Office of the Mayor and Council Update
Updates on COVID-19 emergency
As we head into the Easter long weekend I recognize we'll all be celebrating differently this year than ever before.

I had first-hand experience of how different celebrations can be during the COVID-19 pandemic when yesterday, on my birthday, I was forced to cancel my celebrations.

We can't gather with family for dinners this weekend, but we can recognize that by staying apart now we have hope that we can be together again in the future.

We can also be sure the Easter Bunny will still hide eggs for hunting as he's been deemed an essential worker in Oakville.

I wish you all a happy Passover and Easter and hope we can all stay healthy and celebrate together soon.
I'd like to express my thanks to everyone who reached out yesterday to wish me a happy birthday.
Items in this update:

  • New fines attack littering
  • Parking lots closed at town parks
  • Federal COVID projections released
  • Trudeau: Physical distancing the new reality
  • COVID case counts
  • Intimate partner violence - help is available
  • Ontario starts planning for economic recovery
  • Canadian Business Resilience Network goes live
  • Ontario Creates Partnership with Volunteer Hub to Help Seniors
  • Town phone a friend program
  • Register for a COVID conversation with local MPs
  • Oakville Businesses and Partners Support Canada's Pandemic Response
  • Food donations supporting those in need
  • Get your digital daffodil
  • Blue ribbons show you care
  • Study suggests further distance required when running, cycling
  • Rumours of Walmart closing store access are false 
  • Canada lost more than one million jobs in March, but April could be even worse
  • Brampton healthcare worker dies of COVID-19
  • Federal prison COVID rates rise
  • Hamilton 'surge' centre announced
  • London's temporary hospital
  • Proof of immunity
  • Programming and more at OPL
  • Positive messages
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New fines attack littering
Our office and Councillors continue to receive disturbing reports of individuals discarding personal protective equipment (PPE) on both private and public property. As such, today I enacted By-law 2020-058 to regulate discarding of PPE to ensure the safety and well being of our community.

We can all agree that face masks and gloves belong in garbage cans, not littered in our town, and now anyone caught not properly disposing of PPE can be fined under the by-law in accordance with the Emergency Management Act.

I also passed By-law 2020-059, to create Administrative Penalty fines of $300 for littering in our parks and in other public places.

The fines and/or administrative fees associated with the new by-law and amended by-laws are intended to encourage compliance with said by-laws during the COVID-19 emergency and I ask that we all do our part to properly dispose of all of our garbage, including masks and gloves.

Parking lots closed at town parks
In an effort to prevent people from congregating, parking lots at Tannery Park, Waterworks Park, Bronte Beach, Bronte Bluffs and Coronation Park are closed.
Federal COVID projections released
The coronavirus could infect up to 1.8 million people in Canada and cause 44,000 deaths, according to federal projections released Today.

That is a worst-case scenario, with very weak or no controls, but if Canadians follow physical distancing and cough shielding guidelines, a more moderate possible scenario could see numbers shift dramatically.

By April 16, the short-term trajectory could be in range of 22,580 to 31,850 cases, with anywhere from 500 to 700 deaths.

The mid-range projection would see 27,215 cases and a lower fatality rate.

Read the full story:
Trudeau: Physical distancing is and will be Canada’s new reality until a vaccine is found

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it will take months of a continued and determined effort to avoid a COVID-19 worst-case scenario.

Trudeau was commenting on models released this morning forecasting how the continued spread of the pandemic will pan out based on how aggressively Canadians follow physical distancing protocols.

He says Canada is at a crossroad and the outcome will depend on how people behave, given there could be ongoing waves of the coronavirus.

He says this means physical distancing is and will be Canada’s new reality until a vaccine is found.
COVID case counts
Halton’s total cases have increased by 21 from 228 cases yesterday to 249 today with 6 more cases in Oakville from 93 to 99.

Ontario has 5,759 total cases with 2,305 resolved, 200 deaths, 632 hospitalized and 264 in ICU.
Intimate partner violence – help is available
The Halton Regional Police Service is urging residents to remain vigilant in reporting suspected intimate partner violence. During these unprecedented times, victims are isolated inside their homes with their abusers, making it increasingly difficult for them to seek help.

In March 2020, our officers responded to 277 calls related to intimate partner violence and laid 149 charges. We also recognize that intimate partner violence often goes unreported to police.

