Halton Region sees SMALLEST COVID-19 INCREASE in OVER A MONTH

COVID-19, it’s on the tv, the radio, the internet. In fact, it sometimes feels like it’s hard to escape the news surrounding it. So how ARE we doing? The first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Canada was January 25. The first confirmed case was January 27. March 11 marked the first confirmed case in Halton. On March 17 Ontario declared a state of emergency. The first confirmed case in Halton Hills occurred on March 18. On March 23 Ontario orders mandatory closure of non-essential businesses. And on March 24 Halton declares a state of emergency. To date Halton has seen 478 cases of this coronavirus, including 22 that resulted in death and 395 who have recovered. 118 of those cases have been confirmed in Halton Hills with zero new cases today and only two new patients in the past week. This included an outbreak at Mountainview Residence and Terrace which saw 73 residents and staff contract the virus resulting in 11 deaths. In fact, Halton Region saw only two new cases today which is the lowest increase experienced in the region in over a month, with the last increase this small going back as far as March 28. With the Ontario Government introducing new guidelines that allow some businesses to reopen with strict guidelines it appears that, at least in Halton Hills, the measures in place and the people abiding have effectively flattened the curve. But with school’s closed until at least May 31, parks and trails closed, social distancing still in effect, and many workplaces still closed, we are far from out of the woods. The innovation and community mindedness experienced over the past seven weeks has been inspirational. From manufacturers like Superior Glove retaining employees by expanding their product line to meet PPE demands, Dr Nadia Alum leading groups of people making PPE for community health care, makers and sewers making the PPE to be collected, parades for celebrations, businesses adapting practices to maintain social distancing, to signs thanking frontline workers and, in Acton, even a visit from The Darkside to encourage more of the same. The people of Halton, Ontario, and Canada have truly shown that we will, get through this together.