Long-term care homes guard against virus

April 16, 2020

Highland Wood family council chair Trina West said it was hard at first to connect with her mother in the long-term care home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would see her every day, and then all of a sudden, you’re just cut off cold,” West said.
“They set up the ability to video chat with her, so that was very helpful because that way, I could actually see she was okay and provide some relief. But with all the unfortunate goings-on with the other long-term care homes, you do nothing but worry.”

Local long-term cares homes have implemented additional safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to their vulnerable residents. So far, they have been successful, with no cases reported in those homes. But outbreaks have appeared in 93 long-term care homes across the province, including the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, which has had 29 deaths to date.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services CEO Carolyn Plummer said they have been proactive in their response, including active screening and taking the temperature of staff before shifts, wearing masks well before it was mandated by the Ministry of Health and reducing or eliminating instances of staff working across long-term care sites or between hospitals and long-term care. Staff are also changing clothes when they come into work, including shoes.

Directors of care for Highland Wood, Michelle Douglas, and Hyland Crest’s April DeCarlo, assured families April 6 that they are also screening new admissions to the facility and isolating them for 14 days as a precaution. Residents also have their temperatures taken twice daily.

“Please know that our staff and management team will continue to take every possible step to protect residents during this distressing time,” Douglas and DeCarlo said.

One issue that emerged at Pinecrest was its size. CBC News reported there was not enough space to separate sick residents into different rooms from healthy ones until some had passed away.

But that is not an issue at HHHS, Plummer said.

“Our homes are set up a bit differently from Pinecrest Nursing Home. We have the ability to separate and isolate residents if the need arises,” she said.

Extendicare Haliburton declined a request for an interview but released a message April 7 detailing its response to COVID-19, including screening for staff and residents, limited entry and wearing protective equipment.

“The care and safety of our residents, clients, patients, team members and families are our top priority,” Extendicare national director of infection prevention and control Lyn Fabricius said in a letter. “We take the COVID-19 situation very seriously and we are following Public Health Authority directives to ensure everyone’s safety.”

West commended HHHS staff for their efforts.

“The family members of the residents want to express their deep and sincere appreciation to the staff for their service and for taking such good and loving care of their residents,” West said. “It is truly remarkable and clearly evident how much these people care, and we want to acknowledge that and express our gratitude to each and every one of them.” (With files from Lisa Gervais)

A need-to-know basis

Lisa Gervais

April 16, 2020

When we posted updates April 12 and 13 – on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County – we had a number of our Facebook followers complain that not enough information was being provided.

While most understood that patient names could not be given for privacy reasons, they wanted to know in what towns the virus had struck and whether people were in long-term care homes, had been affected in the community or if they had been travelling.

Some weren’t happy with the paper, others with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, which is updating the number of cases on its website, but not providing any other information.

The only thing the health unit did tell us in the early days was when we had our first case, a man in his 80s who was recovering. There’s been nothing since.

However, let’s not presume that reporting numbers is all that the local health unit is doing. No doubt they are doing contact tracing investigations. In other words, they’re finding out about anyone who has been in contact with the infected patients and advising them of best, next steps. Since our numbers of cases is relatively low – six as of press time – it remains fairly easy for health officials to keep people, who have potentially been exposed, healthy.

It seems to me that our health unit is being as transparent as possible in what is a tricky situation. After all, doctors must adhere to the Hippocratic Oath, which states, “respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know.” I think doctors, and the health unit, believe – as do we – that a decision to reveal the identities of people infected would be disastrous with horrible ramifications.

For example, would you seek out medical assistance if you thought your name was going to be splashed around the community? What if your name got out, and your employer found out, and decided to lay you off? To those who are demanding more information, I would ask you to put yourselves in the shoes of one of the six confirmed cases in Haliburton County. How much of your personal information would you want revealed? Further, if we happened to know that there was a confirmed case in the town we live in, what would be the reaction? Some would certainly be more vigilant. They would ensure they follow the prescribed protocols even more vigorously. Others might simply panic unnecessarily.

Knowing we have half-a-dozen cases in our County should have us all raising the ante when it comes to following guidelines for preventing COVID-19. In other words, just because you want to know who has the coronavirus, or where they live, or how they got it, doesn’t entitle you to know that information.

You can be assured that if there is an outbreak in a long-term care home or a village, you will be informed. As numbers continue to climb, it’s possible locals will start reacting to the spread of the coronavirus in much the same way as the seasonal flu, which affects hundreds if not thousands of us each year, and kills some. We hope people will concentrate on personal protection (better and more frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds) and less on who has the virus, where they’re from, or how they got it in the days, weeks and months to come.

Community groups spring up to help with virus

Lisa Gervais

April 16, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues – and the Ontario government has extended all emergency orders until May 12 – community groups continue to spring up to help people in need.

One of them is the Neighbours Helping Neighbours (NHN) support network. Bonnie and Greg Roe, who live on the Ritchie Falls Road, began the initiative about a month ago. They started by emailing, and dropping off flyers in people’s mailboxes, to connect.

“We just wanted to set up a support network to help each other should anyone need it or if stricter measures were to be put in place,” Bonnie Roe said.

She added they have since decided to expand to the broader community.

“We have more than 25 volunteers (and counting) currently ready to assist. Physical distancing and health protocols will be used at all times.”

Volunteers are picking up shopping or take-out food. They are also working with the food banks to pick up and deliver food boxes for those who cannot drive, or wish to minimize their exposure, in the community.

