Usually, for news published on Cobourg News Blog, I take the information from sources and rewrite for clarity, brevity and additional information. But in this case, it seems necessary to pass on the source info without such changes. This ensures that the message is not diluted in any way.
Today the Town of Cobourg issued the following:
Cobourg, ON (March 11, 2020) – The Town of Cobourg would like to inform residents of the numerous precautions it’s taking across all departments and divisions to prevent against COVID-19 (formerly called novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV) within the corporation itself and its many highly visited facilities.
Although the risk of becoming ill from COVID-19 continues to be low in Ontario, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) and community health partners are continuing to work together to ensure they are prepared should a case develop locally.
Being Prepared – Residents and Community
The Town of Cobourg recognizes the importance of being prepared at the resident and community level for all possible scenarios. In order to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, everyone has a role to play to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses.
The Town of Cobourg has taken the following proactive measures across all of its departments, divisions and facilities including Victoria Hall, The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall, the Cobourg Community Centre and the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre:
- Increasing both the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning all chairs, tables, doors, washrooms, handles and counter tops.
- Utilizing the appropriate and recommended cleaning solutions.
- Increasing the number of hand sanitizing stations at all facilities.
- Encouraging staff to remain home to work or rest if exhibiting signs of illness.
- Encouraging customers to remain home to rest and recover rather than attending programs or classes held at Town facilities.
“Our top priority is to continue to ensure residents of Cobourg are armed with the correct information they need in order to protect themselves and their families,” said Ian Davey, Interim CAO for the Town of Cobourg. “We are enhancing our cleaning and reporting protocols to ensure we minimize risk not only to those who visit our facilities but to our employees as well.”
Planned Activities and Events
No Town planned activities or events have been canceled at this time. Large scale events, including the Waterfront Festival and the Sandcastle Festival, are expected to occur as planned.
What is the Province Doing?
Given the global circumstances, last week Ontario implemented an enhanced response structure to formally bring together experts across the health sector to provide clinical expertise and experience to implement provincial and regional plans. This will ensure the province is ready to contain and respond to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Reduce Your Risk
The HKPR District Health Unit recommends the following to reduce the spread of germs including the flu and COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, not your hand
- Stay home if you are sick
- If you are ill and must visit a hospital emergency department, clinic or other health care provider, call ahead or tell them when you arrive that you have a respiratory illness and wear a mask while waiting to be seen. This allows health care workers to reduce the potential spread of illness.
- Avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care homes if you are sick
- Get your flu shot
Stay Informed
Citizens are encouraged to visit the HKPR District Health Unit’s website www.hkpr.on.ca for the most up-to-date information COVID-19. In addition to the daily updates to the website, Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, Medical Officer of Health for the HKPR District Health Unit., will continue to provide updates on COVID-19 through their website.
Additional Resources
- Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Health Unit
- Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19
- Being Prepared – Public Health Agency of Canada
- How to Self-Monitor – Public Health Ontario
- How to Self-Isolate – Public Health Ontario
- Self-Isolation: Guide for Caregivers, Household Members and Close Contacts
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- The Ontario Ministry of Health
- Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories
- World Health Organization
Extra Links
- Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit also issued a statement on 11 March
- Local Health Teams are Prepared for the Corona Virus Threat – 31 January 2020
Print Article:
Why is the YMCA staying open, including its March break camps when all other major organizations and public facilities are closing in an effort to limit spread of the virus?
This borders on being irresponsible. The Public Health Officer should order it closed.
It is a relief safety precautions have been placed for prevention of spread of the virus. I was disappointed they were not put in place earlier. Also disappointed, watched the address from the Prime Minister and unlike many countries no restrictions to European countries are being applied.
I do not feel panic. There is always a chance but I do not feel I will experience this virus. Noticed how busy the grocery store was yesterday, the clerk told me people are coming in and just clearing the shelves of toilet paper, water and soup.
Good to have the informative posts as displayed already to assist everyone.
Just a note – testing is done via a nasal swab, so not at all invasive.
Is it accurate, town of Cobourg have 2 patients tested positive coming from Italy?
from what source?
Note that the information is from yesterday and the use of the word “confirmed”.
Assume you will get Covid-19 and plan for meds and supplies you will need to ride it out at home.
Good to see everybody working with everybody else to deal with the pandemic.
But!
Where can I buy hand sanitizer?
It is a bit awkward to go shopping with a washbasin, water and soap.
Should I stockpile soap?
Are the Health folks keeping track of Cobourg residents returning from Europe or from Florida?
I asked this same question a month ago about visitor from or returning home from China…guess what??? About 12 or so thumbs down. Different story now!
I was in China 2 months ago(not near contamination zone) but definitely stayed away from from people as much as possible when I heard the news.
Luckily no symptoms
Cornbread….Maybe because many of your other comments are offside but you were right on this one
Lots of info here from our Health Unit but not NHH-specific.
https://www.hkpr.on.ca/featured_posts/novel-coronavirus/
Deborah here is the info from NHH.
https://nhh.ca/covid-19
While a good start far more aggressive action is required to prevent the spread of the virus locally. The CCC and other facilities that attract a large number of people in close contact should be closed. Access to meetings should be limited to online viewing.
Have arrangements been made for Council and committee members to be able to attend meetings by conference call?
The one lesson based on experience in other countries is drastic measures are necessary to avoid the spread of what WHO has now declared is a global pandemic, which is far more deadly than SARS.
Establishing a testing centre separate from the hospital is an obvious way to avoid having those potentially infecting in the waiting room. Why is this not mentioned?
Good idea
Are they able to test for Covid-19 in Cobourg? I have elderly parents that are concerned
Q. 5 Where is testing for COVID-19 being done?
Testing is conducted in accordance with the latest COVID-19 case definition. consultation with public and the clinical judgment of the health care provider. NHH is administering COVID-19 testing on patients as required. Ontario is also in the process of setting up additional screening supports to help move this process outside of hospital settings. Further information will follow when this planning is complete.
https://nhh.ca/covid-19
Read the whole bulletin, not everyone should be tested. That could waste a lot of time and resources.
Thank you for the info
Ashley…Tell them to stay home
Ccc closed tomorrow morning
Source? There is nothing on the town website.
Ken, the town Facebook page, posted the announcement two hours ago. I don’t know how to put a link here for you to follow. Do I just copy and paste?
It’s on the Town’s website home page. A wise decision and I applaud Council and the CAO for their leadership and effort to limit the spread of the virus.
Good comments
The Procedural Bylaw, 009-2019, explicitly prohibits Councillors from participating in meetings remotely:
Perhaps it would be prudent to modify this requirement in light of the COVID-19 situation.