 By Staff
March 21st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The public has not paid enough attention to the requirement to maintain a social distance between people they come into contact with.
Conservation Halton made the decision to close all parks indefinitely as of March 22nd.
 Made for pleasant outdoor walks – people using the park on Saturday did not stay far enough apart. This social distance stuff is serious. On March 13, we reduced staff in our parks and gatehouses, cancelled all programming and closed some of our parks, while leaving others open for people to engage in passive recreation. We also suspended our regular fees and encouraged visitors to pay what they can. The parks were still served by Park Rangers and other park operations staff with no direct contact with customers. They were monitoring conditions, parking, and visitor safety for adherence to social distancing related to COVID-19.
Our parks were extremely busy on Saturday March 21 with a spike in hiking visits from 12pm onward. Although many of our visitors have respected social distancing, our Rangers observed and reported concerns with crowding in some areas, parking lot capacity and illegal parking, and people entering areas that are marked as closed.
 Now closed o the public Considering these challenges, all Conservation Halton parks will remain closed indefinitely. These include Kelso, Mountsberg, Crawford Lake, Rattlesnake Point, Hilton Falls and Robert Edmondson Conservation Areas. All sites will be monitored for illegal access and trespassers will be charged.
“These are extraordinary times and we are not in a position to use staff resources to manage non-compliance with park rules or control crowding proactively. Our collective response to COVID-19 has to be all or nothing when it comes to social distancing.” said Hassaan Basit, Chief Administrative Officer.
 People were not staying far enough apart on Saturday – trail now closed. “Unfortunately, while most people have been very responsible, some have demonstrated a complete disregard for the health advice we must all follow. This leaves us no choice but to close the parks indefinitely. We can not risk the safety of any member of our staff or the broader community.”
“For parents with children at home, Conservation Halton has prepared some online resources to support learning about nature without leaving your home. You can find them on our website at conservationhalton.ca/nature-home-learning-resources.”
Important related news story:
Why is social distance important?
By Staff
March 21, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 St. Matthews-on-the-Plains Church, through a Partnering Aldershot, helping our neighbours have food initiative, are trying to make it easy for people to donate food safely without personal contact, while helping to keep the Aldershot food distribution agencies’ shelves from being completely depleted.
 At St. Matthew’s driveway drop-off, there is also a list of needed items and a chart of a lot of the places in Burlington where those in need can get food. All the agencies have instituted ‘safe distance’ policies.
There has also been a group of volunteers formed, who are willing to deliver Food Hampers from the Aldershot distribution agencies to the front door of those in need and who can’t or shouldn’t go out.
Aldershot is a true ‘village’ pulling together to help each other.
By Pepper Parr
March 21st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
We received the following from a trusted source:
I am told on good authority Spencer Smith Park was full of people today (Saturday March 21) and they were like 6 inches not 6 feet apart.
Secondly this past week, on several evenings’, soccer teams were holding practices at city parks.
I would think aside from being dangerous these likely violate provincial rules on Social Distancing.
Sad people aren’t better than this.
There are some people who are not yet getting it. Those of you who do get it – reach out to those who don’t understand what we are up against. Be blunt if you have to.
Mayor Meed Ward is doing her best.
 By Staff
March 21st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The following was first published by the Globe and Mail earlier today under the headline: Deciding when to end social distancing won’t be easy.
It looks like the effectiveness with which people distance themselves is going to have a huge impact,” said Caroline Colijn, a professor at SFU and Canada 150 Research Chair in mathematics for evolution, infection and public health.
To examine what that means for Canada, Dr. Colijn tested a range of possible futures. Each begins in mid-March with a tiny fraction of the population infected by the virus.
Importantly, the scenarios show the high level of uncertainty that is built into models of this kind.
Based on a slight difference in how easily the virus can be transmitted from one person to the next – a number that is not yet known to high precision – the fraction of the total population that is infected during the peak of infections can vary by as much as 15 per cent.
Another unknown is whether the virus will become less active during the summer months. This is what happens with seasonal flu, another respiratory virus, but the same effect can’t be assumed for a virus to which the human population has never been exposed. However, even if there is a seasonal effect, it would likely only serve to delay the trajectory of the outbreak rather than significantly change it.
Where the scenarios can provide some clarity is in the comparisons between different options for how much social distancing should be applied and for what length of time. Those comparisons are captured here.
Why distancing matters
The basic strategy is simple. If everyone in the population is isolated from everyone else, the virus has nowhere to go and infections die out over the course of the incubation period of 14 days. In practice it doesn’t work that way. Families will isolate together and it could take a number of weeks for a virus to move within a family group. And there is still a need for at least some people to be out and about performing essential services, including caring for the sick.
THE POWER OF ISOLATION
Three scenarios show the impact of different levels of social distancing on a population that is susceptible to COVID-19. In the final case the wave of infections stretches out to nearly a year but peak infections and total number of cases are both significantly reduced.
These three scenarios compare the trajectory of the pandemic when no measures are taken with what happens under medium and strong levels of social distancing. The measures are interconnected in complex ways. For example, school closings and work-from-home recommendations greatly reduce the spread of the virus between students and co-workers, but increase the potential for household and local community contact as people spend more time in their own neighbourhoods. Shutdowns of social venues, including restaurants and cafés, can reduce contacts still further.
With no measures in place, infections rise quickly and reach their peak by about June. At that point, up to one quarter of the population could infected at the same time. In a large Canadian city, this would amount to hundreds of thousands of cases, many of them severe.
