The highlights of the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) held last week are listed below. The group hears reports from the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, area police and fire officials and Counties departments, including Community and Social Services, Paramedic Service, Public Works, Finance and Maple View Lodge long-term care facility.
Counties preparing preliminary plans for restarting regular operations:
Senior managers at the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are reviewing operations which may have been scaled back since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and developing preliminary plans for restarting regular operations. Counties critical and essential operations have continued throughout the outbreak.
“I wish to thank all essential staff who have remained committed to their work throughout the pandemic. I expect staff are looking forward to a return to more normal work routines,” Warden Pat Sayeau said. The Counties will follow advice from the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health with respect to reopening to the public.
Four Emergency Child Care Centres now open:
Emergency Child Care Centres for essential workers have expanded to include four sites, two in Kemptville and two in Brockville. The centres are currently fulfilling the needs of the community with no children on the wait list. Staff is continuing to monitor whether additional spaces are needed. The province recently expanded the List of Essential Workers eligible for emergency child care [www.ontario.ca/page/child-care-health-care-and-frontline-staff].
The application form is available on the Counties Community and Social Services webpage.
Counties Paramedic Service helping test at long-term care homes:
Community Paramedicine efforts are continuing with Leeds Grenville’s Paramedic Service, and the neighbouring Paramedic Service in Lanark County, assisting the region’s health unit in testing residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service Chief Jeff Carss reported community testing has been ramped up. Testing has been conducted at long-term care facilities in Athens, Brockville, Prescott, and Merrickville. He noted more than 1,000 individuals have recently undergone testing.
“The Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service and the Lanark County Paramedic Service have been phenomenal in fulfilling the provincial requirement to perform widespread testing at our long-term care homes,” said Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for the tri-county area.
Testing at area retirement homes is expected to commence soon following direction of the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
Ministry of Health – Physical distancing remains important:
With parks and green spaces reopening, the Ministry of Health and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit continue to stress the importance of physical distancing.
At the MECG meeting, Dr. Paula Stewart said it is crucial to continue to stay away from play structures, park benches and other park equipment to contain the spread of the virus.
Travellers returning to Canada are reminded they are required to self- isolate for 14 days. Anyone with symptoms must self-isolate for two weeks or get tested. Learn more on the Health Unit’s COVID-19 webpage: healthunit.org/coronavirus.
