Northumberland has had relatively few cases of the Covid-19 virus so we can either call ourselves lucky or we are doing a good job – or more likely both. The CEO of the local Hospital, Linda Davis, reports on what they are doing in their May newsletter which many would be getting – forgive me if this is repetitious.
Linda says that NHH continues to provide essential services and asks that if “you or someone you care for needs emergency care, please do not postpone your visit. Your NHH team stands ready to get you the care you need with all the necessary precautions in place to keep you and your loved ones safe.”
She reports on the steps that NHH has taken in response to Ontario’s State of Emergency:
- Access to the hospital remains restricted, with active screening at public and staff entrances, and visitor restrictions in place with minimal exceptions – patients who come to NHH on an outpatient basis for cancer and supportive care treatments and dialysis continue to enter and exit through a dedicated doorway adjacent to those clinics to minimize the amount of interaction required with others
- Appointments and procedures deemed non-urgent remain on hold in Diagnostic Imaging, Surgical Services and Ambulatory Care – urgent procedures in all of these areas continue
- Volunteer activities continue to be suspended, to minimize the number of individuals in the hospital at any one time.
Linda says (file photo at right) that NHH continues to provide essential services and that the Emergency Department team are grateful “to Northumberland’s family physicians for stepping up to continue to provide care to local patients virtually, by phone or video consults initiated through the new NorthumberlandCare service”. She doesn’t spell it out, but I believe the idea is to minimize visits to Emergency that could be handled by a family Physician. She asks that you visit www.northumberlandcare.com, call 211 or email Dr. Kate Everdell, Family Physician, [email protected] [Note, for more on local Medical help, go here]
The Hospital has increased their “inpatient bed capacity so we can step into action should the need arise. At the same time, per our government’s directive, we are turning our collective attention outward to offer support and assistance in the community, where it is most required.”
In partnership with Northumberland Paramedics, the Hospital is offering on-site COVID-19 testing and support in the community. A team of NHH staff have been onsite in Alderville with assessment and testing of individuals in that community and plan COVID-19 assessment and testing of both staff and residents at local long-term care, retirement homes and others. They also plan education and training on infection and prevention and the use and conservation of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).
Linda thanks local sewers [that’s people who sew; they are making masks etc] and crafters and appreciates the support shown by the community (e.g. the Tractor Parade).
She comments that “Physical distancing is working”:
While the temptation is to relax our efforts against this virus, the experts tell us that would be premature. Please continue to do what you’re doing. It is working! Wash your hands frequently, limit your physical interaction with others, and maintain the 2-metre distance that is required to stop the spread of this virus and we will beat this, together. Thank you, Northumberland!
View the full newsletter here.
If you did not get the NHH Newsletter, signup here.
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NHH has stepped up to the plate.Good job!
It is time now to recognize that this virus is going to have a lethal presence in our lives for a long long time. The Ontario Ministry of Education has locked down public schools until May 31. Between now and when the schools re-open, it behooves us to organize its protocols.
The teachers, administrators and other staff must always wear a face mask on school grounds. Every student must have a face mask; perhaps hand them to students when they enter the school. When I went to school in the 50s, every desk was supplied with an ink bottle. Perhaps every desk now should have a hand sanitizer bottle.
Should there be interschool competitions in team sports? Should there be team sports at all for the foreseeable future? How many students in a classroom? Every teacher should be tested daily or weekly – do we have the materials to do that or are we dependent on the Communist Party of China for possible shoddy goods?
Finally our Ontario Teachers might want to revisit their deep and abiding commitment to the project of the Communist Party of China with their investment in million$ and million$ aiding and abetting the growth and strength of the Party. Ontario Teachers Pension Fund CEO, Ron Mock, said, “China’s a long game from our perspective and while there’s always skirmishes of one kind or another, in the short term, we believe that it’s absolutely necessary to be there.”
And for what reason? For a return on their investment, ie. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
NAFTA had a lot to do with the rise of China. The North American markets began to shift in the 80s. Unfortunately competing on a non-level playing field has had a lot to do with closing businesses that paid reasonable wages against importing from countries – look at Joe Fresh – they were importing from a place in India that the roof collapsed and on further investigation was found to offer slave like conditions.