In the medium scenario, schools and some businesses remain open but social contact is reduced by up to 40 per cent. Here the peak is lowered somewhat and shifted by a month or so. The bigger difference comes if social-distancing measures are strong, with most places where people gathered closed for the duration of the pandemic. Then the height of the peak could be cut by more than one half and it doesn’t arrive until the early fall, by which time health facilities may be better able to meet the flood of new cases.
All three scenarios end with a significant fraction of the population having been infected one year from now. With no distancing, that amounts to more than 70 per cent of the population before the virus burns out. With strong distancing, it’s more likely to be less than half the population.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Here, the scenarios show what happens when strong social distancing measures are lifted after one month, three months and six months. The first two cases only delay the pandemic, the third significantly lowers its impact.
These scenarios show what happens when the strong distancing measures are lifted after one month, three months and six months. Whether distancing ends abruptly or gradually, there appears to be little benefit to ending the measures before the peak of the pandemic is over.
For example, ending after one month merely displaces the steep infection curve that occurs with no distancing by roughly the same amount of time. Ending after three months – about July 1 – spreads the peak out a bit more, but it still reaches 20 per cent of the population infected by the end of the summer. Only the six-month interval, which means lifting measures around Oct. 1, significantly breaks the shape of the infection curve. Here the range of uncertainty is greatest, with a few per cent to 15 per cent of the population infected late in the year.
PLANKING THE CURVE
If even stronger levels of social isolation are enforced, this scenario suggests that the number of infections within the community can be suppressed during the initial weeks and held to less than 50 cases per million people at any one time. However, the curve might still rise gradually, propelled by a few cases, and there would remain a constant risk of infection re-entering from other locations. When enforcement stopped, infection rates would be expected to rise quickly.
On Thursday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said the country must not only flatten the infection curve but attempt to “plank” it. That means pursuing every possible measure to its fullest, including social distancing and rapidly identifying new cases and isolating anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
In that scenario, the pandemic does not take off. While the cumulative number of cases may run into the thousands, it only amounts to a tiny fraction of the population. In the model, this means reducing all contacts outside of the household by more than 90 per cent. If it works, community infections could be kept relatively low.
This option would require even harsher measures than Canadians are already practising. And since the vast majority of the population still has no immunity to the virus, there remains a strong likelihood that the infection rate will soar as soon as measures are lifted. And even if the virus is extinguished within the community, there remains the risk of it being reintroduced from elsewhere.
 By Pepper Parr
March 21st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward declares a State of Emergency for the city.
Asking the malls to close.
Notes there is still some complacency in our community around the need to self-isolate, to engage in social distancing
In her Statement the Mayor set out and explained her decision.
 With the support of Council, senior City staff, our Emergency Control Group, and senior staff at Joseph Brant Hospital, I have decided it is time to declare a State of Emergency for Burlington.
The next few days are critical in our ongoing efforts to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and I encourage our residents to continue taking every precaution in protecting yourselves.
Some of you may be asking why now, what has changed over the past few days?
While I thank our many residents who are heeding expert medical advice, we have noticed there is still some complacency in our community around the need to self-isolate, to engage in social distancing and to only go outside for essentials, such as food and medical needs or appointments.
With the end of March break, many people are returning home over the next few days and may need to restock their shelves. I urge these residents to self-isolate in your homes for 14 days and ask family, friends or neighbours to safely drop off supplies for you.
Earlier this week, there was the tragic death of a Milton man. On behalf of Council and the City of Burlington, our hearts go out to his family and we send them, and those who knew him, our deepest condolences. While it is still unknown exactly how he contracted COVID-19, our Halton Region Public Health Department has said there is evidence the virus is spreading through community contact. This increases the urgency around the need for social distancing and self-isolation.
We need to keep each other safe and healthy and must do everything we can to “flatten the curve.”
By declaring a State of Emergency, we want to send the strongest possible message to our community to stay home. Self-isolation means not visiting friends and family, not organizing playdates for your children or pick-up games in our parks and neighbourhoods, and not congregating on the street.
I am also asking all local malls and non-essential businesses to close for the time being.
 Mayor wants the malls to close completely. Our healthcare workers are here to support you all. We need to stay home not only for ourselves and loved ones, but for our medical professionals so that they can continue to be healthy enough to care for the members of our community who do get sick.
Declaring an emergency is a necessary step in the right direction to effectively slow down the spread of this pandemic throughout our city.
I continue to appeal to our residents to resist the urge to hoard. Clearing out your local grocery store of all its frozen and canned foods, and essential supplies is neither necessary nor helpful to others. Take what you need and remember that restocking will happen. I ask anyone who owns or manages an essential service to please consider setting per-person limits on essential items and to ask customers to engage in social distancing while they are shopping in your stores.
I know this has been a trying time for our community and we will likely continue facing these difficult times ahead, but we are all in this together and the only way we will get through this is together.
Related news story:
Science suggests the Mayor has good reason to declare a State of Eamergency
By Pepper Parr
March 21, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
In Burlington we are served by four levels of government.
The Federal government – they have decided that access to the United States – to the US and from the US – is now very limited. Trucks with supplies only – no recreational travel.
That level of government also chartered an aircraft to pick up Canadians who were stranded overseas – they were unable to get home using commercial airlines. The charter wasn’t free – the cost was a reported $1200.
The Provincial government closed schools for two weeks, they declared a state of emergency which orders us all to do things differently.
Restaurants have been told not to serve people inside the premises. Whatever the provinces tells us to do – we have to do it.
