Effective immediately, Haldimand County will be closing all museums, libraries & arenas for the next 3 weeks. March Break camps have also been canceled and a number of public workshops & meetings have been postponed (including the Business Excellence Awards Breakfast and Official Plan Update workshop). These closures, cancelations and postponements are directly aligned with recommendations from Haldimand-Norfolk’s Medical Officer of Health & the Province of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer.

There are currently NO reported cases of COVID-19 in Haldimand County and all cancelations, closures and postponements are being implemented as a precautionary measure. Grandview Lodge staff will continue to screen all visitors for symptoms prior to entry – as mandated by the Ministry of Long Term Care. The Haldimand County Administration Building will remain open for service, however, signage is posted requesting that visitors refrain from entering if they are experiencing symptoms of illness. Additional hand sanitization stations will be set up in the Administration Building foyer.

Re-imbursements for canceled museum, library and March Break programs will be provided to participants. Program re-imbursement details will be shared with registered participants via the contact information provided at the time of registration.

“We regret having to cancel programs and close community facilities but are doing so in the interest of community safety, based on the expert medical advice of our local and provincial healthcare authorities,” said Craig Manley, Haldimand County’s Chief Administrative Officer. “Residents should remain calm and be assured that Haldimand County, with assistance and governance from the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, is ready to respond should COVID-19 become an issue in the community,” he added.

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.