The Ontario Courts of Justice and the Ministry of the Attorney General have announced the suspension of all Provincial Offences Act (POA) court matters until Friday, April 3, 2020 amid COVID-19 concerns. Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled between Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 3, 2020 will be adjourned. Parties and witnesses do not need to attend court. Notice of new court dates will be sent by mail to addresses on file with the court.

At this time, Haldimand County’s POA administration office – located within the new Haldimand County Administration Building – will remain open for enquiries, however, members of the public are asked to refrain from visiting if they have symptoms of illness. Anyone who requires POA-related assistance may also contact poa@haldimandcounty.on.ca or call 905-772-3327 to speak with staff.

Updates related to COVID-19 will be shared by Haldimand County and its healthcare partners as it becomes available. Residents are encouraged to educate themselves about COVID-19 & follow the Health Unit’s recommendations to help prevent the spread of viruses:

– wash your hands often with soap and water;

– avoid close contact with people who are sick;

– cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; if you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm;

– avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth to prevent illness;

– clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Residents looking to stay informed regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can do so by logging onto the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit website. A page (https://hnhu.org/health-topic/coronavirus-covid-19/) has been specifically dedicated to the virus and includes material on who is at risk, how to protect your family, what to do if you feel ill, and what precautions to take if you’ve travelled outside of Canada. The site also contains key contact information and links to updates on the current situation at the global, national and provincial level.

All Haldimand County facility closures, program cancellations, meeting postponement & visitation restriction information is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/covid-19/ & will be updated regularly.