We have a Regional government – they take care of waste management and the water system – the pipes that bring us drinking water and water to flush toilets. They also set out a lot of the rules that apply to the four municipalities that make up the Region of Halton.
Late yesterday, the Regional Municipality of Halton set out what they are doing and advising on what the public has access to during the COVID-19 crisis.
To support the containment of COVID-19, many Halton Region buildings will be closed to the public as of Monday, March 23 until further notice. While buildings are closed, the Region will continue to provide critical services, such as waste collection, Halton Waste Management Site drop-off services, water and wastewater services, road operations, housing and paramedic services to residents and businesses.
 The development,, known as The Gallery, opposite city hall has construction crews on site during the shutdown of almost every thing else – Region says it is a “critical construction project vital to our local economy”. Many services will be available online, by phone or by appointment. Critical construction projects that are vital to our local economy will also continue until further notice.
“The situation surrounding COVID-19 is rapidly evolving, and we are taking all necessary measures to protect the health of our community,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “While our buildings are closed, Regional Council and staff are continuing to ensure that critical services are delivered to residents and businesses to maintain a high quality of life. I want to thank them for their commitment to serving the public during this unprecedented time.”
Halton Region Public Health is continuing to focus fully on the response to COVID-19 and protecting the health of our community.
The two big messages are: Stay at home as much as you can and wash your hands often.
 Dr Meghani at news conference in Hamilton earlier this week. Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region has decided that front line health workers are where she wants to focus the COVID-19 testing resources. She is the professional – it is her job to make those calls and she has.
However, if you are experiencing severe symptoms you call 911 and they will handle the problem. The people you talk to at 911 are brisk and direct.
It is a little confusing – and for people who are actually very ill it can be frightening.
The MoH people are being run ragged. Their ability to meet the public need will get better day by day.
Dr. Meghani is in a situation she has never been in before – she is well supported by Dr. Neil Rau, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Halton Healthcare. Give them a bit of room and they will get the job done.
Meanwhile, stay home as much as you can, talk to your neighbours and support each other – and wash your hands.
The Region and the municipalities are relying heavily on social media to get their message out. The limitation with social media is that it is a one way conversation.
The Region’s website, halton.ca, will continue to be updated and service information will continue to be available via phone (311, 905-825-6000, TTY 906-825-9833) and email accesshalton@halton.ca.
 Doors are locked – but there is a Drop Box that you can use to leave documents. A drop-box is available at the Halton Regional Centre (1151 Bronte Road, Oakville) for residents and businesses to drop-off any necessary documents. Signage will be posted at Regional buildings with service access instructions. However, residents are encouraged to delay all non-essential business and consider accessing Halton Region through the website, phone or email wherever possible.
As the COVID-19 situation rapidly evolves, please visit halton.ca regularly for any updates on building closures and impacts to programs and services. For regular updates on the COVID-19 situation, including when to contact public health, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.
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By Pepper Parr
March 20th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The ward 2 resident got a call from a Public Health nurse:
We did receive a call from a Public Health Nurse in the past hour; my wife and I will be going for COVID-19 Testing. Someone from Joseph Brant hospital will be contacting us with an appointment time soon.
You can almost feel the anxiety in the words a ward 2 resident sent us early this morning.
Give a listen:
 Why don’t we qualify for a COVID-19 test
Myself and my Family Returned from Epicentre Spain March 17th.
– We are self-isolating
– We have since developed symptoms of COVID-19
– We were in direct contact with Sick persons in Spain
– Yesterday we had a Tele-Appointment with our Family Doctor (Dr. Adam Grezslo) He prescribed us ‘Puffers’ for our breathing conditions and advised we get tested.
We informed the Doctor we called 311 who informed us we don’t qualify as they are concentrating on Health Care workers. He was amazed by this change of strategy.
I am reaching out to you our representatives at the City, Regional, Provincial and Federal Levels – If the persons you represent, residents such as me and my family with all of the COVID-19 red flags aren’t being tested – who is?
We would really like to follow our Doctors advice and get tested. I’m hoping you can help get us through the red tape.
If high risk families like us are not being tested: You have no idea if the number of cases you are dealing with in Halton. The numbers we are tracking on the news are irrelevant.
 Gary Carr: a resident put the ball in his court – what will he do with it? Minutes after receiving the email from the ward 2 resident we were copied on an email from Regional Chair Gary Carr who is passing the matter along to his staff, which includes the Medical Officer of Health and that will probably get the resident the test he wants.
The concern is that Gary Carr can’t stick handle every concern.
Sticky.
By Pepper Parr
March 20th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
A reader wrote is yesterday. He is well known, respected, held a very senior position before he retired.
He is not a nut case prone to extremes.
He wrote saying the following.
 I have been in constant contact with my cousin in Northern Italy since Feb 23.
At that time and in her words, they were “panicking”. The covid19 virus has a life of its own. I do not believe for a minute what is coming out of China. There is no way you have a curve such as the one attached, that suddenly goes to zero. I will be tracking the situation here in Canada and hope our efforts will flatten the curve (fingers crossed).
We are self-isolating, (a) as we don’t want to contract the virus and (b) we would not want to pass it on if we have Covid19.
When our self-isolating time is up in 12 days, we will not re-integrate as we feel we will be free but have little confidence that our neighbors are not carrying.
That last sentence is unfortunate – we are going to have to trust each other to get through this.
We have attached a link that gives you a world wide picture.
By Justin Weinger
March 20th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The way we make a living is changing, but too few people realize that. If you want to survive, you must stop thinking of yourself as an employee and start considering yourself to be an independent contractor. You can either sell your skills and time to a company (an employer) or use them to cobble together sources of income to fund the life you want to live.
