Kanata North COVID-19 Update April 1

Good evening Kanata North, 

I hope you all took time to enjoy today’s sunshine. It is truly starting to feel like spring. While the weather is more inviting to get outdoors, please remember to always maintain a 2-metre physical distance between others and to avoid all city parks (play structures and fields) until further notice. Physical distancing remains critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. 

Today I want to take a moment and thank the health care and essential services workers who are protecting our community. You are the true heroes; this video is for you: 

 

Kanata North Update 

  • If you have just returned home from travel or are showing COVID-19 symptoms please self-isolate. Your Kanata North neighbours are here to help. Sign up if you need assistance with groceries, medication pick-up, or walking a pet.  
  • Join Lauri Moussa, Executive Director of the Kanata Central Business Improvement Area, and me tomorrow at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live. We will be discussing what’s happening with businesses in the Kanata Centrum and Signature Centre area and what you can do to support our local businesses. Come prepared with questions and we will do our best to answer them. 
  • The Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) team is still hard at work to support our most vulnerable residents despite the centre being closed. You can find a full list of the services they are offering during these challenging times on the WOCRC website.  

Ottawa Public Health/City of Ottawa 

  • The Ottawa Public Health website remains the best source for the most up-to-date information.  
  • Today, Dr. Vera Etches confirmed 50 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the new total to 194 in Ottawa. The increase in numbers are in large part due to a recent increase in lab capacity which is allowing results from the backlog of tests to be determined. 
  • Given the greater risk of severe outcomes, it is strongly recommended that individuals over 70 years of age self-isolate. Local businesses and organizations have launched services that offer special help for older adults. 
  • The Mayor and other city leaders will be hosting a virtual town hall on April 9th at 2 p.m. Residents can watch online on the city’s social media channels or on Rogers Television. The meeting will provide residents a chance to get an update on the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as ask questions they may have. I will share more details as they become available.  
  • In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ottawa Police Services are making changes to their non-urgent services to protect the safety of employees and the community. Please note that residents can continue to make reports via phone or online. 
  • Ottawa Public Library branches will remain closed until April 13, pending further directions from the Province and the City of Ottawa. Ottawa Public Library remains committed to providing online services to everyone in our community, and as such they will be launching live online story time starting tomorrow, April 2.  More details can be found here. 
  • As the Chair of the Community Protective Services Committee, I am lucky to work closely with city staff that are supporting our community’s most vulnerable. At the heart of this pandemic, Ottawa is putting people first. It makes me incredibly proud. I have prepared a brief summary of the amazing work of the Human Needs Task Force, and the services available to those in need. It is available on my website. 
  • An OC Transpo driver has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual has self-isolated since developing symptoms on March 21. Ottawa Public Health is working closely with OC Transpo to connect with individuals who may have been in close contact with the employee. Please note that extensive cleaning is completed frequently on each bus and that – to transmit the virus – commuters would have to be in close contact with the sick individual. The operator drove 5 buses on March 18, 19 and 20, serving the following routes: 
    • March 18 
      • Route 19: St-Laurent Station at 14:27 to Parliament Station 15:14 
      • Route 63: Tunney’s Pasture Station 15:36 to Innovation Park & Ride 16:28 
      • Route 63: Innovation Park & Ride 16:30 to Tunney’s Pasture Station 17:12 
      • Route 57: Tunney’s Pasture Station 17:25 to Bayshore Station 17:47 
      • Route 85: Bayshore Station 17:47 to Terrasses de la Chaudière 18:39 
      • Route 85: Terrasses de la Chaudière 18:50 to Bayshore Station 19:36 
      • Route 85: Bayshore Station 19:41 to Terrasses de la Chaudière 20:23 
    • March 19 & 20 
      • Route 64: Lincoln Fields Station 11:24 to Innovation Park & Ride 11:51 
      • Route 64: Innovation Park & Ride 11:53 to Tunney’s Pasture Station 12:41 
      • Route 50: Tunney’s Pasture Station 12:55 to Lincoln Fields Station 13:24 
      • Route 85: Lincoln Fields Station 13:44 to Terrasses de la Chaudière 14:20 
      • Route 85: Terrasses de la Chaudière 14:26 to Bayshore Station 15:23 
      • Route 85: Bayshore Station 15:32 to Terrasses de la Chaudière 16:25 
      • Route 85: Terrasses de la Chaudière 16:32 to Bayshore Station 17:30  
      • Route 57: Bayshore Station 17:42 to Tunney’s Pasture Station 18:08 
      • Route 75: Tunney’s Pasture Station 18:15 to Barrhaven Centre 18:42 

