Ontario To Ease COVID Restrictions Starting Thursday Eliminate Vaccine Passport As Of March

During Monday mornings announcement Doug Ford stated that the Ontario Government plans to lift capacity limits in indoor settings beginning this week and will scrap the province’s proof-of-vaccination system on March 1.

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Starting Feb. 17, capacity limits will be lifted in all settings where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, gyms, and cinemas.

Seating capacity at sports arenas, concert venues, and theatres will be increased to 50 per cent on Thursday and the province will also begin allowing larger social gatherings of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, including grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, and malls, will be maintained or increased to the number of people who can stay two metres apart.

On March 1, the province said remaining capacity limits will be removed in all indoor settings and the government will no longer require people to show proof of vaccination to enter non-essential businesses. Businesses may still choose to require proof of vaccination.

Masking rules will remain in effect but the province said a specific timeline for lifting masking mandates will be released at a later date.

The province also confirmed that it will be expanding booster dose eligibility to you aged 12 to 17 starting at 8 a.m. on Friday.

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Ontario Government Expands Access For Free Home Rapid Tests In Grocery Stores and Pharmacies

The Ontario government is expanding access to free rapid antigen testing kits to the public for home use at grocery stores and pharmacies.

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The expanded access began on Wednesday. Roughly 44 million test kits over the next two months to over 2,300 pharmacies and grocery stores with over five million tests will be distributed weekly throughout the province.

MPP Dave Smith warns that the rapid test measures if you have Covid at that particular point in time and not a certainty for the same result in the next few days.

“The rapid test may come back negative today and that just means you don’t have Covid right now,” said MPP Dave Smith. “Doesn’t mean you’re Covid-free two or three days from now. Don’t use it as that safety guard that you can go visit someone else, use it as a diagnostic tool when you have symptoms.

Box sets of five rapid tests will be given to each household per visit while supplies last. There is no purchase necessary to obtain the free tests.

Some stores may include rapid tests as part of their regular delivery service with a purchase from their respective businesses.

The following are a list of locations for free rapid tests:

City of Peterborough

• Charlotte Care Remedy’s Rx Pharmacy, 100-270 Charlotte St.

• Costco Pharmacy, 485 The Parkway

• Morello’s Your Independent Grocer Peterborough, 400 Lansdowne St. E.

• Lansdowne Pharmacy, 196 Lansdowne St. E.

• Metro, 1154 Chemong Rd.

• Real Canadian Superstore, 769 Borden Ave.

• Rexall, 85 George St. N.

• Rexall, 1154 Chemong Rd.

• Sherbrooke Heights Pharmacy, 1625 Sherbrooke St. W.

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 1875 Lansdowne St. W.

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 741 Lansdowne St. W.

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 250 Charlotte St.

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 971 Chemong Rd.

• Sobeys, 1200 Lansdowne St. W.

• Sobeys, 501 Towerhill Rd.

• The Clinic Pharmacy Rx, 26 Hospital Dr.

• Walmart, 1002 Chemong Rd.

• Walmart, 950 Lansdowne Street W.

County of Peterborough

• Village Pharmacy, 135 Queen St., Lakefield

• Keene Drug Mart, 1105 Heritage Line, Keene

• Centennial Family Pharmacy, 2375 County Rd. 45, Norwood

City of Kawartha Lakes

• Village Gate Pharm-Rx, 101 East St. S., Bobcaygeon

• Fenelon Falls Pharmacy, 53 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls

• MacArthur Drugs, 21 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls

• Sobeys, 15 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls

• Food Basics, 363 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• Kawartha Lakes Pharmasave, 4A-55 Angeline St. N., Lindsay

• Loblaws, 400 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• Pharmasave Integrated Care Pharmacy, 10 Moose Rd., Lindsay

• Remedy’s Rx On Kent, 108 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• Rexall Pharma Plus, 401 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• RX Drug Mart Lindsay, 51 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 343 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 74 Kent St. W., Lindsay