Well it has been proved people – shoppers like cheap goods imported and manufactured elsewhere and Canadian companies can not compete – saw it in the suppliers selected in companies I worked in – cheap was the answer to select a supplier so be happy all you people working at Tim Hortons and Mcdonalds – Big Mac anyone?
It appears as though you are having another conversation with yourself Observer.
C’est la vie!
I agree with part of Wally’s opinion. Me too I had an ink well, it’s nice to read it ! Thks. This is not the end of our war with Covid either. Our economy .. it will shift. Let’s start analyzing the future changes of England, with an aging Monarch, their neigbours seeking independance, brexeit, our route of imported products from China.
Canada used to make a lot more from home. We were proud of it. Whatever it was! Nails, barrels, cars, wood products, tires, poems, girdles hockey sticks, shoes, hats, candies, or dresses. I am hoping for a rainbow effect, not a domino!
Doubtful we can supply masks for everyone at school. Either everyone gets a new one each day, or they get cleaned and sterilized once a day or even more often. Otherwise they become a reservoir of the very virus we are trying to eliminate.
The cost would be prohibitive, to say the least.
Apparently that is what they are doing in hospital care – re-sterilizing masks and using again.
“The cost would be prohibitive, to say the least.”
That kind of cheap thinking concerning our collective health was outsourced to the Peoples Republic of China where the goods are cheap because labour is cheap because there are no worker’s rights and in return they send shoddy goods to us and the rest of the world. We outsourced our sovereignty, our independence and the good health of our people to a criminal organization called the Communist Party of China.
With a bit of imagination those masks can be a means of individual expression for students. Canadians can obtain Canadian manufactured fabric and make our own masks, which can be easily washed in the laundry over and over again. What a hardship! A bandana also would suffice. The idea is to prevent the spread of microns of spittle from the wearing student.
And teachers would be able to teach their students of all the wonderful financial benefits of investing in aiding and abetting the projects and products of the glorious Communist Party of China.
Additionally, why not teach the students to make their own face masks? It is now a life skill that all should know; after all who knows when a vaccine will arrive?. Perhaps the Art Gallery of Northumberland could organize a “Mask of the Year” award to encourage creativity and enthusiasm. It would contribute to the elimination of stigma about wearing them in public. Get the DBIA to convince retailers to exhibit masks in their store windows for a month in September; let people vote for the best. It is the kind of community project in which Critical Mass excels.
We are very fortunate to have minimal C19 cases. Perhaps that is due to our collective efforts and maybe not. I feel for those people in front of Vic Hall–but, they are probably appealing to the cast of characters. We all have to agree that the economic and social steps in Northumberland have been extreme for so little local impact. We are doubly fortunate that 85% of our population is either on government salary; gov’t agency salary or social/senior benefits, so only a minimal proportion of our citizens get impacted financially. Everyone’s getting paid to stay home and watch the big cities collapse on CBC. The fact our Council even feels they are qualified in any way to add to what the Province, County and Federal gov’t has done is comical. They are By-law creators; tax managers & parade organizers. That’s it. Those are the solutions they can provide. Yes–they are very good at telling us the obvious. They tell us we have a pier and when to walk on it. They explain to us who live on a lake when the water level is too high, but they have nothing to add to any discussion about C19.
A case in point: we have almost a dozen fatalities from opiod use and abuse. Fatalities-not cases. At least one on town property. These tragedies out number our C19 cases and virtually nothing has been done…
If anyone looks at the data…it is not social distance’ , protesting, or the opening of parks and businesses that pose the biggest risk. The biggest risk is placing a loved one in a poorly regulated, under-staffed, long-term care home. Maybe the protest should be outside one of these..?
So Tender mercies you state you think our councillors are incompetent and are only good at parade organization? Perhaps you would like to have the bunch that are on Toronto Council. They ignore the fact that Toronto has stated it is 1.5 Billion dollars short on revenue so far this year yet they have taken a sole sourced supplier without Bid to fill their order for modular homes complete with cable and WIFI for the homeless. I’ld rather have our Council any day and they answer you when you write and not just with “your communication has been received and noted – thank you for writing”. I think we are lucky to have interested people overseeing Cobourg that involve themselves for far less pay and benefits.
