COVID-19 financial damage done to Niagara businesses reported
A recent Business Impact Survey conducted by Niagara’s Economic Rapid Response Team outlining the damage done to Niagara businesses this past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic was released this week. The study found that 81 per cent of businesses reported a loss of revenue in 2020, with 354 businesses reporting a combined loss of $388.5 million in revenue (about $1.1 million per business).
Recovery for 64 per cent of businesses is expected to take more than a year.
On top of the difficulties, insurance premiums for some businesses have skyrocketed, while others have lost their coverage entirely. Per the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), 48 per cent of small businesses reported that their insurance costs were causing a financial strain on their business in 2020. This is due to a combination of factors including heightened risk of insuring retailers due to the pandemic, a global correction to the insurance market due to an increase in claim costs due to the pandemic, a supply and demand problem, and a lack of competition in the insurance market.
While lockdown keeps everything closed, Welland’s waterways open
Public access docks at Welland International Flatwater Centre and Rotary Club of Welland Park at Lincoln Street are open, allowing residents to use the Welland Recreational Canal for individual recreational non-motorized use. The River Road boat launch also remains open for access to the Welland River, allowing for fishing and recreational use.
COVID-19 provincial guidelines must be followed at all times when accessing the waterway points.
Niagara Falls Farmers Market back at MacBain Centre this year
Every Saturday from 7am to 1pm, the Niagara Falls Farmers Market will be held in the parking lot of the MacBain Community Centre on Montrose Road.
There will be 30 vendors offering a variety of fruits, vegetables, baked goods and more. They plan to continue growing to accommodate local businesses struggling through these difficult times.
Markets are declared essential services. The market will run until the end of November, moving back to its original location Sylvia Place near Main and Ferry streets in 2022.
New online directory connects Niagara businesses to local partners
The site NiagaraCanada.com is a new online directory that allows businesses to connect by simply searching by sector, municipality or business size to both improve and speed up their supply chains. These local connections will be beneficial to help companies succeed and thrive. It can also be used by customers.
Habitat for Humanity has partnered with local restaurants through a program called Home for Dinner where $5 goes to Habitat for every $25 takeout order placed from participating restaurants. The program runs until May 31.
Fort Erie Tim Hortons quickly becoming drop-off hub for elusive travellers
As part of the loophole that allows travellers returning to Canada via a land crossing to avoid the mandatory hotel quarantine, the Tim Hortons nearest to the Peace Bridge on Garrison Road in Fort Erie has become something of a drop-off/pick-up hub in recent weeks.
Countless taxis with New York licence plates populate the Tim Hortons’ parking lot, as they drop-off returning Canadian vacationers who flew into Buffalo from warmer climes.
Second vaccine doses to be expedited for Ontario front-line workers
While 100 per cent of residents at long-term-care facilities and retirement homes are fully vaccinated, the majority of front-line workers have only received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Ontario government announced that those high-risk health-care workers will now be eligible to receive their second dose sooner than later. Those eligible for their second dose include: all hospital and acute care staff in front-line roles with COVID-19 patients or with a high risk of exposure, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, long-term-care home and retirement home health-care workers, some community health-care workers, community health centre staff in communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19, critical health-care workers in remote and difficult to access communities, and homeland community care workers.
The expedition is driven by an increase in vaccination shipments, with the province expected to receive 800,000 doses of Pfizer each week of this month.
Ontario halts the use of AstraZeneca vaccine due to increased risk of blood clots
Ontario has put a pause on the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and further research is being done regarding plans for second doses. This is due to a recent increase in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) within the province, with eight out of 854,000 recipients of the vaccine experiencing blood clots. It was previously estimated that one in 100,000 were at risk of VITT clots, however it has increased to one in 60,000 people vaccinated in Ontario. There have been no deaths reported in Ontario, however three individuals have died in other provinces.
Further research is being conducted on the promise of administering Pfizer or Moderna boosters for second doses to those who received AstraZeneca for their first dose. Data will also be reviewed on further use of AstraZeneca, noting information from the United Kingdom. AstraZeneca has been widely used for a complete series of vaccinations where rates of clotting are about one in a million after the second dose.
VITT symptoms usually appear between four and 28 days following the shot.
COVID-19 Weekly Update
As of May 12, there are 1,565 active COVID-19 cases in the Niagara Region, 49 new cases, and 145 new resolved cases. 67.9 per cent of cases are variants of concern, as 3,010 UK variants, 1 Brazil variant, and 1 India variant have been detected.
St. Catharines continues to lead active cases with 520, while Niagara Falls and Welland trail behind with 289 and 211 active cases. All other municipalities have under 100 cases, with Lincoln, West Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Wainfleet on the low end with 47, 46, 43, and 23 cases, respectively.
Regarding case severity, 96 per cent of cases are isolated at home, 3.4 per cent are hospitalized, and 0.5 per cent are admitted to intensive care.
208,954 vaccinations have been administered in total to Niagara residents. 3,264 new doses have been administered, with 40.9 per cent of residents having their first dose, and 2.7 per cent having a complete series.