 One can buy and sell foreign currencies. Ideally you would buy when you felt a currency was undervalued relative to some other currency and sell when the values changes. Complex – but very rewarding when you learn the process. In this article, I’m going to talk a little bit about making money with investments, and with Forex trading in particular. Admittedly, I’m not very good with investing, so this article will only get you started. You are better off having someone with a good amount of experience in this field mentor you in how to make money with Forex trading.
What is Forex?
Forex (a portmanteau of foreign exchange) trading is the art of using money to make money. Literally, you are exchanging one form of currency for another and pocketing the difference. Its just like trading shares on the stock market. You purchase currency at a certain exchange rate and then sell it at a preferably higher rate. For example, I would buy $9 worth of British Pounds (GBP) when the exchange rate was 1.5 (1 GBP = $1.50) and then sell it when the rate went up to 1.75 (1 GBP = $1.75). My profit from the exchange would be $3.25.
The Basics of Forex Trading
Currency has been bought and sold since it was invented. In fact, if you have ever traveled to another country and exchanged your currency for the currency used in that country then you have participated in forex trading, albeit on a very small scale (and you probably lost money).
Forex trading is done on a larger scale. There are some companies that allow traders to trade in small amounts. For the most part, though, you will need an initial investment of at least $1,000 to get started. Additionally, you won’t start making the big bucks until you begin buying and selling currency in the tens of thousands of dollars.
If you don’t have that kind of cash on hand, you can do what is called margin trading. Basically, you trade with money borrowed from the broker. The broker will require you to front a small percentage of the loan. For instance, to borrow $150,000 you would need to put up $3,000 or 2%. Each forex brokerage firm is different. Some allow investors to open accounts with as little as $25 while others won’t even talk to you unless you have $10,000 in the bank.
Currency is purchased in lots, with the smallest being 1,000 units (micro). The other sizes are mini (10,000 units) and standard (100,000). In general, you cannot break lots. You must purchase currency in the established increments. There are a few retail Forex brokers, though, that will allow account holders to trade in custom lots. So if you want to trade 1,511 units, you will need to find a company that will let you do that.
Lots must be purchased or sold by the end of the trading day (usually 5pm E.S.T); otherwise you will earn or pay interest on any open positions. All profits and losses are added or deducted from your brokerage account each time you buy or sell currency. Additionally, the brokerage firm may charge trading fees. You can check the typical trading conditions at Friedberg Direct site.
Can You Make Money with Forex Trading?
The short answer is yes, you can make money Forex trading. The slightly longer answer is you have to know what you are doing. You must be able to correctly predict what the currency exchange rates are going to do because making money depends on buying low and selling high. You could potentially wipe out your account if you misjudge the activity. At the same time, you could become a gazillionaire.
 Like I said before, the best thing to do is find a person who has made money with forex and convince them to show you how. If you like the thrill and excitement of trading on the stock market or you have money to burn, then it may be worth it to experiment with this money making opportunity.
Justin Weinger is a free lance writer who digs out opportunities and situations that can be very profitable.
 By Staff
March 20th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There are a number of very authoritative sources on just what the COVID-19 virus does to people.
 The Guardian newspaper, one of the best in the world has done a feature article on what happens to people who are infected.
How is the virus affecting people?
Guardian Australia spoke with Prof John Wilson, president-elect of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a respiratory physician.
He says almost all serious consequences of Covid-19 feature pneumonia.
Wilson says people who catch Covid-19 can be placed into four broad categories.
The least serious are those people who are “sub-clinical” and who have the virus but have no symptoms.
Next are those who get an infection in the upper respiratory tract, which, Wilson says, “means a person has a fever and a cough and maybe milder symptoms like headache or conjunctivitis”.
He says: “Those people with minor symptoms are still able to transmit the virus but may not be aware of it.”
The largest group of those who would be positive for Covid-19, and the people most likely to present to hospitals and surgeries, are those who develop the same flu-like symptoms that would usually keep them off work.
A fourth group, Wilson says, will develop severe illness that features pneumonia.
 A doctor looking at x-ray images of a patient’s lungs. He says: “In Wuhan, it worked out that from those who had tested positive and had sought medical help, roughly 6% had a severe illness.”
The WHO says the elderly and people with underlying problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
How does the pneumonia develop?
 When people with Covid-19 develop a cough and fever, Wilson says this is a result of the infection reaching the respiratory tree – the air passages that conduct air between the lungs and the outside.
He says: “The lining of the respiratory tree becomes injured, causing inflammation. This in turn irritates the nerves in the lining of the airway. Just a speck of dust can stimulate a cough.
“But if this gets worse, it goes past just the lining of the airway and goes to the gas exchange units, which are at the end of the air passages.
“If they become infected they respond by pouring out inflammatory material into the air sacs that are at the bottom of our lungs.”
If the air sacs then become inflamed, Wilson says this causes an “outpouring of inflammatory material [fluid and inflammatory cells] into the lungs and we end up with pneumonia.”
He says lungs that become filled with inflammatory material are unable to get enough oxygen to the bloodstream, reducing the body’s ability to take on oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.
“That’s the usual cause of death with severe pneumonia,” he says.
How can the pneumonia be treated?
 Points at which fluid builds up in the respiratory tract. Prof Christine Jenkins, chair of Lung Foundation Australia and a leading respiratory physician, told Guardian Australia: “Unfortunately, so far we don’t have anything that can stop people getting Covid-19 pneumonia.