• Little Britain Pharm, 415 Eldon Rd., Little Britain

• Kinmount Pharmacy, 503-31 County Rd., Kinmount

Northumberland County

• Brighton Clinic Pharmacy, 4 5-46 Prince Edward St., Brighton

• Pharma Plus, 1 Main St., Brighton

• Sobeys, 14 Main St., Brighton

• Maclaren Pharmacy, 79 Bridge St. E., Campbellford

• Rx Drug Mart Campbellford, 16 Grand Rd., Campbellford

• Cobourg Care Pharmacy, 5A-609 William St., Cobourg

• Cobourg Pharmacy, 6A-9 Elgin St. E., Cobourg

• Metro, 1111 Elgin St. W., Cobourg

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 270 Spring St., Cobourg

• Walmart, 73 Strathy Rd., Cobourg

• York Super Pharmacy, 500 Division St., Cobourg

• Davis’ Your Independent Grocer, 20 Jocelyn Rd., Port Hope

• Food Basics, 125 Hope St. S., Port Hope

• Health Centre Pharmacy, 5-15 Henderson St., Port Hope

• Warkworth Pharmacy, 26 Main St., Warkworth

 Haliburton County

• Todd’s Your Independent Grocer Haliburton, 5121 Country Rd. 21, Haliburton

• Rexall, 224 Highland St., Haliburton

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 186 Highland St., Haliburton

• Highland Remedy Rx, 33 Bobcaygeon Rd., Minden

• Minden Pharmacy, 110 Bobcaygeon Rd., Minden

Hastings County

• North Hastings Family Pharmacy, 217 Hastings St. N., Bancroft

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 118 Hastings St. N., Bancroft

• Johnston’s Pharmacy, 6 Front St. E., Hastings

• Johnston’s Pharmacy, 57 St. Lawrence St. E., Madoc

• Marmora Pharmacy, 38 Forsyth St., Marmora

• Nickle’s Pharmacy, 26 Forsyth St., Marmora

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Celebrates Resident Doctors Appreciation Week

Campbellford Memorial Hospital is celebrating Resident Doctors Appreciation Week until Friday.

Dr. Kelly Nhu Le at Campbellford Memorial Hospital. Photo courtesy of CMH.

Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) and the Trent Hills Family Health Team (THFHT) continue to support the teaching of the next generation of physicians.

Resident doctors are physicians who are engaged in supervised medical training prior to obtaining their licensure for independent practice.

Resident Doctors Appreciation Week provides an opportunity to highlight the critical role that residents fill while working in the communities in which they are learning.

A Family Medicine career requires the completion of 2 years of residency following medical school, with the option of completing an additional year of Enhanced Skills training. While enrolled in a Family Medicine program, residents must complete a block of time at a rural teaching practice site.  Both the Campbellford and Warkworth branch of the THFHT have accredited teaching sites that provide residents with both a solid “small hospital” and comprehensive Family Medicine experience. 

While at CMH, residents will work shifts on the inpatient floor, the emergency department, and at ambulatory clinics.

 CMH, along with the THFHT, has a resident doctor affiliation agreement with both the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. On average, they host 6-8 resident doctors per year and have done so for over 40 years.

“I am amazed and inspired by the strong sense of community,” said current CMH University of Toronto resident Dr. Kelly Nhu Le. “Everyone I have worked with so far has been incredibly welcoming and helpful.”

Some residents have returned to Trent Hills to practice medicine full time once residency was complete. Others have returned to locum (provide relief coverage) for local physicians, taking advantage of a familiar spot in which to start practicing independently.

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Peterborough Public Health Issues Drug Poisoning Alert In Area

Peterborough Public Health and local partners are notifying the public about the extension of the Drug Poisoning Alert issued last Friday.

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On Monday the Early Warning Surveillance System detected seven drug-related incidents that occurred from Feb. 4 - 6.

Members of the public are encouraged to be cautious when using drugs. Due to the toxic drug supply, the colour of drug, type of drug (i.e. opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.), or how the drug is being used does not matter. Any street drug may cut or mixed with toxic substances, which may cause a fatal poisoning.

Peterborough Public Health suggests the following:

• Always carry a naloxone kit. Keep it visible and close to you. To find out how to access naloxone please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and search for “Opioids” or click here.

• If you or a loved one uses drugs, practice harm reduction.

• Plan ahead and connect to available supports that can help you and help our community stay as safe as possible.

• Use Peterborough Public Health’s ‘Drug Reporting Tool’ to anonymously report overdose incidents and harms in the community. The Drug Reporting Tool can be accessed by clicking here.

