Office of the Mayor and Council Update
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Monday, June 15 COVID-19 emergency
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Today Premier Doug Ford gave the green light for Halton Region, and Oakville, to move into Stage 2 of reopening. As of Friday, we’ll be able to do things like sit on patios and get our hair cut. It’s welcome news for many businesses that need to reopen, and those that have remained open but need to increase their services and offerings to stay afloat.
It might come as less welcomed news for those of us who worry that with more opening will come more spread of coronavirus.
With this reopening plan the province has shifted its focus from community level protection against COVID19 to individual self protection. That's why I wear a mask when I have to be near other people, and I avoid what I call the 3 Cs of COVID19 danger closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. The virus can only spread if it can reach new people.
Halton's Chief Medical Officer of Health and Ontario's CMOH are advising that it will be sufficient for people to keep 2 metres apart and to wear a mask when they cannot, as well as to continue to practice good hand hygiene. They are choosing to advise, not require, masks. In short, their opinion (and authority) outweighs mine.
We embarked on the restrictions three months ago being told we needed to buy time to ramp up our healthcare system by flattening the curve. We have done that. In fact, we have done it better than most. The proposition was that when our healthcare capacity was expanded, we would be able to, indeed, have to, turn and face the virus, confident in being able to get medical treatment if we needed it. We have reached that goal line.
So now we must venture forward cautiously and responsibly and remember how we have all sacrificed parts of our lives for the last three months to get us here.
This week we honour National Public Service week in recognition of the important role federal public servants play in making this country a better place. This year in particular has made very clear the contribution of the federal public service and its devotion to serving Canadians every day.
Today we also mark Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and following
the horrifying reports of the lack of care in some Ontario nursing homes recently, it’s a day we should all reflect on what we can do to protect our elders.
To remind you how far we’ve all come and what a difference all our sacrifices have made, please scroll to the end of this email for an updated timeline that looks ahead into Stage 2 of recovery as well.
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Items in this update:
- COVID case counts
- Face masks prevent infections
- COVID long-haulers complain of weeks-to-months long symptoms
- Responsible physical distance will help control second wave
- PM acknowledges Oakville company in daily briefing
- Endorsement for FCM's call for funding gains traction
- Police concerned over impact of COVID-19 on traffic collisions in Halton
- Ford to cancel Oakville-built Edge
- Provincial Government announcements
- Ontario moving more regions into Stage 2 on Friday
- Ontario eases restrictions on wedding and funeral ceremonies
- Ontario expanding data collection to help stop spread of COVID-19
- Ontario helps local business test and certify medical-grade PPE
- Ontario develops additional learning materials for students and teachers
- Ontario set to provide funding for child care centres
- Pandemic pay still pending for frontline workers
- Peterborough's downtown street closure dubbed 'a debacle' on first night
- Federal Government announcements
- More small businesses to access CEBA
- Ongoing humanitarian efforts in response to pandemic
- Canada Day 2020 celebration plans unveiled
- Liberals plan Canada Emergency Response Benefit extension
- Record spikes in cases, hospitalizations, sweep parts of U.S.
- UNICEF highlights COVID risks to children in Africa, Middle East
- The spread of misinformation
- In other COVID-related news
- Working from home? You're eligible for a tax break
- Teachers' unions propose ways for schools to reopen
- Parenting during the pandemic
- Parents face decisions to keep kids safe
- Last-resort intervention brings Toronto man back from the brink
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Total confirmed cases in Halton increased by 14 from 694 on Friday to
708 today
with 10 new confirmed cases in Oakville, from 229 to
239.
There were 4 reported recoveries in Oakville, from 225 to
229
and
10
recoveries in Halton Region from 651 to
661
.
The total number of deaths reported in Halton Region has decreased from 25 to
24
as there was a reporting error to public health that has now been corrected, this error was related to a case in Burlington which now has 6 deaths reported instead of 7.
Oakville’s community transmission rate has increased to 32 per cent from the last surveillance report, as pictured below.
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As of 11 a.m. today the health units had reported a total of 34,034 confirmed and probable cases, including 2,571 deaths — up a total of just 169 new cases since the same time Sunday morning.
As of the same time today, there were 99,070 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases in Canada, with 60,524 cases considered recovered or resolved.