“People are already trialing all sorts of medications and we’re hopeful that we might discover that there are various combinations of viral and anti-viral medications that could be effective. At the moment there isn’t any established treatment apart from supportive treatment, which is what we give people in intensive care.
“We ventilate them and maintain high oxygen levels until their lungs are able to function in a normal way again as they recover.”
Wilson says patients with viral pneumonia are also at risk of developing secondary infections, so they would also be treated with anti-viral medication and antibiotics.
“In some situations that isn’t enough,” he says of the current outbreak. “The pneumonia went unabated and the patients did not survive.”
Is Covid-19 pneumonia different?
Jenkins says Covid-19 pneumonia is different from the most common cases that people are admitted to hospitals for.
“Most types of pneumonia that we know of and that we admit people to hospital for are bacterial and they respond to an antibiotic.
Wilson says there is evidence that pneumonia caused by Covid-19 may be particularly severe. Wilson says cases of coronavirus pneumonia tend to affect all of the lungs, instead of just small parts.
He says: “Once we have an infection in the lung and, if it involves the air sacs, then the body’s response is first to try and destroy [the virus] and limit its replication.”But Wilson says this “first responder mechanism” can be impaired in some groups, including people with underlying heart and lung conditions, diabetes and the elderly.
 A group of seniors taking part in a Bfast transit meeting – these are the people most at risk. They will not be able to meet like this until the COVID-19 pandemic is over Jenkins says that, generally, people aged 65 and over are at risk of getting pneumonia, as well as people with medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer or a chronic disease affecting the lungs, heart, kidney or liver, smokers, Indigenous Australians, and infants aged 12 months and under.
“Age is the major predictor of risk of death from pneumonia. Pneumonia is always serious for an older person and in fact it used to be one of the main causes of death in the elderly. Now we have very good treatments for pneumonia.
“It’s important to remember that no matter how healthy and active you are, your risk for getting pneumonia increases with age. This is because our immune system naturally weakens with age, making it harder for our bodies to fight off infections and diseases.”
By Pepper Parr
March 19th, 2020 6:40 pm
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a very dynamic and fluid situation. Information does change. We are now adding a time stamp to the date published. The most recent news stories are at the top of the list.
Had we been able to get to the media event the Regional government held this afternoon the following are the questions we would have asked along with the answers the Regional Communications advisers provided:
Question 1
Is the process for anyone concerned about their COVID-19 health to Self Assess, then if the assessment suggests there might be a problem – people should people call 911?
Halton Region Public Health and health care partners continue to focus on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from high-risk groups only:
o health care providers who are seeking or reporting information;
o those living or working in a health-care setting or institution and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; or
o those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Not everyone requires testing. Most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home. Get rest, drink fluids, eat well and stay home. You do not need to contact Public Health.
If you are high-risk please call 311 to start the assessment process. Residents must have an appointment to attend an Assessment Centre.
At high risk are the following:
health care providers who are seeking or reporting information;
those living or working in a health-care setting or institution and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; or
those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
If you have severe symptoms, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Severe symptoms may include:
Shortness of breath when walking, exercising or at rest which is unusual for the patient.
Chest pain, severe fatigue, drowsiness, unstable vital signs
Question 2
Is there just the one testing location for the Region at this point?
What would have to happen for the Region to set up a second testing point.
• We have multiple assessment centres in Halton.
• If you are high-risk please call 311 to start the assessment process. Residents must have an appointment to attend an Assessment Centre.
Question 3
BC has a self assessment app – Is the Region or the province creating a similar app?
• The Province launched a self-assessment tool for COVID-19. It can be accessed by visiting https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-self-assessment.
Question 4
Is COVID-19 now being passed from person to person in the community?
• We have reason to believe that there is local transmission now. Public Health is in the early stages of collecting information. What we know is this case (the Milton death) did not travel outside of Canada recently nor was he in close contact with a confirmed case.
By Staff
March 19th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Correction. There were two COVID19 deaths in Ontario; one of which was in Milton
Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region and Dr. Neil Rau, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Halton Healthcare met with media at 1:30 this afternoon to expand on the second COVID-19 related death in Ontario.”
 Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region They took questions from the media – the questions the Gazette submitted were not given to the MoH.
When Dr. Hamidah Meghani was appointed as Medical Officer of Health she said it was the job of a life time. She may not be saying that today. These are what can only be described as very difficult circumstances under which Dr Meghani does her best.
When she spoke this morning she was at the podium all by herself for the most part – not a politician in sight.
She was supported by Dr. Neil Rau, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Halton and a communications staff person who did the introductions.
 Dr.Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region, standing at the podium by herself – not a politician in sight. Dr. Meghani announced that Halton Region Public Health had been notified of a death related to COVID-19. The individual, a man in his 50s, is the second COVID-19 related death in Ontario.”
The man had an underlying health condition and was being treated first at the Milton District Hospital and then transferred to the Oakville hospital where he died shortly after arriving.
“This is the tragic proof that we need to work together as a community to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and taking action to protect yourself and those around you,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health. “This is a larger community issue and I know that everyone joins me in extending their deepest condolences to his family at this time.”
“Halton Healthcare extends our sincere condolences to the family and our thoughts are with them at this time,” said Dr. Neil Rau, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Halton Healthcare. “We want to reassure our communities that all of our infection, prevention and control policies and procedures were followed during this patient’s stay, consistent with the clinical presentation.”
 Dr.Meghani said “we have one shot” at this and later added that it was her belief this most recent death was the result of contact with someone in the community. The deceased had not traveled outside the country and was not known to have interacted with anyone who was self isolating. The virus is now amongst us.
