The Chief Administrative Officer provided a verbal update on the COVID-19/Declared Emergency.
Amendments to the Re-opening Ontario Act:
In response to rising case numbers, the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced amendments to the Reopening Ontario Act
- Reg. 364/20 Amendments
Effective September 19, the new maximum number of people permitted to attend organized public events and social gatherings is reduced to 10 people indoors (previous limit of 50) and 25 people outdoors (previous limit of 100) in all regions. This includes functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs or wedding receptions (but not ceremonies) held in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas.
The new rules do not apply to ‘monitored’ social gatherings or organized public events that are held at a place operated by a business or organization in accordance with O. Reg. 364/20. This includes gatherings or events held in staffed businesses and facilities such as cinemas, convention centres, banquet halls, or restaurants, as well as gyms, recreational sporting or performing arts events, and would include our community centres and recreation facilities This is in recognition of the fact that these facilities and events are mandated to follow very specific public health and safety guidelines to minimize risk.. Staff have reviewed the amendment and have determined that this does not impact our re-opening plans, which will be presented in a subsequent report by the Director of Parks and Recreation.
School screening and return to school
During Dr. Arra’s update to Bruce County officials on Friday, he reported that the Grey Bruce Health Unit has heard substantial concerns from parents and stakeholders about the screening questionnaire which was causing children to be sent for testing when it wasn’t required. The stringent guidelines were causing children to stay home from school and resulting in isolation of household members, affecting parents’ ability to go to work. For example, one sneeze should not warrant school exclusion, isolation, nor testing.
A new provincial screening tool has been developed to assist in determining if a child should be staying home or attending school. It is in part in response to the backlog of requests for tests at Assessment Centres.
The new version of the tool shifts from “self isolating” to “self monitoring” for these asymptomatic household members. Only the symptomatic student is required to self-isolate for 14 days, or until they receive their negative results and are asymptomatic for 24 hours.
For students or school staff with symptoms associated with chronic medical conditions that would cause them to fail a COVID-19 screening, their family doctor can play a role in helping them explain their pre-existing conditions to their employer / school including documentations where warranted.
Any asymptomatic individual (even if a contact of a symptomatic individual) does not need to be tested, unless directed to do so by Public Health.
As a side note, Manager of Human Resources for the Municipality has updated our own assessment protocol for municipal staff to reflect the updated provincial guidance to ensure that we are not unnecessarily requiring our staff to self isolate. We will continue to monitor the situation as cold and flu season approaches, with the goal being to ensure that staff continue to be available to provide essential services to our residents.
South Bruce Grey Health Centre – COVID-19 Assessment Centre:
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the Kincardine Hospital has seen a significant increase in the number of people requesting a test following students returning to school.
Today, there was significant overflow of traffic backed up onto Queen Street, which caused issues as far as the Queen/Broadway intersection. Public Works staff stayed at the location and directed traffic to ensure the intersection was kept clear until hospital/assessment centre staff could work out a solution. I contacted SBGHC CEO Mike Barrett, and he indicated that staff were working on a solution to the problem, and they would be putting out some communication in an effort to smooth out/reduce the number of people reporting to the assessment centre for testing. In the meantime, the hospital parking lot has been reconfigured to accommodate overflow parking, and Public Works staff has delivered barricades and pylons to demarcate the queue.
Communication from SBGHC
Like most COVID-19 Assessment Centres across the province, the Assessment Centre at the Kincardine site of South Bruce Grey Health Centre has been experiencing very large volumes as it opened for the week on Monday, September 21, 2020. These large volumes have caused a long line of traffic waiting to access the hospital site. The line of traffic has backed onto Queen Street, creating access problems to the hospital, and creating congestion along Queen Street.
SBGHC has worked closely with staff from the Municipality of Kincardine to ensure traffic is not restricted along Queen Street.
Hospital staff have spoken with all patients waiting in line to inform them that Public Health has communicated that any asymptomatic individual does not need to be tested unless directed to do so by Public Health.
SBGHC will continue to take action to ensure that everyone who requires a test can receive one in a timely fashion. To assist us in managing volumes of patients, we would ask that you follow the direction of Public Health around the testing of asymptomatic patients, and as we have communicated earlier, please consider visiting the Assessment Centre after 2:00 pm when volumes are typically lower.
SBGHC will also be taking additional steps in the near future to provide a more coordinated queuing system to prevent a backlog of traffic onto Queen Street, and will be implementing an online booking system to prevent a need for long waits.
We will continue to keep the public informed, and if you have any questions, please contact patientrelations@sbghc.on.ca .