COVID-19 is something that we are all going to have to face together. Our primary concern is the health and safety of Ontarians.
We hope you are staying safe and healthy.
Thank you to all the province’s essential services workers and those on the front-line. You step up everyday to ensure individuals, families and seniors have what they need to stay safe and healthy.
Thank you to everyone else who is staying home and practicing physical distancing.
It is important to listen to the advice of Public Health experts:
- Wash hands frequently
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Practice social-distancing
- Stay home if you’re not feeling well
- If you are concerned or suspect you have the virus, call
Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000 or
Ottawa Public Health: 613-580-6744
New Extended Hours at Service Ontario 1800 Bank Street location
Address: 1800 Bank St Unit 5, Ottawa, ON K1V 0W3Hours:
| Monday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Tuesday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Thursday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Friday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Remember that the government of Ontario has said that your driver’s license, health card and license sticker will not expire during the state of emergency.
Most services are available online.
You do not need to go to a Service Ontario location for these items at this time.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/extended-validation-periods
New as of June 3
Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency until June 30
The decision supports the government’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and protect the health and safety of Ontarians as the province reopens in a measured and responsible way. The extension, under s.7.0.7 of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, was approved by the Ontario legislature earlier today.
As Ontario charts a path to recovery, the Declaration will support the continued enforcement of emergency orders that give hospitals and long-term care homes the necessary flexibility to respond to COVID-19 and protect vulnerable populations and the public as the province reopens.
Current emergency orders include allowing frontline care providers to redeploy staff where they are needed most, enabling public health units to redeploy or hire staff to support case management and contact tracing, limiting long-term care and retirement home staff to working at one home, and preventing unfair pricing of necessary goods.
The Declaration of Emergency may be further extended with the approval of the legislature, as set out in the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
A full list of emergency orders can be found on the e-Laws website under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and at Ontario.ca/alert.
Ontario Improving Broadband and Cell Service for Rural Communities
This funding will help create even more economic and educational opportunities in rural, remote and underserved areas of the province. This is part of the province’s $315 million initiative called Up to Speed: Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan.
Today’s announcement was made by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education.
The new Improving Connectivity in Ontario, or ICON, program, when leveraged, has the potential to result in an investment of up to $500 million in total partner funding to improve connectivity in underserved and unserved areas. Applicants, including telecom companies, municipal governments, First Nation communities, and non-profits, will be invited to submit innovative proposals and lend their investment, expertise and experience to improve connectivity in communities across Ontario. The province will fund a portion of each approved project.
Access to broadband is a core component of the province’s Learn at Home plan. Reliable Internet, particularly in rural and regional areas, is essential to supporting students’ success in school. The provincial government recently called on the federal government to take immediate action to improve Internet connectivity for Ontario students.
As many as 12 per cent of households in Ontario ― mostly in rural, remote or Northern areas ― are underserved or unserved, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
The ICON program is one of several important initiatives underway to expand access to mobile broadband and high-speed Internet services. Over the past several months, Ontario has partnered with the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) to leverage $213 million to improve access in Eastern Ontario.
As part of a $190 million project to bring high-speed Internet to thousands of homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario, the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) has awarded contracts in Lambton, Wellington and Norfolk counties.
Ontario has also invested in initiatives to improve connectivity in Northern Ontario, such as a project that will connect five remote Matawa-member First Nation communities, and investments in broadband projects through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the Next Generation Network Program.
Local food report highlights those who are keeping food on store shelves and kitchen tables during COVID-19 outbreak
Individuals, businesses and organizations are highlighted in 2020 Local Food Report: Ontario Spirit – A Celebration of Local Food Collaboration.
The 2020 Local Food Report demonstrates the importance of local food for Ontario consumers and communities, while recognizing farmers and those who keep food on our plates. Highlights include:
- Breweries and distilleries adapting their production facilities so they can produce hand sanitizer to help address the supply shortage;
- Organizations promoting local food literacy through online resources, virtual experiences and recipes that focus on locally-sourced ingredients;
- Food banks, industry partners and local communities working together to create and distribute emergency food boxes to those in need;
- Local public health units and agencies, along with industry and community food organizations, collaborating to offer weekly meal packages to families in place of school food programs that aren’t currently operating.
Ontario is home to nearly 49,600 farms and 4,400 food processing facilities that contribute over $47 billion to the provincial GDP, making the agri-food sector a key economic driver of Ontario’s economy. Now more than ever, buying and supporting local food creates jobs and economic growth in communities across the province.
