightened.
Businesses not able to open or resume full activities due to Stage 3 restrictions, or businesses that have ideas to safely amend Stage 3 restrictions or requirements, can visit
Ontario.ca/reopen
to submit a reopening proposal. Government and public health officials will review proposals and contact businesses for feedback or clarifications. Proposals may inform the potential loosening of restrictions as Stage 3 progresses. Proposals will receive initial feedback within 10 days of submission. A sector could be allowed to reopen or resume Stage 3 activities based on proposals submitted by businesses.
As the province carefully reopens, the health and well-being of Ontarians remains a top priority. The government is strongly recommending everyone to continue following public health advice, including practising physical distancing with those outside your household or social circle, wearing a face covering when physical distancing is a challenge or where it is mandatory to do so, staying home when ill, and washing your hands frequently and thoroughly. These measures are critical as more Ontarians return to work and access more businesses and services.
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Rethink allowing bars to resume serving indoors during Stage 3, OMA tells Ford government
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Ontario should rethink allowing bars to resume serving customers indoors as a large swath of the province enters Stage 3 of the COVID-19 reopening plan, the Ontario Medical Association says. "The evidence from other jurisdictions is that the reopening of bars carries significant risk," says the OMA president.
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What Doug Ford and Ontario got right – and wrong – in four months of fighting COVID-19
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The Star spoke to seven epidemiologists to analyze the province’s responses to COVID-19 from March through June. Journalists gave the researchers a timeline of decisions made by Doug Ford’s government, plus other key moments, and asked them to comment on actions they considered good, poor or somewhere in between.
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Government of Canada announcements
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Emergency COVID-19 funds to organizations delivering support to those fleeing violence and abuse
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Even before the COVID-19 emergency, too many Canadians were victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, online child exploitation and human trafficking. In recent months the pandemic has created additional and unprecedented challenges for survivors of sexual and domestic violence and the organizations that serve them. As we asked Canadians to stay home to protect public health, we also recognized that home is not a safe place for everyone. That is why the Government of Canada acted immediately to support women and children fleeing gender-based violence.
As part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, $50 million was allocated to support organizations providing services to women and their families fleeing violence, $40 million of which is flowing through Women and Gender Equality Canada. As previously announced, $30 million of this funding has already been directly delivered to nearly 700 women’s shelters and organizations serving survivors of sexual assault.
Today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development announced that $10 million in announced funding is being distributed to other organizations that provide important services to those experiencing gender-based violence. This funding began to flow in June as part of the second phase of the Government’s collaborative response to increased demands from frontline organizations working to heal and support women and children fleeing abuse.
Through both phases of this funding, the federal government is supporting nearly 1000 organizations across the country. The government is grateful to our partners, the Canadian Women’s Foundation and Women’s Shelters Canada, for swiftly distributing these much needed funds.
To date, more than 200 of these organizations have received funding and an additional 145 eligible organizations are expected to receive their funding in the near term. This includes organizations like the Community Resource Centre (Killaloe) in Renfrew County, Ontario, which has used the funding to offer virtual programming like group sessions, one-on-one counselling and online apps, in order to better reach those who may be isolated with their abusers. It also includes the Victoria Immigrant & Refugee Centre Society in British Columbia, which has used the funding to tailor their services to the needs of vulnerable women newcomers.
The Government is deeply appreciative of the hard work of frontline organizations across the country. See the full list of supported organizations,
here
.
Today, Minister Monsef is also announcing that an agreement has been reached between the Governments of Canada and Québec that will provide funding directly to the province to distribute to organizations throughout Québec. The $2.3 million that will be transferred to the province is in addition to the previously announced $40 million, which included $6.46 million in dedicated funding for women’s shelters and sexual assault centres in Québec.
Today’s announcements build on the work the Government of Canada has already undertaken to advance gender-equality and address gender-based violence, including the development of the first federal strategy to prevent and address GBV and the introduction of our $75 million National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. To keep communities and Canadians safer, we have taken action to prohibit over 1500 types of the most dangerous firearms. We have also taken steps to strengthen our justice system to ensure it is more responsive to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence. Recognizing the critical role they play in creating a stronger Canada, since 2015 we have provided more than $230 million in dedicated funding to women’s and equity-seeking organizations across the country and are supporting more than 500 organizations with multi-year funding.
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Canada Child Benefit is increasing again
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The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that starting today the CCB will be increased again for the 2020–21 benefit year to keep pace with the cost of living. This is on top of the one-time additional $300 per child qualified CCB recipients received with their May 20 payment as part of the Government’s response to COVID-19.
