In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID19 and to protect County staff and the public, the Haldimand County Administration Building will be closed for in-person service until further notice as of March 18, 2020. While there are currently NO reported cases of COVID19 in Haldimand, the County – in partnership with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and in alignment with Federal and Provincial actions – is taking a proactive approach to ‘flattening the curve’.

While the Haldimand County Administration Building is closed to the public, staff will continue to be available to assist residents by phone or email during regular hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 4:30pm). Alternate municipal service options are available that do not require in-person visits. Residents are encouraged to contact the County at 905-318-5932 or info@haldimandcounty.on.ca with all enquiries. A list of alternate service options is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/covid-19/.

“We’re working closely with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and taking all steps necessary to prevent COVID-19 from becoming an issue in the community. It’s extremely important that we remain calm, follow directions from healthcare authorities and support one another during this time. The main goal right now is to prevent community spread, and the best way to do that is to stay home. There are over 20,000 vulnerable people over the age of 70 in Haldimand & Norfolk counties and we have a shared duty to protect them,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt.

“In this light, following recommendations from the Province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, we have made some adjustments to day-to-day operations to protect staff and residents, while still providing essential services to the community,” Hewitt added. “Council recognizes that there will be economic hardships associated with the unfolding of the COVID-19 situation and we will do everything in our power to provide assistance to local businesses & residents. As we approach the operating budget and apply any County financial policies during this pandemic, we’ll look at all options possible to lessen economic impacts and provide support.”

Updates related to COVID19 will be shared by Haldimand County and its healthcare partners as it becomes available. Residents are encouraged to educate themselves about COVID19 & follow the Health Unit’s recommendations to help prevent the spread of viruses:

• if you develop symptoms of illness that you think are related to COVID-19, contact your primary care provider or call the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit Hotline at 519-426-6170 ext. 9999 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 4:30pm). Your primary care provider or Health Unit staff will provide guidance and, if necessary, arrange for screening in coordination with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. Unless your situation is critical, please do not visit the emergency department.
• stay home if possible
• wash your hands often with soap and water;
• avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• if you have to leave the house for an essential activity (e.g: to acquire food/necessary supplies) try to stay at least 6 feet away from others
• 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 COVID19 pandemic can do so by logging onto the HaldimandNorfolk Health Unit website. A page (https://hnhu.org/healthtopic/coronavirus
covid19/) 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/covid19/ & will be updated regularly.