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COVID-19 deaths per million
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As public spaces begin to mandate face masks, studies show they prevent infections
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As public transit and businesses in Ontario begin mandating face masks, new research shows that they can save thousands from COVID-19 infection.
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COVID-19 'long-haulers' complain of symptoms lasting weeks and even months
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So-called COVID-19 ‘long-haulers’ who believe they had the disease are complaining of waves of new and sometimes debilitating symptoms that persist weeks and even months after their initial sickness.
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Responsible physical distance will help control the second wave
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In an update from earlier in June Dr. Andy Thompson discusses caseloads around the world and how responsible physical distancing can help control the impact of the second wave of COVID-19.
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PM acknowledged Oakville company during daily briefing
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Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledge a local success story. The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy helped 22 employees at Oakville's Euro-Line appliance store earn a paycheque when the owners were able to rehire all staff thanks to the wage subsidy program.
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Endorsement for FCM's call for funding gains traction
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A growing chorus of business leaders, labour leaders and editorial boards is endorsing FCM’s call for emergency funding for municipalities. On Friday, the Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Global Cities Council
published a joint letter to the prime minister
calling for urgent action. In their words:
“Emergency support and new tools for municipalities is now critical—not only to keep frontline services running, but also to protect the economic recovery Canadians will soon be counting on.”
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Police concerned over impact of COVID-19 on traffic collisions in Halton
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While the coronavirus pandemic appears to have significantly reduced vehicle collisions in Halton and elsewhere, the roads are beginning to fill up again and that has raised concerns about how some drivers will adjust.
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Ford to cancel its Ontario-built Edge crossover, putting plant in jeopardy
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Ford plans to cancel its next-generation Edge crossover, putting the Oakville, Ontario plant that builds the SUV at risk for closure, according to reports.
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Provincial Government announcements
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Ontario moving more regions into Stage 2 on Friday
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More people will be able to get back to work as additional businesses and services in certain regions across Ontario can begin reopening this Friday. The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local medical officers of health, is enabling more regions of the province to enter Stage 2 of the government's reopening framework. These regions are able to reopen due to positive trends of key public health indicators at the local level, including lower transmission of COVID-19, sufficient hospital health system capacity, local public health capacity to assist with rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing provincially
.
Informed by public health advice and workplace safety guidance, and supported by the collective efforts of businesses, workers and families to limit the potential spread of the virus, the latest public health unit regions allowed to move into Stage 2 on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. are:
- 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 1 under ongoing assessment until trends of key public health indicators demonstrate readiness to move into Stage 2:
- Peel Public Health;
- Toronto Public Health; and
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
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The Ontario government is providing more flexibility on the number of attendees permitted at indoor and outdoor wedding and funeral ceremonies, in recognition of the importance of being with loved ones during the moments that matter most.
Based on positive public health trends the government is extending the number of people allowed to attend an indoor wedding or funeral ceremony to a maximum of 30 per cent capacity of the ceremony venue.
Wedding and funeral ceremonies taking place outdoors will be limited to 50 attendees. For both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, those attending must follow proper health and safety advice, including practising physical distancing from people who are not from the same household or their established 10-person social circle.
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In response to requests by community leaders and public health experts, the Ontario government is proposing a regulatory change to mandate the reporting of data on race, income, language and household size for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. This will help ensure the province has a more complete picture of the outbreak. This change will allow for the collection of data in a consistent way across the province, while ensuring the privacy of Ontarians is protected.
Under these proposed changes, individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 infection will be asked additional questions about their race, income, languages spoken, and household size. Individuals can choose not to answer any or all of these questions. Individuals' privacy is protected as it is for all information currently collected on other diseases.
Collecting data province-wide, and in a standardized way, will ensure a more complete picture of the outbreak is captured. The province will continue to work with local public health units and other health care partners to implement effective policies to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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The Ontario government continues to take steps to ensure the province is self-sufficient and prepared for the future by providing CSA Group Testing & Certification Inc. with $526,200 from the Ontario Together Fund to increase capacity for testing and certifying personal protective equipment (PPE).
The announcement was made today by Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
CSA Group Testing & Certification Inc. is a subsidiary of the Canadian Standards Association. The organization tests, inspects and certifies products to ensure they are in compliance with safety, environmental and operating performance standards. There is currently no domestic provider of comprehensive testing and certification for medical grade masks, gloves and gowns, however with the government's support, the organization will add new capacity to test and certify medical-grade PPE, including masks, surgical gowns and gloves.