Special statement from Dr. Brent Moloughney
Recent events in the news involving racial violence have left many Ottawa residents and Canadians hurt, angry and looking for answers. Much of the attention has focused on the United States, but with our proximity to the US and our own continuing issues with racism, this has led to protests across our nation as well.
Racism is a public health issue and Ottawa is not immune.
Sadly, with the emergence of COVID-19, we have seen rising racism, xenophobia, discrimination, hate incidents and crimes targeting our Asian communities globally and here in Canada.
As a virus, COVID-19 does not discriminate. Anyone can be infected. Evidence has shown that certain groups may be more impacted by COVID-19 than others due to broader health and social factors that increase the risk of contracting the disease and of being able to protect others. COVID-19 affects us all, but some people are facing incredibly difficult circumstances and hardships. Support, kindness and compassion is what we need now.
As an organization, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has been proactive in assessing how to better educate our staff on the issues relating to racism regarding health and access to care. We are working with our City partners to confront and address systemic racism throughout our community.
Marches are taking place all over the world this week including here in Ottawa. We understand that people want to gather to march and express themselves. If you are planning on joining the crowds to march this week, please do so responsibly by taking steps to keep yourself and other participants as safe as possible to reduce the risk of transmission:
- Maintain physical distancing of at least two metres when possible
- Wear a cloth face mask at all times
- Bring hand sanitizer with you and also wash your hands upon returning home
- Avoid touching your face
- Consider alternatives to yelling and shouting to avoid spreading droplets
- Clean any materials that you carried during the march
- As always, while COVID-19 is circulating in the community, monitor yourself for symptoms and if any symptoms develop, get yourself tested right away.
If you are more susceptible to serious complications if you contract COVID-19 (e.g. older adult, have chronic illnesses or are immunocompromised), reconsider the need to be present in a large crowd and perhaps find a way to participate virtually. I would also add that if you have a vulnerable person in your household, you should also consider participating virtually. And if you are sick, please stay home.
Reducing the risk of transmission
Last week, we launched the Ottawa COVID-19 Dashboard to provide up-to-date information on core indicators for local monitoring and informing reopening decisions. This public dashboard, which is updated daily, will hopefully help residents better understand the situation and the impact of their actions. Each of us matter and each of us will help determine the trajectory of the number of infections in our community and the opportunity for more businesses and settings to re-open.
As more places open, it is easy to think the virus has gone away. But it remains in our community. So, when you are in a public setting (indoors or outdoors), it is important to maintain physical distancing of at least two metres and wear a cloth mask when necessary.
The more we start to gather in public again with the opening of businesses and outdoor spaces, the more mindful we must be of our actions as we learn to live with COVID-19 in our community.
When outdoors, use caution when:
- Passing others. Sidestep, pass quickly and courteously, and/or stagger yourselves to not be directly behind others when walking, running, cycling and other outdoor activities.
- Spending time with others. Keep visits outdoors (including your backyard or driveway) with people who are not part of your household.
In indoor settings, use caution and routinely apply the principles of physical distancing, mask use, and washing your hands before and after activities such as:
- Using public transportation including buses and taxis
- Grocery and retail shopping and farmers’ markets
- Attending medical appointments
- Ordering take-out food and curbside pick-up
- Allowing service providers in your home for renovations, cleaning, maintenance, etc.
View our Be COVID Wise: Understand Your Risks during COVID-19 poster for additional information about red, least safe options and green, safer options.
City opening seasonal washrooms at five popular park and beach destinations
The washroom facilities at these locations will undergo extensive weekly cleaning. Ottawa Public Health advises washroom users to be vigilant in their preventative measures and behaviours – keeping two metres from people outside your immediate household while standing in line, washing your hands with soap and water, and using a hand sanitizer. For supplementary protection, wear a cloth mask in case physical distancing may be difficult to achieve.
Water fountains, where available at these parks, will also be operational. The fountains will be cleaned twice daily, along with an extensive weekly cleaning.
The hours of park and beach washroom operations are as follows:
- Britannia Park
- Monday to Thursday from 10:30 am to 9 pm
- Friday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 7 pm
- Andrew Haydon Park
- Every day from 7 am to 6 pm
- Westboro Beach
- Every day from 11:30 am to 7 pm
- Mooney’s Bay Beach
- Monday to Thursday from 10:30 am to 9 pm
- Friday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 7 pm
- Petrie Island Beaches
- Monday to Thursday from 10:30 am to 9 pm
- Friday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 7 pm