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Mike Dalliday Launches Redesigned Pilates On Demand Website To Honour Late Wife’s Entrepreneurial Vision

Pilates on Demand, an online platform offering Pilates, Yoga, Barre and Meditation classes has launched a redesigned website with upgraded member features to honour the vision and legacy of the company’s founder and former CEO, Jess Dalliday announced on Tuesday.

Jess Dalliday with her daughter. Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster.

At the young age of 32, Dalliday suddenly and tragically passed away during childbirth in April 2021 along with newborn daughter, Angeline.

Her passing left husband Mike, 2-year old daughter, family, friends, and the Peterborough community completely devastated and in shock. Jess was fiercely passionate about changing the fitness landscape to be an inclusive, accepting space, and was dedicated to defying fitness industry norms that suggest exercise is a way to change your body, instead of loving your body right now.

Mike Dalliday with daughter. Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster.

Jess’ husband Mike is honouring his late wife’s vision by becoming the CEO of Pilates on Demand, stepping away from his career as a Physician Assistant. With no entrepreneurial experience taking over Jess’ successful business seemed daunting, but through the Innovation Cluster’s mentorship and expertise Mike has been able to drive Jess’ vision forward, which most recently has involved the launch of a redesigned website and platform.

“We are beyond excited to introduce this all-new experience to our members and to anyone new to our service,” said Mike. “Since losing Jess last spring we’ve been working hard to ensure her legacy is carried forward. We continue to pride ourselves on being an online exercise platform for everyone. We don’t focus on pounds, inches or appearance. Our goal is for our members to feel comfortable and confident in the body they have right now, and we really feel our new design and user experience will help us and our members achieve that goal.”

Pilates on Demand provides hundreds of convenient and safe exercise classes that members can do anywhere, anytime, and at any skill level.

"During the times of the pandemic, Pilates on Demand has seen exponential growth and has been able to pivot their business to focus on the growing demand for virtual exercise,” said President of the Innovation Cluster, John Gillis. “With the launch of the new website, new and existing members will be able to experience a new and convenient way to exercise. POD is not only a place to exercise but also a place to be part of a strong community."

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Trent University Launches Campaign To Encourage Booster Shots

Trent University has launched the “One More Shot” campaign, leveraging the collective energy of the University’s Excalibur athletes, to rally for COVID-19 booster shots.

Photo by AngelaO’Grady.

The campaign is designed to further elevate campus health and safety, and increase peace of mind for students, faculty and staff returning to in-person learning this term.

“The Trent saying goes, ‘Together we are 1Excalibur.’ In support of our shared responsibilities and collective efforts, this ‘One More Shot’ campaign aims to get everyone possible to have their booster,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “We are reviewing our vaccine policies as we do this, and are excited to have our varsity athletes lead the campaign. They will mobilize the Trent community for boosters, in a way which will protect our community as we continue to respond to the challenges of COVID-19.”

The campaign, which will run across the University’s campus and social media accounts in February, amplifies ongoing calls for students, staff and faculty to get their booster: a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The University will hold on-campus booster clinics Feb. 8 and 9 at the Trent Athletics Centre on the Symons Campus. In Durham, members of the Trent community can register for the clinic at the Oshawa Centre, located one block from campus. Vaccines are also available through Ontario’s booking portal and at local pharmacies.

Trent University has also launched a new self-reporting tool now available for students who wish to report a positive result on a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test and have attended in-person classes. The information will be used by the University, out of an abundance of caution, to notify instructors and classes in the case of possible exposure to COVID-19.

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Chief Medical Officer Of Ontario Says COVID-19 Situation Is Improving

Health-care indicators suggest a general improvement in the COVID 19 situation in the province. Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said in a press conference on Thursday.

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Although the province reported 75 more deaths related to COVID on Thursday, Dr. Moore said that health-care indicators suggest a general improvement in the COVID 19 situation in the province.

The Ministry of Health said Thursday morning that as of Wednesday there were 2,797 people with COVID-19 in the province's hospitals. That's down from 2,939 the day before and 3,645 at the same time last week.

About 56 per cent of those patients were admitted for COVID-related illnesses. 44 per cent were already in hospital, then tested positive for the virus, according to the ministry.

The number of patients with COVID-19 in intensive care is also declining. There were 541 patients with COVID-19 who required intensive care, down from 555 the day before and 599 the same time last week.