This means that for the 2020–21 benefit year, the maximum benefit will be $6,765 per child under age 6 and $5,708 per child age 6 through 17. This additional tax-free support ensures that the benefit continues to play a vital role in supporting Canadian families by helping to pay for things their children need such as healthy food, clothes and activities they can do together at home.
For example, a family with two children under the age of 6 and an income of $30,000 will receive $13,530. That is $252 more than last year and $3,080 more than in 2015, before the introduction of the Canada Child Benefit.
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Feds order supplies to give two doses of
COVID-19 vaccine when it's ready
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The federal government is ordering more than 75 million syringes, alcohol swabs and bandages so it can inoculate Canadians as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is ready.
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Liberals revise COVID-19 wage subsidy,
ease eligibility in bid to boost takeup
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Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the Liberals are easing eligibility rules for the government's emergency wage subsidy and changing the amounts businesses can receive.
The government had been under pressure to make the subsidy more accessible, specifically by loosening the requirement of a 30 per cent drop in revenues, so more companies under that cut-off can qualify.
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Alberta has most active COVID cases per capita, as some provinces see infections spike after reopening
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The number of people that currently have COVID-19 in Alberta is now roughly double that of Ontario on a per capita basis, following a spike in new cases after the province began reopening its economy in June.
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Millions of kids in the U.S. told
full return to school in fall unlikely
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Millions more children in the U.S. learned Friday that they're unlikely to return to classrooms full time in the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic as death tolls reached new highs.
In the U.S., teams of military medics were deployed in Texas and California to help hospitals deluged by coronavirus patients. The two most populous states each reported roughly 10,000 new cases and some of their highest death counts since the pandemic began.
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Coronavirus patients swamp
emergency rooms in some U.S. states
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A fast-rising rising tide of new coronavirus cases is flooding emergency rooms in parts of the United States, with some patients moved into hallways and nurses working extra shifts to keep up with the surge.
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Coronavirus outbreaks vary across China
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China says it has ended a coronavirus outbreak in Beijing that it has been battling since mid-June, even as it deployed its so-called “wartime mode” measures to a new cluster in the country’s remote northwest.
The Chinese capital marked 14 days with no new locally transmitted cases on Monday, signaling the end of an outbreak the city had been battling since mid-June. Beijing officials lowered the city’s emergency response level to three, the second-lowest level, on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a new cluster of cases continued to expand in Urumqi, capital of China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. Of 22 new coronavirus cases identified on Sunday, according to China’s National Health Commission, 17 were discovered in Urumqi. A total of 47 new cases have been recorded there since July 15.
Chinese health experts warned sporadic outbreaks were likely to become the new norm in the country for the foreseeable future.
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Cases continue to surge in India
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A new record surge of
40,425 reported cases
of coronavirus in the past 24 hours took India’s total to 1,118,043. The Health Ministry on Monday also reported another 681 deaths, taking total fatalities up to 27,497.
India has the third most cases and eighth most deaths in the world. A country of 1.4 billion people, India has been conducting nearly 10,000 tests per million population. More than 300,000 samples are being tested daily, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research, India’s top medical research body. With India’s national lockdown largely lifted, local governments have been ordering focused lockdowns on high-risk areas where new outbreaks are surging.
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In other COVID-related news:
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Yearning to travel as COVID-19 drags on? Here's what you need to know now
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on and provinces ease their lockdown restrictions, travel is opening up — slowly. Here's what you need to know now if you're yearning to take a trip — in Canada or beyond.
How To Help Your Kids Turn Your Old T-Shirt Into Their Own No-Sew Mask
One of the ways parents can avoid the inevitable power struggle with their kids over wearing a mask is by helping them make their own. Follow these steps to turn an old T-shirt into a simple mask without any sewing.
What restaurants, their employees and customers should know about the new risks under Stage 3
Ottawa and much of Ontario are navigating a new world this weekend, one that offers more freedom but also poses risks that shouldn't be shrugged off, say experts in both labour law and infectious disease prevention.
Doctor who survived COVID-19 bewildered by public disregard
An Alabama doctor who survived COVID-19 says he's bewildered and frustrated that some people aren't taking the disease seriously.
Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto after federal government rejects plan
The Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto this season after the federal government rejected the club's plan to use Rogers Centre on Saturday.
Lockdown fatigue, 'invincibility' causing more COVID-19 infections in young people
More young people are being infected with COVID-19, creating the potential for a severe outbreak, scientists warn. They say the change in demographics could be attributed to lockdown fatigue, increased testing or feelings of invincibility.
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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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