Since launch, the Ontario Together web portal has received more than 26,000 submissions. More than 17,000 emergency supplies leads have been converted into more than $610 million in purchases of critical supplies and equipment to support staff on the front lines including, more than 21 million gowns, 168 million gloves, 123 million masks and over 4 million face shields. Over 6,600 ideas have been submitted through the portal on how to address the COVID-19 outbreak, including offers to retool their business to make critical supplies or to deliver needed goods or services.
The Ontario Together web portal is also accepting technology-driven solutions and services to help businesses reopen safely and to strengthen interprovincial trade and supply chains.
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The Ontario government, in partnership with Science North and the Ontario Science Centre, is creating additional educational content for students and teachers during the school closures resulting from COVID-19. The province is providing up to $1.5 million to create made-in-Ontario videos and resources to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning. The resources will align with the four science strands in the curriculum and will help students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
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The Ontario government is set to provide funding to cash-strapped child-care centres, which were given the green light to reopen as of Friday as the province continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Pandemic pay still pending for frontline workers
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Ontario says it has not yet paid approximately 375,000 frontline health-care workers a promised pandemic pay premium.
A spokeswoman for the province's health minister says the initiative is the largest of its kind in Canada and the funding will flow in "very short order."
The government says it has provided written funding commitments to employers, and that will be followed by the flow of money.
Premier Doug Ford announced the premium in late April, calling it a way of recognizing the sacrifices essential workers make as they fight the spread of COVID-19.
It included a $4 hourly raise over the next four months and a monthly bonus of $250 if they work more than 100 hours in a month.
But unions representing hospital workers have said not everyone in the facilities are included, leading to low morale.
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Peterborough’s downtown street closure dubbed ‘a debacle’ on Stage 2’s first night
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Closing Peterborough’s George Street to vehicular traffic to allow people to walk around at a safe distance was ‘a debacle’ that deterred business rather than stimulate it said DBIA executive director Terry Guiel.
Click the image to read the full story.
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Federal Government announcements
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More small businesses can soon access the Canada Emergency Business Account
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Today, Minister of Finance Bill Morneau announced that as of Friday, June 19, 2020, applications will be accepted so that more small businesses can access the
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). This means that owner-operated small businesses that had been ineligible for the program due to their lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll will become eligible this week.
To qualify under the expanded eligibility rules, CEBA applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 will need:
- A business operating account at a participating financial institution;
- A Canada Revenue Agency business number;
- A 2018 or 2019 tax return; and
- Eligible non-deferrable expenses of between $40,000 and $1.5 million.
Eligible businesses will qualify for financing of up to $40,000, with 25 per cent of this being forgivable based on the current terms of CEBA loans. Businesses can contact their primary financial institution for more information or to apply directly for CEBA. More information on the expanded CEBA can be found
on the program’s website.
CEBA is part of the Government of Canada’s
COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
, which is helping Canadians and businesses deal with the economic impacts of the pandemic. The measures under this plan will help businesses protect the jobs that Canadians depend on, keep their doors open, keep their employees on payroll, and recover quickly when the time comes.
The government continues to assess and respond to the impacts of COVID-19. It stands ready to take additional actions as needed to stabilize the economy and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
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Canada’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in response to COVID-19 pandemic
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Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, announced that in response to a request from the United Nations (UN), the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will provide airlift support to transport urgently needed medical and humanitarian supplies.
The CAF will transport these supplies to and from distribution hubs in Africa, Europe and the Middle East on behalf of the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization. As needs continue to evolve, the CAF will be flexible in its response.
This support comes in response to an urgent request by the UN to help maintain vital supply chains to vulnerable countries. It also complements Canada’s international efforts to address the ongoing pandemic, including by funding international partners providing life-saving humanitarian assistance.
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Canada Day 2020 celebration plans unveiled
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Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, unveiled the program for Canada Day. On July 1, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are invited to take part in an array of virtual celebrations to express our national pride.
This year more than ever, Canada Day is an important national celebration bringing Canadians together, even if it is done virtually.
It’s also time to commemorate some key events in our history, as this year marks the 40
th
anniversary of the official adoption of our national anthem, “O Canada,” and the essential role the Métis Nation played in Manitoba joining Confederation 150 years ago.