 Ontario Government 

  • The Ontario Government has announced that anyone charged with breaching an Emergency Order during the COVID-19 pandemic will be required to identify themselves. Emergency orders currently in place include the closure of non-essential businesses, prohibiting social gatherings of more than five people and stopping price gouging on necessary goods such as disinfectant products. Those who are charged with an offense must identify themselves to provincial offence officers, which includes police officers, First Nations constables, special constables, and municipal by-law enforcement officers. Failing to comply with order can result in fines and/or imprisonment. 
  • The Ontario government is launching a new one-time $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses provide innovative solutions or adjust their operations to produce essential medical supplies and equipment, including gowns, coveralls, masks, face shields, testing equipment and ventilators. This new fund will support the development of proposals submitted by businesses and individuals through the Ontario Together web portal. 
  • The Provincial Government is working closely with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association to ramp up production of ventilators to meet the need in Ontario and other parts of Canada. The government has placed an order with O-Two Medical Technologies to produce 10,000 ventilator units. 

Quebec Government 

  • The Province of Quebec has announced a stringent set of travel restrictions, including control points on the bridges between Ottawa and Gatineau, as part of its attempt to fight the spread of COVID-19. The police will be doing random spot checks on vehicles crossing the bridges into the Ottawa area. 
  • The measures put in place do not target activities that provide health care and services, nor those that provide humanitarian support and essential services for the continuity of the entire supply chain. More details can be found here. 

Federal Government 

  • Starting April 6, applications will open for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This benefit will provide up to $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19.   
  • You can register online at Canada.ca. By selecting direct deposit, you should receive your payment within 3 to 5 days. If you are unable to apply online, you can call the Canada Revenue Agency for help over the phone. By mail, you’ll get your cheque within 10 days. 
  • After applying, all you need to do to keep getting this benefit, is to check-in every month that you’re still out of work. If you’ve already applied through EI, you’re all set up. You don’t need to do anything on April 6. 

 

 Today’s Frequently Asked Questions 

  1. Why is it taking so long to get test results back? 

There has been a large backlog in testing results resulting in delays of several days to get results. Currently a tremendous amount of effort is underway to increase our lab capacity. As of Sunday, the provincial lab increased its capacity by over 150% to approximately 4,800 tests per day. This increased capacity means faster results.  

  1. Why did we see such a large increase in COVID-19 positive cases today? 

The increase today is not unexpected. It is the result of a larger number of backlogged test results being processed due to increased lab capacity. 

  1. What do I do if I have a non-COVID-19 related medical emergency? 

Should you have a non-COVID-19 related medical emergency, you can call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. Be sure to take all necessary precautions when visiting the hospital. 

  1. How do I report a non-essential business that is still operating? 

All non-essential businesses have been mandated to close by the provincial government. You can report non-essential businesses that are operating by calling 3-1-1. 

  1. How do I report usage of parks or gatherings of more than 5 people? 

I am getting a lot of emails with this question. Remember that families who are well and who are not required to self-isolate are encouraged to get outside and stay active, while practicing physical distancing. All gatherings of five or more people (excluding families with more than 5 people) are prohibited under the Emergency Order enacted by the provincial government. You can report group gatherings by calling 3-1-1. 

  1. Is playing basketball on city basketball courts currently allowed? 

No. On March 30, the Province of Ontario ordered the closure of all public and private parks, including basketball courts. As such, playgrounds, fields and basketball courts on school properties are now closed. The city closed all its parks on March 26. 

 

Thank you for continuing to do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Please continue to reach out with your questions, concerns and ideas.  Together we will get through this. 

Stay home Kanata North.
Stay healthy. 

Reach out if you need anything.