The size and scope between Cobourg and Toronto are reflected in the difference in pay for councillors. Get a grip Observer
Well I guess you’re saying Leweez we’re govened by idiots elected by morons! Apparently Toronto elects their council which doesn’t even follow their own rules – bid process, tender put out to most efficent and effective doesn’t count and we should follow their example. I worked there as administrative support but I will say in those days Toronto did have a better grip. Don’t think I have lost mine – after I worked all over Toronto and saw the effect of the decisions made by Toronto Council on the workforce and people living in Toronto – certainly not the City I grew up in where you could walk to school without fear and families prepared their children to be independent relying on their abiltity to pay their way – no looking for a hand out. It has all come back to haunt them in a year where the revenue has greatly decreased. They now house and provide to a wide variety of people – some addicted, some that were subject to the rules – what group do you belong to? Never mind your skills – especially with the restricted hiring policies of the City of Toronto. So get a grip Leweez and smell the coffee. Toronto is paid big bucks for little reason – certainly not their “wise” decisions – you should be glad of Cobourg Council which replies and listens.
And wasn’t that a long winded bunch of nothing!
Observer, you’re the only one using the words “idiots” and “incompetent”, don’t be putting those words in anyone else’s mouths. Always a bit of a leap with you.
My indepth knowledge of the City of Toronto and its policies is like saying Niagara Falls to me – “slowly I turn, step by step – then I rung …..
Observer, put down the bottle, it’s a work day tomorrow
Gee Leweez – are you sure it is not you that is indulging with the comments that are coming out of you? Myself I am very disappointed at what has happened in Toronto these past few years. From a family friendly city to what it is today. The courtesy of people that make the policies. My old home town ain’t what it used to be that is for sure.
Observer…isnt that why you got out of the city?
Yes it is Informed. When a place you once loved is changed by politically bad decisions and political appointments. If you read the Toronto Sun many people have fled Toronto for the very same reasons. To have any communication about these things totally ignored it galls me they should be paid big bucks to do them is the ultimate insult. I was very surprised and pleased when I moved here to find how responsive Cobourg Town Council is when you have a concern is very reasuring and refreshing.
“Stay home be strong”. I wonder what will happen in not too long with the Toronto tourist on our beach. What will it be?
1) charge 20.00 each adult, 10.00
each child; charge parking meter; practice distancing between groups; no games;
2) free access to the beach and free
parking for local residents ( proof)
practice distancing; no games;
3) none of the above, avoid the beach
And swimming until it is safe; fine
50.00;
4) limited usage of the boardwalk and distancing;
5) no usage of beach, or boardwalk until the end of the lockdown;
6) make a suggestion, be smart or at least try. ☠
7) you dont care;
I guess nobody likes the beach from the blog. 🗣
Johanne…Dont know about anyone else but your comments are hard to understand sometimes
Talking about physical distancing. Outside of Vic Hall noonish passed by a group protesting. I think they wanted haircuts, dunno. Anyway, I feel as most do, that the right to do what you want, when you want, stops literally (in the case of Covid) at the end of my nose. If you agree that physical distancing has saved lives then the reverse must be true – physical non-distancing will cost lives. So I’d like to know from these folks out front of Vic Hall which of their loved ones they would want to give up, parents, brothers, sisters, etc. I wanted to ask but my read was they were not in a mood for conversation but rather pouts and shouts, not my style.
Just wait until the really nice weather finally arrives and see how many people decide they have had it up to here with distancing, deprivation and the rigours of enforced “cabin fever”.
I saw an example years ago in my pub in Toronto on the first really beautiful day of spring: it was packed with people and jumping with energy like I’d never seen before. “It’s the good weather” said the bartender. People apparently can’t resist the urge to get out and mix and mingle in the sunshine and warmth after all those dreary months of confinement.
Gerinator: Wonder if protesters would sign off refusing ICU treatment,including a ventilator?
I can attest to the Emerg readiness. Nasty gash, in Emerg 1800, diagnosed with cellulitis, out by 2030. Only 1 person ahead of me and 1 other behind me while in Emerg. Emerg empty when I left. Be prepared to go through screening of Q&A, using a mask (supplied by door attendant) and using sanitizer. Good stuff NHH.