Roughly 83 per cent of the people with COVID-19 in ICUs were admitted for reasons directly related to the virus.

The additional 75 COVID-19 deaths reported Thursday pushes the province's official toll to 11,651.

Dr. Moore’s announcement came after the province loosened many restrictions on Monday.

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Peterborough Public Health Shares Safety Tips To Prevent Opioid Poisonings

Peterborough Public Health issued a reminder to the public about the importance of overdose prevention and not using drugs alone, on Thursday.

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“Over the last 12 months, we have seen an unprecedented amount of opioid-related paramedic calls for service and emergency department visits,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott. “This has prompted us to issue a public reminder in hopes of preventing further harms in the community. If you or a loved one uses drugs, practicing harm reduction, planning ahead, and connecting to available supports can help you and your community stay healthy and as safe as possible.”

Dr. Piggott noted that in 2021, there were on average four opioid overdose drug-related deaths every month in the Peterborough area.

“Based on this average, we are losing one person per week, let alone the countless other impacts this is having within communities across our region.”

Local paramedics saw a doubling of calls for service related to opioid poisonings last year, from 262 calls in 2020 to 540 calls in 2021.

“Provincial funding and more local supports for safe consumption of drugs and other harm reduction services are critically important at this juncture in the ongoing opioid crisis,” said Dr. Piggott.

Peterborough Public Health advises if you use substances:

o Don’t use drugs alone

o If you use with a friend, do not use at the exact same time

o Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888- 688-6677

o Carry a naloxone kit, keep it visible and close to you

o Avoid mixing drugs

o Test your drug by using a small amount first

o Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated

after naloxone is administered

Peterborough Public Health encourages everyone to recognize the signs of opioid overdose and know what to do:

o Skin is cold and clammy

o Fingernails or lips are blue or purple

o Body is very limp

o Can’t wake the person up

o Deep snoring or gurgling sounds

o Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped

o Pupils are very small

If an overdose is witnessed call 911, administer Naloxone and stay with the person until help arrives.

Peterborough Public Health also stressed that under Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, anyone who seeks medical help for themselves or for someone else who has overdosed will not be charged for possessing or using drugs for personal use.

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Peterborough Public Health Urges Caution As Step 3 Public Health Measures Take Effect

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is emphasizing the importance of residents to continue following COVID-19 prevention measures so the provincial move to Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen can go as scheduled announced Monday.

Photo by Angela O’Grady

“While the easing of some public health measures is welcome news, we can’t let our guard down completely or else any increase in COVID-19 transmission may lead to another step backwards,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “Our community is still grappling with the recent surge in infections caused by Omicron, causing the local death rate to increase substantially in recent weeks. This is compounded by the underlying vulnerability of our community with its higher proportion of elderly residents.”

Dr. Piggott reminded residents while COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions are showing modest signs of slowing down, these provincial numbers don’t take into account the staffing shortages many hospitals are facing, including Peterborough Regional Health Centre. In addition, he said local wastewater surveillance demonstrates continued transmission so prudence is required.

The team at Peterborough Public Health is working hard to ensure the new guidelines are easy to find on its website, and staff are reaching out to various sectors to help them understand the new public health guidance for their business and organizations. Highlights of the Step 3 measures that took effect on Monday include:

• Proof of identification and vaccination (showing two doses) will continue to apply in existing settings; businesses must now use the Verify Ontario app and patrons must show enhanced vaccine certificates containing a QR Code.

• Indoor public settings may open, increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50 per cent, including indoor dining, meeting and event spaces, gyms, and cinemas

• Social gathering limits can increase up to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

• Organized public events can increase capacity to 25 people indoors.

• With very limited exceptions, masks must be worn by everyone while indoors.

Alongside the return to Step 3, Dr. Piggott has released a Letter of Recommendation Monday urging businesses and organizations to continue to have staff to work from home when possible.

As Ontario’s reopening plan progresses, PPH will be monitoring the local situation closely and will escalate this to an enforceable Letter of Instruction under the Reopening Ontario Act if needed.

Step 3 will be in effect for a minimum of 21 days while public health indicators are monitored. Additional measures may be relaxed by the province if favourable trends continue on Feb. 21.

Those with questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

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