That is why is the Service is asking that everyone looks out for their relatives, friends, neighbours and co-workers, who they suspect may not be safe at home. Check in on them regularly, establish a 'signal' word and call for help if you think that they are in danger.

"Now, more than ever, victims of intimate partner violence need the support of their community," says Deputy Chief Hill. "In a time of isolation, we must show victims that they are not alone and that help is available."

Victims or friends/family of victims are encouraged to contact the Halton Regional Police Service, Halton Women's Place or other community resources if intimate partner violence is happening.Shelters across Halton are still open at this time and Halton Women's Place continues to offer services.

Help is available.
  • Halton Regional Police Service Victim Services Unit 905-825-4777
  • Halton Women's Place 905-878-8555 (north) or 905-332-7892 (24-hour crisis line)
  • Halton Children's Aid Society 905-333-4441 or 1-866-607-5437
  • Nina's Place Sexual Assault and Domestic Assault Care Centre 905-336-4116 or 905-681-4880
  • Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) 905-875-1555 (24-hour crisis line
Ontario starts planning for economic recovery
Premier Ford Appoints Team to Develop Plan for Post-Pandemic Growth and Prosperity

The Ontario government has launched a new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee which will focus on getting businesses up and running and people back to work after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. While the government's primary focus is on combatting the virus, supporting frontline health care workers and providing immediate relief to people and businesses, this new committee will be developing a plan to stimulate economic growth and job-creation in the weeks and months ahead.

Canadian Business Resilience Network goes live 
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has established the Canadian Business Resilience Network in partnership with the Government of Canada to help the business community prepare and ultimately, prosper in the face of the pandemic

https://www.canadianbusinessresiliencenetwork.ca/
The Provincial Government is partnering with SPARK Ontario to help seniors and the most vulnerable stay connected and healthy as they self-isolate during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Seniors, people with disabilities, and others in need of assistance can also be connected to essential services in their community at any time by visiting www.211ontario.ca or by dialing 211 or 1-877-330-3212 (toll free). TTY service is also available by dialing 1-888-340-1001.

https://news.ontario.ca/oss/en/2020/04/ontario-creates-partnership-with-volunteer-hub-to-help-seniors.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p
  • New participants for the town's seniors phone a friend program can contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 to be added to the program.
Register for a COVID conversation with local MPs


The Oakville Chamber is hosting Minister Anand, Minister Joly and MP Damoff for a COVID Conversation Webinar Thursday, April 9 from 10 – 10:45 a.m.
Register:

Oakville Businesses and Partners Support Canada's Pandemic Response
As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Canada, there is an urgent need to address the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers. The federal and provincial governments have released a call to Canadian companies to provide supplies and innovative solutions, and Oakville businesses are rising to the challenge.
 
Thank you to ASTOUND Group, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Promation, and Virox Technologies for dedicating talent and resources to support the pandemic response!
 
Oakville’s international community has also come forward to provide support. The town’s Chinese Sister City of Huai’an generously donated 12,000 masks to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, delivered by Mayor Burton on April 8, 2020. 

Fare Share Food Bank accepting donations
  As the oldest food bank in Oakville, Fare Share has been providing for the needy since 1987.
 
During the COVID-19 emergency, volunteers are putting in extra hours to full orders and arrange for deliveries for those who could not otherwise take advantage of services.
 
Food donations have dropped off significantly and as such, Fare Share Food Bank is currently relying on cash donations to enable the volunteers to purchase food and distribute it
 
If you’d like to make a donation or use Fare Share’s services, please call 905-847-3988 or email  [email protected] .
 
Food for Life delivering essential goods throughout Halton
On Monday, March 30, Food for Life launched a program to deliver food and essential goods packages to vulnerable Halton residents who are self-isolating or otherwise unable to access these items. Halton Region provided $24,500 in start-up funding to support the initiative. As of April 7, more than 250 essential goods deliveries have been made to individuals throughout Halton. Referrals are being made from a variety of sources including Access Halton and community programs.

