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Haldimand & Norfolk County Paramedic Services have formed a task force to administer additional COVID-19 testing for vulnerable residents, residents of congregate settings and staff at long-term care homes.

The task force initiative was spearheaded by the Health Unit, Haldimand & Norfolk counties in response to new directives from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and deputy ministers of health & long-term care.

The unified task force increases testing capacity at long-term care homes and enables vulnerable residents and seniors – who live at home but cannot make it to a testing site – to be tested at their own residence. A number of these residents are currently waitlisted for admission into long-term care homes, and testing is required prior to admission.

A team of approximately 12 paramedics received training to administer swab tests. Screening of all residents and staff at long-term care facilities in both counties, symptomatic or not, is underway. The goal is to test all residents and staff in LTC homes across Haldimand & Norfolk.

The task force was formed in response to direction from the Provincial government to test as many residents of long-term care facilities as possible to reduce transmission, better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in long-term care homes and inform future planning.

“Haldimand County Emergency Services is pleased to be part of this community safety and protection initiative. We’ll continue to support the Health Unit and local healthcare providers until COVID-19 is no longer a threat to the health and well-being of our community,” said Jason Gallagher, Haldimand County’s Fire Chief & Manager of Emergency Services.

“Our paramedic team – and specifically our community paramedics – are a highly-trained group of individuals with deep experience in providing healthcare directly to those who need it most,” said Sarah Page, Norfolk’s Chief of Paramedic Services. “We’re proud to be playing a key role in helping Haldimand and Norfolk stop the spread of COVID-19, specifically amongst those most vulnerable to respiratory illness.”

Haldimand & Norfolk Counties are working closely with the Medical Officer of Health to safely re-open parks & trails for resident use. Both counties intend to re-open these spaces for walk-through access this weekend and are asking for the public’s cooperation in practicing social distancing guidelines. In Haldimand County, Lower LaFortune Park (Caledonia) and the Port Maitland Park & pier remain closed.

The decision to re-open trails is largely due to the efforts of residents who have been following public health guidelines and doing their part to flatten the curve. Both counties are grateful for the public’s cooperation and acting with the community’s well-being in mind. The more diligently everyone practices social distancing, the sooner everyone will be able to get back to the activities they enjoy most.

Residents walking or cycling on trails or through parks should remain 2 metres apart and groups of more than 5 people remain prohibited. People are not permitted to gather, picnic or congregate in the parks at this time.

Residents should also note that it will take some time for staff to visit all areas and remove existing closure signs. Over the weekend, people using the trails/walking through parks and practicing social distancing should not be concerned about receiving a ticket for doing so.

“We are in a unique situation in Haldimand, being a desirable place to visit during a worldwide pandemic, on the cusp of peak tourism season. As warm weather approaches, we are going to have to work together to cooperate and share our outdoor spaces responsibly,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. “The intent of re-opening trails and parks is to allow local residents enjoy the green spaces in their own communities & get the physical and mental exercise we all need,” Hewitt continued.

“We’ve all been cooped up inside for a long time, and I know many of us are looking forward to getting some much-needed time outdoors,” said Mayor Chopp. “Mayor Hewitt and I have heard from many residents who are keen to safely use these areas, so we’re very pleased to be working with our Medical Officer of Health on getting them re-opened for public use.”

Both Hewitt & Chopp ask for the public’s continued patience while re-opening details are finalized. To ensure residents get adequate access to community green spaces and trails and to prevent further transmission of the virus, both Counties, with direction from the Medical Officer of Health, are discouraging non-residents from visiting until the public health emergency is over. Most parking lots of trailheads and parks will remain closed to discourage large volumes of people from traveling to these destinations.

In accordance with Provincial Orders, boat launches, piers, playgrounds, pavilions, sporting fields/courts and other outdoor amenities will remain closed until further notice in an effort to protect community safety.

To ensure continued access to parks, residents are urged to demonstrate personal responsibility, practice social distancing and not take advantage of public green spaces (e.g: congregate in groups) so they can be enjoyed, especially as warmer weather approaches.

For local COVID-19 information, including municipality facility closures and program cancellations, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19 or NorfolkCounty.ca/COVID-19.

For up-to-date public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.

Haldimand County is reminding the public and seasonal campground/trailer park operators of public health orders in place to protect community safety.

Recognizing that now is the time campgrounds and trailer parks traditionally open for business, the County is reminding everyone that Provincial emergency regulations prohibit campgrounds & trailer parks from operating unless they are accommodating an individual who does not have another residence in Canada and is in need of housing during the emergency period. Use of campgrounds and trailer parks for recreational purposes is currently not allowed under the provincial order.

On May 1, the Premier of Ontario announced a small list of essential businesses that would be permitted to open under strict safety guidelines as of May 4, however, campgrounds and trailer parks must remain closed as per Provincial orders.

Campgrounds and other seasonal parks are encouraged to contact the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit for guidance with respect to any exceptional circumstances (e.g. if a seasonal occupant has no where else to go).

Haldimand County Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and the OPP will be monitoring these areas and responding to calls for non-compliance. Property owners can be subject to fines for non-compliance.

Campgrounds and other seasonal parks that open for any use other than those permitted by the Provincial Order may result in an original set fine of $880.00 being imposed on operators per day, per offence. Continued offences (after receiving fines from the County), and where a court convicts, may see an additional penalty imposed to:

(a) an individual,  a fine of not more than $100,000 and for a term of imprisonment of not more than one year;

(b) an individual who is a director or officer of a corporation, a fine of not more than $500,000 and for a term of imprisonment of not more than one year; and

(c) a corporation, to a fine of not more than $10,000,000.

Anyone who witnesses violations of public health orders that may be compromising community safety are encouraged to call the COVID-19 enforcement hotline at 519-428-8019.

“I am just as eager as everyone else to get outside and enjoy the nicer weather, but I am asking for everyone’s patience and cooperation. The restrictions in place are part of a larger effort to promote social distancing and reduce the number of infections from COVID-19, which appears to be working. By following the directions of health authorities for the next few weeks, we’re increasing the likelihood of being able to use our seasonal recreational amenities this summer,” said Mayor Ken Hewitt.

For local COVID-19 information, including municipality facility closures and program cancellations, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19.

For up-to-date public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.

Haldimand County paramedics have been following a number of strict COVID-19 protocols and Ministry of Health guidelines to protect themselves and the community. Residents are reminded that paramedics who respond to calls may be donning special PPE gear when they arrive and must conduct a 2 metre distance assessment of patients to screen for the virus.

If the patient’s condition allows, one medic will enter the home in PPE while the second paramedic remains outside until it is determined what level of PPE is required. Once the necessary PPE is determined, the paramedics will continue to don the appropriate PPE and treat the patient. They will also put a surgical mask on the patient as well as a precaution.

This process can take approximately 2-4 minutes to complete, depending on the amount of PPE required.

Paramedics may also be wearing a respirator on specific calls, which is an apparatus that looks like a gas mask. This provides a higher level of protection and is usually worn on calls where the patient screens positive for COVID-19.

“We understand that when you call 911 and an ambulance arrives you expect instantaneous entry into your home. Under normal circumstances this is the process, however, the pandemic has required us to implement some additional protective measures. Keeping our paramedics and patients safe is our number one priority,” said Jason Gallagher, Manager of Emergency Services & Fire Chief.

[ Pictured below: A Haldimand County paramedic in full PPE. ]