Dr.Meghani explained that the necessary follow up investigation work is being done to learn who the deceased met with in the last couple of weeks. “These investigations take time” she said.
Dr. Meghani said this is not the time for dinner parties or for play dates for children. The time to hunker down and stay at home is now.
Halton Region Public Health urges residents to take every precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help protect the health of the community, especially those most at risk. The best way to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 is to practice social distancing and:
• stay home when ill;
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve;
• wash hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub;
• clean and disinfect objects and surfaces;
• do your best to keep at least two metres away from others; and
• if you are able, avoid all non-essential activity recommended and declared by the province.
 Keep a six foot distance between others whenever you can. Halton Region Public Health continues to focus on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from these groups only:
• health care providers seeking or reporting information;
• those living or working in a healthcare setting or institution and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; or
• those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
If you have severe symptoms, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed by regularly reviewing credible sources of information. To get the latest information on cases in Ontario and to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19, please visit ontario.ca/coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19 including confirmed cases in Halton, symptoms, risks and when to contact Halton Region Public Health, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.
By Pepper Parr
March 19th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
During times of social stress there are those out there who will look for a way to prey on the public.
The following is a vicious example of just how low someone will go to put their interests ahead of yours.
The sender of the email wants you to click on the link for the “requisition” and begin stealing your identity.
If you have COVID-19 concerns – here is the link you want.
By Pepper Parr
March 19th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington City Manager Tim Commisso put it as plainly as anyone could – these are serious times that are very dynamic.
Information floods in – and what we knew an hour ago gets changed and will probably change in the next hour.
There is a public that needs to be protected and informed.
COVID19 is now a pandemic and every resource available has to be used.
Protecting people and providing for people who need help is important.
We have thousands of men and women on the front lines doing their best to take care of people who are critically ill. The challenge for these people is ensuring they are taking care of people who are ill and at the same time protecting themselves.
These are the heroes.
We area all in for a long haul -months not weeks.
There is some confusion as to what he average person should do when.
The following will help:
By Staff
March 19th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Joseph Brant Hospital enacted an Emergency Operations Centre which meets daily to review their response and make adjustments as required in our rapidly changing environment.
In addition, Joseph Brant Hospital has opened a COVID-19 Assessment & Testing Clinic. Clinic services are offered only through referral from Public Health.
This is an important point: The hospital takes you in once you have been referred to the hospital by Public Health.
 British Columbia has a Symptom Self Assessment app – no word yet on what Ontario plans. If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, you can use this self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care.
If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911 immediately. Advise them of your symptoms and travel history.
When you call 911 you will be asked if you are calling for fire or police. If neither you get transferred to ambulance. Ambulance will determine what gets done next.
If you get nervous and hang up on the ambulance people – they will trace your call and phone you back. They do not take lightly to anyone who hangs up on them. They ask for your name and you get a short lecture as well.
The Hospital leadership is working closely with regional and provincial health partners to monitor the situation, assess ongoing risk and keep our community informed.
In its most recent media release, Halton Region Public Health continues to focus on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from these groups only:
- health care providers seeking or reporting information;
- those living or working in a healthcare setting or institution and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; or
- those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
If you have severe symptoms, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
In an effort to keep our physicians, staff and patients safe, all staff and visitors coming to our hospital are now being actively screened for symptoms at dedicated entrances. Patients and visitors are asked to enter through the Main Entrance on Lakeshore Road.
 There is just the one entrance to the hospital at this time – Lakeshore Road.
 By Clair Nash
March 19th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Did you know that just under 20 million Canadians regularly gamble? Astonishingly that is almost half of the population.
This figure is far more than other countries like the UK where around a third of people regularly gamble. With that many people regularly gambling and almost $4 billion spent each year at offshore casinos. It is no wonder that several states including Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan have set up their own casinos to prevent this money leaving Canada.
But why have online casinos become so popular? It is fair to say that without the advances in technology of the last few years online casinos would not exist, at least in the numbers they are today. Although smartphones, tablets, and fast internet connections are what makes them possible, they are not why people use them.
 Slot machine casinos are a different world: lots of light and the sound of the machine whirring away. And the yelps from those who win. There are two main reasons why online casinos have become so popular. Firstly, they are a simple and quick way to have fun. And secondly, slot games have brought a whole new group of people to online casinos. In fact, 48% of all online casino goers log on just to play slots, making slots by far the most popular casino game.
But why slots??
Easy to Learn
When we think of a casino, the first thing that comes to our minds are the well-known card and table games, such as Poker, Blackjack, and Roulette. Although these games have scores of avid fans and players, all require a certain amount of knowledge and skill to play, especially Poker. For anyone new to a casino, playing a skill game that they don’t know against experienced players is not a very attractive choice.
Because slot games are simple and easy to learn, people can be playing and doing well in just a matter of minutes. All without the need for prior knowledge, or even that much skill. It is this ease of play that makes them the best choice for all casino newcomers.
 It is a game of chance – and there are winners. Better Returns
Casinos are liked by so many people because they are a great place to have fun, but there is no denying that people also play for the chance to win money. It is this chance of winning that drives people when choosing which game to play. Because people want to play games that give them the best chance of winning.
All casino games have a return to player ratio. This is the percentage of money on average that is returned to the player. A 90% ratio would mean for ever $100 you bet you would expect to receive $90 back in winnings. Slot games have a return to player ratio of around 92-96%. This is higher than any other casino game. On top of this high rate, many slots games also provide all manner of different bonuses, such as free spins. Giving players even more opportunities to win.
