New visitor restrictions at Niagara Health for Emergency and Urgent Care Centres
Niagara Health has implemented new restrictions for visitors at our Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centre.
Niagara Health says they regularly review and update their safety measures based on COVID-19 activity to ensure the hospital remains a safe environment. Due to Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres being busy areas of the hospital, additional measures are necessary to maintain proper physical distancing.
Consistent with provincial guidelines, visitors/support people will only be able to accompany patients in the ED/UCC if they are supporting patients:
- in life altering circumstances.
- experiencing a mental health crisis.
- at end of life.
- who are vulnerable. This includes those under 18 years of age, cognitive or developmentally delayed, and those with severe language impairment.
Niagara Health assumes management of another Niagara long-term care home
Earlier this week Niagara Health was asked to provide temporary management support through a voluntary contract with Oakwood Park Lodge, a long-term care home in Niagara Falls that is in a home-wide outbreak of COVID-19.
The outbreak was declared on December 12, 2020. A total of 97 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Sadly, eight residents who tested positive have passed away. In addition, 91 staff have tested positive as part of surveillance testing.
Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health at Niagara Region Public Health, issued the order pursuant to Section 29.2 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act due to concerns with the outbreak.
In-person visiting restrictions are in place at Oakwood Park Lodge. Only essential caregivers are permitted at this time. Oakwood Park Lodge is a 153-bed home owned by Conmed Health Care Group.
New West Niagara school moves forward
The province has given the District School Board of Niagara approval to tender the new West Niagara Secondary School. The $42.5 million investment will provide a new high quality learning environment for the students of Beamsville, Grimsby and South Lincoln.
Highlights of the new school construction include:
- 1533 secondary student spaces.
- The approved project includes a greenhouse, with both an interior and exterior classroom. This space will offer specialty programming space for students enrolled in the Agricultural Specialist High Skills Major Program.
- The new secondary school supports the consolidation of Beamsville District Secondary School, Grimsby Secondary School and South Lincoln High School.
Environmental study turns up normal results at former GM plant in St. Catharines
This week representatives from the Ministry of Environment made a presentation to St. Catharines City Council revealing the results of air and water quality testing they did on the former GM plant site on Ontario Street. The presentation from Ministry officials showed typical – or less than typical – concentrations of metals, urban roadway runoff and urban stormwater concentrations of PCBs. The Ministry has also been monitoring conditions in the Twelve Mile Creek watershed since 2000 and has instructed the property owners to update stormwater controls as part of any work on the property.
From an air monitoring perspective, measurements were below regulated ministry standards for suspended particulate matter and metals, and that no asbestos was detected in air samples.
While Public Health has not detected any unusual health outcomes and believes there is no increased risk of adverse health to those living in the vicinity, Mayor Walter Sendzik said the site remains a priority and that the City will continue to work with the appropriate government officials to move forward on this issue.
After facing considerable heat from local residents about the deplorable condition of the lands, Council passed an action plan in late January that included a variety of different measures surrounding the site. This summer the City also expanded its powers under its waste by-law and staff are currently working to obtain compliance. The public will be informed with the respect to any outcomes of enforcement actions at the appropriate time while we ensure that any matter that may end up in court remain confidential.
Niagara Parks to suspend all public facing operations during shutdown
To ensure the health and safety of all guests, staff and partners, and following the direction of the Government of Ontario, The Niagara Parks Commission will be closing all public facing operations effective Saturday, December 26.
The closure includes all Niagara Parks attractions currently in operation, restaurants and retail stores in Table Rock Centre, as well as the WEGO Green Line bus service and Falls Incline Railway.
Details on Niagara Parks’ organizational response to COVID-19 can be found at niagaraparks.com/safety. Information on COVID-19 in Ontario is available at COVID-19.ontario.ca.
Multiple Hamilton police officers stabbed
Hamilton police say three officers stabbed by a man in crisis have been released from hospital and are recovering at home.
The officers responded to a call about an armed man on a city street on Tuesday afternoon where the officers were stabbed in the head and neck during a confrontation with the man and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
A 24-year-old man from Oakville has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. He’s also been charged with four counts of resisting arrest and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon.
Health Canada approves Moderna vaccine
The federal government has allocated approximately 53,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Ontario in December 2020, and they will be delivered before the end of the month. These are the first of 40 million doses Canada will be receiving through its agreement with Moderna.
The Moderna vaccine has been called “a real gamechanger” as it does not need to be stored at extremely cold temperatures and is more mobile. This means health staff can administer this vaccine onsite in long-term care homes, retirement homes, congregate care settings, rural and remote locations, and other places where our most vulnerable populations live. For the first time, the vaccine can be taken directly to priority groups.
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will continue to be delivered and administered in January and the province expects increasing numbers of doses through to March and beyond. Phase Two is expected to begin this spring when Ontario receives more of the ordered doses of vaccine from both Pfizer and Moderna, and potentially other vaccines, as they go through clinical trials and approvals.
