Feb. 4, 2021/Hastings and Prince Edward Counties
Yesterday, the Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health held its first meeting of 2021.
Board of Health elects Chair and Vice Chair
Jo-Anne Albert, Mayor of the Municipality of Tweed, was re-elected as the Chair of the Board. This is the third term as Chair for the long-standing member of the Board. The Board also re-elected Jan O’Neill, Mayor of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, as Vice Chair.
In accepting the position, Albert stated that she is proud to serve as Chair and expressed her thanks to the staff at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) for their tireless work over the past year as they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also expressed her gratitude to the community for following public health guidelines and helping to keep the number of COVID-19 cases in the community low.
Update on pandemic response and COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in HPEC. He explained HPEPH is in Phase 1 of the Province’s Three-phase COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, and is prioritizing the delivery of vaccines to residents of LTC homes, high-risk retirement homes and elders lodges, with a goal of having these residents vaccinated with their first dose by mid February.
He noted that vaccine availability continues to pose challenges, but HPEPH is working to ensure it is administered efficiently and equitably to priority populations. To date, 1096 people in the region have been vaccinated and as HPEPH’s allocation of vaccine increases in the coming weeks, focus will expand to include other Phase 1 priority groups, as identified by the province, including hospital workers, First Nations communities, and chronic home care recipients.
Dr. Oglaza urged patience and thanked the community for their continued efforts to follow public health guidelines and noted that this hard work is reflected in the dramatic drop in the number of cases since December.
While waiting to get the vaccine, residents can still protect one another from COVID-19 by continuing to follow public health guidance. This includes frequent handwashing, physical distancing, wearing a mask and staying home as much as possible. To reduce close contacts and potential exposure to the virus, leave home only for essential reasons, like getting groceries or attending a medical appointment.
Board shows support for paid sick leave
The BOH agreed to send a letter to the Provincial Government stating support in principle for Bill 239, Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, 2020, introduced by MPP Peggy Sattler last year. The bill aims to fill the gaps left by existing government assistance programs and allow all working Ontarians to follow the public health guidance and stay home when sick. Staying home while sick is essential to stop the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
The Board’s decision was informed by research done by Victoria Law, Social Determinants of Health Public Health Nurse, that shows COVID-19 has exacerbated negative effects of existing inequities locally, including unfair access to paid leave when a person is sick and unable to work. In HPEC between Sept. 1, 2020 and Jan. 28, 2021, workplaces have been associated with 7 of the 10 outbreaks in HPEC, and one in five cases of COVID-19 was acquired at a workplace outbreak or was a close contact of someone who contracted COVID-19 from the outbreak.
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Media contacts
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
mhyland@hpeph.ca
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