Food for Life also continues to provide weekly food security programming to vulnerable households across 10 HCHC communities. Over this week alone, 560 vulnerable households were assisted and this number continues to grow. Starting soon, fresh, homemade soup will be included with food distribution through  Food for Life’s  Good Soup project .  In alignment with public health direction and to protect the safety of staff and residents, all food is pre-packaged and delivered door-to-door while maintaining proper physical distancing.
Get your digital daffodil
For the first time ever, to support social distancing and ensure the safety of those we serve, the Canadian Cancer Society made the difficult decision to suspend all face-to-face fundraising activities in April and beyond.

Instead, they're offering 'digital daffodils'

  1. Donate and create a Digital Daffodil on cancer.ca/daffodil – a virtual badge to honour someone you care about to share on your social media channels.
  2. Share your reason for supporting CCS – post your daffodil on social media, or share with our community your connection to the cause, give encouragement to those in our community facing cancer during this difficult time, etc. Please tag us on Facebook at CCSBurlington, Twitter at CCSHaltonUnit and Instagram at CCSHalton.
  3. Encourage community members to participate in the CCS Digital Daffodil Campaign by doing the same.
Blue ribbons show you care

Communities are showing their support for frontline workers by tying blue ribbons around their trees.

You'll find many blue ribbons in Oakville, including at Dee McAulay's house. She's pictured her with her ribbon showing support of her son, who is working the front line as a police officer.
Belgian-Dutch study suggests further distance required when engaging in physical activity
According to a study by the KU Leuven (Belgium) and TU Eindhoven (Netherlands), When someone during a run breathes, sneezes or coughs, those particles stay behind in the air.

The person running behind you in the so-called slipstream goes through this cloud of droplets, thus suggesting that more than the required two-metres of physical distance is required between those running, cycling and even walking.

Canada lost more than one million jobs in March, but April could be even worse
 More than one million Canadians lost their jobs at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in March, a grimly historic one-month figure Statistics Canada reported Thursday, as the number of people applying for federal aid surpassed five million.

Rumours of Walmart closing access to stores are false
Today, the Office of the Mayor and Council confirmed with Walmart’s head office that rumours surrounding the closing of Walmart stores is false. Rather, the company is looking to expand pick up and delivery services, including directly to hospitals for the convenience of frontline workers.

Hospital delivery service will be available at North York General Hospital next week and Walmart is currently trying to negotiate the same service at OTMH. Stay tuned for more.

Brampton health care worker dies of COVID-19
A health care worker at Brampton Civic Hospital has died after contracting COVID-19.

An investigation revealed the Brampton man in his 50s likely acquired the virus in the community and not at work.

The William Osler Health System says it is “deeply saddened” and he was a “long-time environmental services associate.”
Federal prison COVID-19 rate increases
A total of 42 inmates of federal prisons have tested positive for coronavirus — a jump of about 30 per cent over the past day.

Correctional Services Canada says that’s out of 208 prisoners tested.

Quebec, with 19 inmate infections, has been hardest hit. British Columbia has reported 15. Dozens of guards have also been infected.
Hamilton 'surge' centre announced
Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre is set to become the city's temporary ‘surge’ shelter for Hamilton homeless during pandemic

Ottawa doctor says proof of immunity might be only way for fans to return to sports arenas 
After the coronavirus pandemic is conquered and sports re-emerges, it's likely a new layer of security will be introduced.

"It would be effectively barcode enabled," says Dr. Kumanan Wilson, an innovation advisor at Bruyère and a physician at the Ottawa Hospital. "Just like when you go to a sporting event [and] they scan your ticket, they are going to scan your barcode for proof of immunity."

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/coronavirus-security-measures-proof-of-immunity-1.5527046?cmp=rss
Oakville Public Library offers virtual programs, more
Oakville Public Library is offering virtual programs , including:
 
·   Live Family Storytime on Instagram and YouTube
·   Virtual Book Talks and Book Clubs
·   Teen writing contest - Write2Xpress
Brand-new 'Creation Challenges' on Facebook
 
With your library card, you can also access their online resources to read, watch, listen and learn! Some of their popular digital resources include The New York Times online, Hoopla, Lynda.com, Kanopy, and cloudLibrary.
 
If you live, work or study in Oakville you can register for a card online.
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.
Positive messages
"The greater the storm, the brighter the rainbow"

Oakville residents woke up to this colourful painted rock and it's inspirational message in their garden this afternoon. Others were placed around the neighbourhood.