Made for You
Games like poker or blackjack have remained the same for generations, and are not likely to change anytime soon. Therefore whether or not you play depends totally on if you like the game. This is where slot games are different. There are literally thousands of different slot games to choose from. Like with computer games, there are a multitude of different slot game development companies, releasing games in all manner of different genres, with different storylines, different gameplay, different bonuses and so on. Meaning quite literally, there is a slot game for everyone.
 Hundreds of different slot machine games are available. Slot games have fast become one of the most popular ways for people to have fun. The best slot games in Canada are fun to play, easy to learn, and offer a far better chance of winning than regular casino games like blackjack and poker. In turn, whatever you like there is a slot game for you.
Clair Nash is an entertainment consultant
By Pepper Parr
March 18, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
How do you run a city when what you think what was going to be possible when you got to work proves to have changed before lunch. And by that time of day you have handled upwards of 100 emails and attended two critical meetings with two more in the afternoon.
That’s the pace City Manager Tim Commisso has found himself dealing with – and he knows it isn’t going to change any time soon.
 In an exclusive interview with the Gazette Commisso said “it has been this way since last Thursday” – “focusing on public safety and doing everything possible from an administrative point of view to help stop the spread of the virus.”
Managing virus infections is in the hands of the Hospital with the Regional Medical Officer of Health alongside to ensure that communication with the public is as clear as they can make it.
“The Province is under a State of Emergency – so they call all the shots. Two of my people keep a close watch of what comes out of the federal and provincial offices.”
The job for Commisso is to ensure that he has the resources he needs and is able to allocate them – that changes by the hour.
Treasurer Joan Ford has created special accounts to monitor the spending.
 Gerry Smallgage, Hydro president has a lot of crisis management experience – he was front and center during the 2013 ice storm. All the senior staff on the Emergency Control Group are putting in the same long hours. Gerry Smallgage, President of Burlington Hydro, sits in on the ECG meetings as does the Mayor who ensures that members of council are fully engaged.
Commisso reports that about 5% of staff are working from home. He added that there is a certain amount of “apprehension” within city hall but added that “all the senior staff on the Emergency Control Group have worked very hard on our COVID 19 emergency response…very proud of their work as a team especially over the past week.”
We are dealing with a different reality – a situation that is dynamic, changing every time there is a change at the federal and provincial levels.
 Burlington Teen Tour Band was cancelled due to concerns over COVID19 in the United States. “A week ago we cancelled the Teen Tour Band trip to the United States,” said Commisso. “and we did so very reluctantly – there wouldn’t be any reluctance today.
“We are in meetings that run from an hour to four and a half hours; the volume of information is staggering. Work done at the municipal level impacts on almost everyone.
I am in touch with the Regional CAO at least once a day.
Mayor Meed Ward sits in on all critical meetings and attends the meetings at the hospital as well. It is in situations like this where the Mayor excels – she is a Momma Bear when there is a challenge and loves situations where decisions have to be made quickly and a questioning voice is needed.
Coordinating communications is the critical part –people need to know what we are all up against.
“I am currently working within a three week window – keeping a close eye on the resources I have and where I might have to allocate them.”
 City Manager Tim Commisso – 15 hour days. Asked if he thought this was what the job was going to be when Marianne Meed Ward invited him for coffee – there was a long pause before he said – “I did have six solid weeks of experience getting Thunder Bay through the flood they had while I was CAO there.”
Asked if there were summer vacation plans for the Commisso family in place, Commisso just sighed.
Which raises an important question: Should Commisso fall ill – who would fill the shoes he wears?
By Staff
March 18th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region today confirmed the fifth case of COVID-19 in Halton region.
Halton’s fifth case, a female resident from Oakville in her 50s, returned to Toronto from Los Angeles on March 8 (Flight AC790; Air Canada). She became symptomatic on March 8, and presented herself for testing at Joseph Brant Hospital on March 14. As per established infection prevention and control protocols, the hospital took all precautions, including testing in an isolated environment with all necessary personal protective equipment. Halton Region Public Health is actively engaged in contact tracing and case management. The case is self-isolating at home.
Another individual is awaiting confirmatory testing—a female resident from Burlington in her 20s who returned to Toronto from Los Angeles on March 2. She became symptomatic on March 8, and presented herself for testing at Joseph Brant Hospital on March 13.
This case is self-isolating at home. It has been determined that the case was symptomatic during a recent trip to Ottawa on the following flights: Toronto to Ottawa on March 9 (Flight WS3464; WestJet) and then Ottawa to Toronto on March 11 (Flight WS371; WestJet). Individuals who have travelled on these flights are considered exposed to a case of COVID-19.
Passengers who travelled on any of the above-mentioned flights need to self-monitor and self-isolate if they become symptomatic within 14 days of being on the flights.
 Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “While we continue to see more cases, I want to reassure residents that most individuals who do contract COVID-19 with mild symptoms will recover on their own,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health.
“We are starting to see cases emerge where there is no direct link to a confirmed case and thus indicate community transmission. Please continue to follow the advice provided by health care professionals, self-monitor or self-isolate as appropriate and simply stay at home if you are feeling unwell.”
“Joseph Brant Hospital has taken important measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our patients and visitors as well as our staff, physicians and partners,” said Eric Vandewall, President and Chief Executive Officer at Joseph Brant Hospital. “We have set-up isolated areas for immediate screening and care, have reduced elective program and service offerings, as directed by the Ministry of Health, and we are preparing larger clinical areas should the need for more inpatient capacity arise. All of our physicians and staff are prepared for the increased demands and additional infection control precautions that are required during this time.”