An exciting and engaging lineup
The roster of activities draws on what makes Canada strong: its diverse cultures, athletic and artistic excellence, Indigenous languages and cultures, and our spirit of innovation. Wherever you are, join in.
A virtual
Celebration Kit
is now available with interactive, creative and educational activities the whole family can enjoy. Check out the activity packs on the Canada Day website and share your experience with the hashtag #CanadaDay.
Canada, let’s get together!
Now and in the coming weeks, answer the call on social media from renowned Canadians like Chef Ricardo, travel blogger Gunnarolla, former football player Étienne Boulay and athletes from all over the country including figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond, sitting volleyball player Jennifer Oakes and former football player Shea Emery.
Short videos will be available on the
Canada Day website
on June 29, so you can experience these inspiring, moving and captivating moments with Canadians from across the country.
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Liberals plan Canada Emergency Response Benefit extension
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The Liberals are putting together a plan to extend one of the key COVID-19 benefits ahead of a parliamentary showdown on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he'll detail later this week how the Canada Emergency Response Benefit may remain in place for people who still can't return to work.
Canadians were able to access the $2,000-a-month benefit for 16 weeks, and millions are about to hit the maximum number of weeks they can claim, but still don't have jobs.
The New Democrats say a plan to extend the CERB is a must for them to support a massive government spending proposal due in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
A vote on the spending plans, representing about $87 billion, is a confidence motion so in theory the opposition parties could bring down the government.
The NDP's Jagmeet Singh said earlier today he thinks negotiations between the parties will avert a potential non-confidence vote.
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Record spikes in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations sweep parts of U.S.
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U.S. states continue to push ahead with reopening and President Trump plans an indoor rally despite coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in record numbers.
Click the image to read the full story.
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The Beijing outbreak has already spread to the neighbouring northeastern province of Liaoning.
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UNICEF highlights COVID risks to children in the Middle East and North Africa
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Tens of thousands more children younger than 5 could die in the next six months in the Middle East and North Africa because of the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.N. agency for children said Monday.
Young children face growing risks because the virus disrupts their access to primary health care, including treatment for severe malnutrition, pneumonia and neonatal sepsis, Ted Chaiban, the regional director of UNICEF, told The Associated Press.
The agency’s estimates are based on a May study by Johns Hopkins University which looked at the indirect effects of the pandemic on maternal and child mortality in low- and middle-income countries.
UNICEF presented forecasts for 10 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with a combined population of 41 million children under 5.
“If we continue to see populations not trusting the health system, not accessing the primary health care system, we could over the next six months see 51,000 more deaths of children under the age of 5, which represents a 40% increase on previous projections,” he said.
In a “best-case scenario,” an additional 11,000 young children would die in the next six months because of the knock-on effects of the pandemic.
Particularly worrisome is the situation in Yemen, Sudan and Djibouti where health care systems were fragile even before the pandemic, he said.
UNICEF and the World Health Organization called on governments in the region to resume immunization campaigns and nutrition services and ensure access to primary health care centres.
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The spread of misinformation
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"
An innocent man faced a torrent of online threats
and abuse after being mistakenly identified in a viral video in which an angry cyclist hurt a child," reports the BBC:Mr. Weinberg was falsely identified when the wrong date was attached to the initial appeal made by the police in Bethesda, U.S. Mr. Weinberg used the popular fitness tracking app Strava, which showed him as having been on the Maryland bike trail on that day.
However on the correct date he was working at home...
Once his address had been shared by others — a practice known as doxxing —
the police had to patrol the area for his safety
, reported New York magazine... Mr. Weinberg has since received dozens of apologies from people who abused him online.
Weinberg mistakenly thought his app only shared his bike-ride routes with his network of friends, New York Magazine reports.
They add that Weinberg also discovered tweets wrongly accusing another man — a former police officer in Maryland — which had been retweeted and liked more than half a million times. And that the woman who'd posted Weinberg's home address later "deleted it and posted an apology, writing that in all of her eagerness to see justice served, she was swept up in the mob that so gleefully shared misinformation, depriving someone of their own right to justice.
"Her correction was shared by fewer than a dozen people."
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In other COVID-related news:
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is necessary to quickly gather data to inform the public and decision makers. Currently, Stats Canada is asking about the challenges of parenting during the pandemic.
Is the adversity of having the kids home 24/7 worse than shipping them off to daycare during the COVID-19 pandemic?
