COVID-19 Update #66

  • Community Update

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

Monday9a.m.–3:30p.m.
Tuesday9a.m.–3:30p.m.
Wednesday9a.m.–3:30p.m.
Thursday9a.m.–3:30p.m.
Friday9a.m.–3:30p.m.
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Phone(613) 523-1048

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

Public marches are taking place all over the world, including one this week in Ottawa.  Part of our role at Ottawa Public Health is to provide our community with the necessary information and guidance so that they are able to make informed decisions. 

New as of June 4


Ontario Creates Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity

The council will also advise government on long-term actions that can be taken to support youth during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Details were provided by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Jamil Jivani, Ontario’s Advocate for Community Opportunities.

The council will have up to 20 members, including a chair and a vice-chair. Membership will be intergenerational and cross-sector, and will include youth between the ages of 18 to 29 and adults with expertise from community organizations, not-for-profit businesses, education, and government services.

The council will focus on the challenges facing young people today, such as completing an education, skills training, and employment. As an immediate priority, the council will identify strategies to support vulnerable and marginalized youth to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Jamil Jivani, Ontario’s Advocate for Community Opportunities, will serve as chair of the council for the first year. He will work to engage directly with young people and communities across the province to identify strategies to remove barriers for youth at risk to help ensure they are not left behind.

The Ontario government is further supporting Black communities to address the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 by allocating $1.5 million in funding to organizations that support Black families and youth. This funding will be used to provide urgent COVID-19 supports and address the immediate needs of children, youth and families.

Those interested in joining the council are invited to apply to the Public Appointments Secretariatby Thursday, June 18, 2020. Eligible candidates should have expertise in areas such as community service, business, education, and government services such as youth justice and child welfare.


Ontario Appoints Special Advisor to Develop Health Data Platform

This data platform will provide recognized researchers and health system partners with access to anonymized health data that will allow them to better detect, plan, and respond to COVID-19. As well, this platform will support projects from the Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund.

The Ontario Health Data Platform is being developed in consultation with the Ontario Privacy Commissioner. The information gathered will help break down long-standing barriers and allow researchers to help with:

  • Increasing detection of COVID-19;
  • Discovering risk factors for vulnerable populations;
  • Predicting when and where outbreaks may happen;
  • Evaluating how preventative and treatment measures are working; and
  • Identifying where to allocate equipment and other resources.

As special advisor, Dr. Philpott will also chair the Joint Ministers’ Roundtable and provide recommendations to the Minister of Health and the President of the Treasury Board. The members of the Joint Ministers’ Roundtable include public health, research, privacy and clinical experts. Together, they will provide strong proactive leadership to ensure data is used in a privacy-protected way. The roundtable will participate in a consultation forum that will inform the development of the platform.



Canadian seniors to receive special payment in early July

Canadian seniors across the country are facing significant health, economic, and social challenges due to COVID-19. Physical distancing is weighing heavily on those who are separated from their families, and rely on help to get groceries and other essential items. We need to support seniors and to be there for them, as they have been for us.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will receive their special one-time, tax-free payment during the week of July 6. Through this measure and others, the government is providing nearly $900 more for single seniors and more than $1,500 for senior couples, on top of their existing benefits, to help these vulnerable Canadians with extra costs during the pandemic.  

Seniors eligible for the OAS pension will receive a payment of $300, and those also eligible for the GIS will receive an additional $200, for a total of $500. Allowance recipients will also receive $500. This $2.5 billion in financial support will help Canadian seniors cover increased costs caused by COVID-19, and give them greater financial security in this time of crisis.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has introduced a number of measures to support seniors, including those most vulnerable. This includes a one-time special payment through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit in April, which provided an average of $375 to single seniors and $510 to senior couples, helping over 4 million low- and modest-income seniors. We are also investing an additional $20 million in community organizations that offer services to seniors, and have reduced minimum withdrawal requirements for all types of registered retirement income funds (RRIFs) by 25 per cent for the year 2020. In addition, we have taken steps to make sure seniors would continue to receive their GIS benefits if they were unable to submit their 2019 income information on time.

As we gradually restart our economy, the Government of Canada will continue to support all Canadians, including seniors and those most vulnerable, and respond to the health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19.


Youth leaders from across Canada help build more inclusive and accessible communities and workplaces

During these trying times it is increasingly important that youth remain engaged in their communities, as changes to routine and isolation can have a negative impact on their mental and physical well-being. Canada’s youth have an important role in creating meaningful change in their communities, and can gain valuable experience through community engagement.

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, launched a call for expressions of interest under the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) youth innovation component, a Government of Canada grants and contributions program. This EAF component engages and challenges youth to volunteer and collaborate with local community-based organizations, and apply for funding of up to $10,000 for accessibility projects.

This initiative supports youth between 15 and 30 years of age to promote awareness of accessibility needs in their communities, gain valuable experience, including how to apply for government funding, further develop their presentation skills and build their sense of social responsibility through a volunteer experience that positively impacts the lives of persons with disabilities in their communities. Youth must submit their expressions of interest by October 30, 2020.

In 2019, there were 119 youth-led projects funded across Canada through a call for expressions of interest, representing a total investment of $1 million. These youth-driven projects helped increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in their communities and workplaces. Some of the projects funded include an accessible chairlift for a community pool, purchasing a digital platform that helps train persons with disabilities, an accessible park structure, adaptive software, accessible washrooms and automatic doors.

Across Canada, we are changing the way we interact with those around us to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Youth, and all Canadians, should continue to consult their local or regional public health authorities for the latest guidelines to protect them during the process.

By making workplaces and community spaces more accessible, the Government of Canada is breaking down barriers to inclusion and access. All Canadians deserve the same opportunities for success.



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


Ontario has created a new self-assessment tool
If you think you have 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use this self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care. Visit here.

If you require help in Ottawa South, please visit our website for Community links and contacts.

Ottawa Public Health
For the latest updates, please click here.

Government of Ontario
Every day at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  ETthe Province of Ontario’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) web page will be updated with the most up-to-date information including the status of cases in Ontario.

Government of Canada
For the latest COVID-19 updates, please click here.
For the latest on Employment and Social Development changes for employees and employers, click here.

Find out about the current reported scams related to COVID-19.

Learn how to protect yourself when banking online.

Know what to do if you’re a victim of fraud.