Halton Region Public Health is focusing on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from high-risk groups only:
• health care providers who are seeking or reporting information;
• residents who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19; and
• health care workers or essential services workers who are experiencing symptoms.
Not everyone requires testing. Most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home. It is recommended to rest, drink fluids, eat well and stay home. You do not need to contact Public Health.
As always, if you have severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
The best way to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 is to:
• stay home when ill;
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve;
• wash hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub;
• clean and disinfect objects and surfaces; and
• do your best to keep at least two metres away from others.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed by regularly reviewing credible information sources. For more information on COVID-19 including confirmed cases in Halton, symptoms, risks and when to contact Halton Region Public Health, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.
 
By Staff
March 18th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ride Free
The City of Burlington has announced that Burlington Transit will not be charging ride fares. Free rides will be in place until at least until April 5
Transit users can now only board and exit the bus from the rear doors. This is to help social distancing between transit riders and transit drivers. Customers with mobility devices can still board and exit through the front doors
All Burlington transit vehicles will be sprayed with a long-term disinfectant
The city is also continuing to support the efforts to slow the COVID-19 virus. We continue to deal with a number of items tied directly to the City’s overriding goal of keeping our staff and the public safe and minimizing the spread of the COVID-19 virus by following the advice of our public health officials to increase social distancing.
 CLOSED Effective immediately City hall will be closing facilities and asking staff to work from home with the exception of services that need to be delivered under one of the following categories:
• Are required to meet certain legislative requirements
• Support employee and public health, safety and security
• Enable critical community services and supports, including COVID-19 mitigation and recovery
• Support services necessary to keep essential services operating
• Protect and operate vital infrastructure
• Fulfill contractual, legal and financial obligations
Going forward, responding to emergency situations across all City service areas will be a priority.
Additionally, the following updates are also in place, effective immediately:
• Burlington Transit will not be charging ride fares. Free rides will be in place until at least until April 5
 CLOSED • Downtown Transit Terminal building will be closed
• Customer service can still be reached at contactbt@burlington.ca, 905-639-0550 or on Twitter @BurlONTransit.
• Transit users can now only board and exit the bus from the rear doors. This is to help social distancing between transit riders and transit drivers. Customers with mobility devices can still board and exit through the front doors
• All Burlington transit vehicles will be sprayed with a long-term disinfectant
• Halton Provincial Offences Act Courthouse is closed to the public, this closure includes access for stakeholders, defendants, public and enforcement agencies. Essential services will continue to be carried out and an Intake Court Protocol has been put in place
• Building inspections will be limited and will focus on emergency inspections (vehicle impacts, fire damage, unsafe buildings), footings/foundations, site servicing, exterior (garages, decks, sheds, etc.) so as to ensure social distancing
• For inquiries related to active applications, please reconnect via email with the Building & Bylaw representative who is handling your file
• All sports field permits are suspended until further notice. Pick up games are highly discouraged in keeping with public health messaging about social distancing.
• Garbage pickup in parks is suspended. Residents are asked to take whatever you carry into a park; you also carry out including taking pet waste home for disposal with regular household waste
The best thing residents can do to protect themselves and the community, is stay home.
This situation is evolving every hour and we are continually monitoring. The City of Burlington will continue to keep you informed.
For further information and updates, the City has launched the webpage Burlington.ca/coronavirus.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said: “The health and safety of our entire community is a top priority and that includes our city staff delivering front line services. The City’s decision to scale back to providing essential services helps slow down the spread of COVID-19 and helps increase the safety of the public and our staff working from home, as well as those staff who continue to provide our critical services.
That’s why we’re closing city hall, offering free transit for the time being, discouraging gatherings in parks and taking more steps.
The Mayor’s Office is working remotely, and we’ll be focusing our attention on COVID-19 related matters, so there may be a delay in our response to any non-urgent communications. I thank you for being patient. The situation is changing daily, and sometimes even hourly, and we’re prepared and flexible to respond. I’ve been getting a lot of messages of support from the community directly and on social media, so please continue to look out for one another and follow the expert medical advice.Burlingtonians are strong and we will get through this.”
City manager Tim Commisso has been putting in 15 to 16 hour days. Tim Commisso, Burlington City Manager Tim Commisso, who is putting in 15 and 16 hour days said: “We have the ability to offer many of our services online so working remotely is a vital step towards protecting staff and limiting face-to-face exposure to slow the virus’ progression. I would like to commend staff for being flexible and dedicated to continuing to provide excellent services to the best of their abilities.”
By Staff
March 18th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Decisions are being made in the community that give us some sense as to what we might be in for as we struggle to deal with COVID19.
 Most of the “ribbers” may decide to just give up on this season due to COVID19 The chief medical officer of health for Ontario has recommending the immediate suspension of all large events and public gatherings due to COVID-19.
The Oakville Family Ribfest was not scheduled until the end of June 2020 – more than 90 days away.
 A crowd like this isn’t going to be permitted this summer. No word yet from the Sound of Music on what their plans are. The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, announced today that the event will be postponed until June of 2021
The health and safety of all the families in our community are our top priority. Strong measures are required to manage the transmission of this virus and the timeline required to eliminate the risk of COVID-19 in Ontario will be prolonged so we believe it is prudent to take this preventative action.
There is much that we do not know about this virus – the biggest over-riding concern may well be how much we have to adapt to cope.
No word on the Burlington Ribfest or the Sound of Music.
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