COVID-19 was killing him. How a last-resort intervention brought this Toronto man back from the brink
Read the story of one of of 32 Ontario patients with COVID-19 who have so far received a sophisticated life support at Toronto General.
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June is Pride Month, and OPL is teaming up with other Halton region libraries to virtually celebrate our 2SLGBTQ+ community!
Share with OPL your artwork, poems, stories or videos that showcase what Pride means to you on
Facebook
,
Twitter
or
Instagram
and tag
#OakvilleLibrary
and
#HaltonPrideExpo.
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We're bringing the party to you, eh
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The Town of Oakville is excited to bring you a full day of virtual entertainment and activities you can do from the comfort of your home on July 1, 2020.
We invite you to enjoy musical performances, Canada Day themed challenges, a town-wide singing of O Canada, virtual fireworks display, and more!
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Sunset Cinema @ Home: June 19
Stay home, stay healthy, and support Oakville Hospital healthcare heroes! Join
the Oakville Hospital Foundation
for Sunset Cinema @ Home, the perfect summer movie night on Friday, June 19 at 7pm.
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The virtual edition of the Walk to End ALS event will take place June 21. ALS partner, Brain Canada, is offering a dollar for dollar match of up to $1 million to invest in promising ALS research.
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Oakville Public Library is now offering contactless holds pickups and the ability to return borrowed library materials at select locations. Details at opl.on.ca
Branches: Glen Abbey – Iroquois Ridge - Woodside
Library Take-out and materials return will be available from 11:30-7 on Tuesday and Thursday and 9:30-5 on Saturday.
The materials return process follows the same after-hours process as pre-COVID19.
Library Take-Out holds pick-up process:
Customers can place holds as usual from
www.opl.ca
, or
- a.by calling one of the open branches during open hours
i. GA -
(905) 815-2039)
ii. IR -
(905) 338-4247
iii. WS -
(905) 815-2036
Once their hold is available, customers will be contacted either by email or phone to select a pick-up slot. Each time slot is 30 minutes and has limited spots available.
On their selected date/time, customers can arrive at their indicated branch and pick-up their hold(s) from the vestibule.
Customers enjoy their new materials
Monday, June 15
•
12 pm
Let's Talk About Books, Movies & More: Local Authors
This week, we'll discuss our favourite books, movies and more that relate to local authors. "Let's Talk About" are weekly, virtual sessions that explore different themes in arts, culture and literature.
Join us on
Zoom
(Meeting ID: 974 0002 2387) or call 1-647-558-0588.
Tuesdays & Thursdays • 10 am
Family Storytime on Instagram Live
Tuesdays & Thursdays • 2 pm
Kids Library Club
Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays as we explore fun activities in the fields of science, technology, art and more! Tuesday's session will be
Storytelling
and Thursday is
Photography
. Limited spaces.
Thursday, June 18
•
11 am
Let's Talk About Books, Movies & More: Guilty Pleasures
This week, we'll discuss our favourite books, movies and more that relate to guilty pleasures
.
"Let's Talk About" are weekly, virtual sessions that explore different themes in arts, culture and literature.
Join us on
Zoom
(Meeting ID: 986 6422 2815) or call 1-647-558-0588.
Friday, June 19 • 10 am
An informal, weekly craft meetup to share what you’re working on, and gather inspiration from fellow craft enthusiasts.
Join us on
Zoom
(Meeting ID: 936 5905 6875, Password: 756445) or call 1-647 374 4685.
Fridays and Saturdays • 10 am
Family Storytime on YouTube
Follow
OPL on YouTube
and enjoy pre-recorded Family Storytime on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 am. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube page so you don't miss out!
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Staff Book Recommendations on YouTube
Listen to over 100 short book reviews from OPL staff, uploaded weekly on
YouTube
.
Daily
Virtual Tech Help
Book a virtual one-on-one session for basic technology assistance. Limited sessions.
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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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Downtown Oakville Instagram live series
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On Wednesday, May 6 Downtown Oakville will be launching a weekly Instagram Live Series hosted by different Downtown businesses. The live events will allow you to purchase products, participate in fitness classes, attend workshops, and more!
Follow @oakvilledowntown on Instagram to learn more and tune in.
Schedule
June 17 at 2 p.m. - Must Boutique
June 24 at 7 p.m. - Dr. Adrienne, Naturopathic Doctor
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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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