“Since grocery stores are receiving so many pickup orders, NHN can help by shopping and delivering on a short turn around. We encourage prepayment if possible and cash is accepted when necessary,” Roe said.

They said items can be left on people’s doorstep and payment for purchases arranged. She said other services include: offering a friendly phone call or email and assisting with any urgent chores or needs, all for free. She added that university-aged students are part of the volunteer force, and some people are willing to help with those outdoor chores. As well, they are collaborating with Tekrider to share volunteers for pick up and delivery of personal protective equipment to their respective drop-off locations.

For further information, or support, contact bonnieroe08@gmail.com or call 705-286-2414.

Another group that has emerged is the Haliburton Caremongers. The goal of this group is also to organize the Haliburton County community on the grassroots level to ensure vulnerable community members have access to food, healthcare, and other necessities.

It is also for the redistribution of resources in the case that stockpiling prevents people from accessing basics.

You can also post requests for aid, and or support, on their Facebook page (Caremongers Haliburton).

The recently-created haliburtoncares.ca website also offers information to the public who may need assistance.

“It is so very heart-warming to see, as a community, how everyone is coming together for the better good in this COVID19 crisis,” Roe said.

However, she added, “what concerns me are those people who do not have internet, are isolated and may not know about the support we can offer and all of the other amazing supports in the County.”

Violence escalates during pandemic isolation

Lisa Gervais

April 16, 2020

The YWCA Peterborough Haliburton – which operates the women’s shelter in Minden – said support and crisis services for women experiencing violence are still available.

In an April 9 press release, they said they have implemented COVID-19 screening assessments, disinfecting, physical distancing, and isolation practices since shelters, safety planning, referrals and ongoing support are more important than ever.

“Staying at home is causing increased risk of harm to women who are now trapped and have fewer opportunities to get help,” they said. “Here and around the world, women who have been able to escape abusers or call for help report that the violence escalated during periods of pandemic isolation. Calls to women’s shelters and crisis lines are increasing.”

If you have been injured, or your life is at risk, call 911 for help and let them know if: your life is at risk; you’ve been injured or need an ambulance; the person used a weapon or has threatened to use one and the type; the person has threatened to hurt you, your children, your pets or themselves; drugs (and what kind) and, or alcohol is involved and there is a protection order – a peace bond or family court restraining order.

The YWCA’s 24-hour support and crisis line is available and answered by skilled, empathetic staff at 1-800-461-7656 or text 705-991-0110 if you would like to: speak with someone about your options; are wondering about services in our communities that are still available; are concerned about your safety and your children’s safety; are ready to leave and wonder if there’s a safe place to go or you would like to find out more so you can refer a friend or family member.

“Crossroads Shelter and HERS – Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace are essential services for women and children fleeing violence in Peterborough and Haliburton County. We continue to provide reliable, confidential support, resources, safety and information around the clock,” the release stated.

Their offices are closed to the public and staff who usually work at their Simcoe Street office, Women’s Centre of Haliburton County and Centennial Crescent Housing Community are working remotely and will continue to provide assistance by phone (Peterborough: 705-743-3526, Haliburton: 705-286-6442), text (705-991-1591) and email (info@ywcapeterborough.org) during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m).

They continue to accept donations online or by phone at 705-743-3526 and thank those who have offered support.

For ongoing updates and information, visit ywcapeterborough.org, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

HHHS responds with unprecedented action

Lisa Gervais

April 16, 2020

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to six in Haliburton County as of press time April 15, the Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has responded with a series of unprecedented initiatives to tackle the pandemic on a local level.

In its weekly community update, released April 10, HHHS announced the expansion of the acute care unit in Haliburton to 21 beds, from 15, for COVID-related needs. They have also created a new, nine-bed, acute care unit in Minden for non-COVID-19-related admissions.

“Together, these 15 new Acute Care beds and the separation of our sites will help us be as prepared as possible for the anticipated increase in patients caused by COVID-19,” HHHS CEO Carolyn Plummer said.

In an interview with The Highlander April 14, Plummer conceded both moves have not been sanctioned or funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care but, “funding is something that’s going to be sorted out at a later date. I know it’s not unique to us. All hospitals are either establishing additional in-patient beds within their walls or in some cases setting up field hospitals.”

Plummer said while they’re asking residents with respiratory symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and fever, who want to go to an emergency department to go to Haliburton – and those without respiratory symptoms to Minden, “no emergency will be turned away from either site.”

The HHHS president added that they are talking to regional hospitals several times a week. She said it isn’t a case of Haliburton and Minden hospitals not handling COVID-19 patients and immediately shipping them out of town to Lindsay or Peterborough, for example.

“At this point, all hospitals have been instructed that they need to be prepared to care for COVID patients.” She said it is about managing capacity. So, for example, if someone comes to a local hospital in acute distress, their job is to stabilize them and transfer them to a hospital with an intensive care unit. However, she said the Haliburton hospital can handle patients with moderate symptoms. In some cases, those with mild symptoms are sent home to self quarantine and heal.

“We all have to be ready to provide the care for these folks but we’re trying to do it in a way that makes sense given the nature of resources we have at each of our individual hospital sites,” Plummer said.

She added that HHHS has sufficient testing equipment and ventilators for now. She said the assessment centre that opened March 31 has had an increase in volume.

“At this point, it seems to be working okay. If we do need to increase capacity, we will look at that.”

She said they are monitoring the number of people going to the centre, and calls for appointments.

With news that the virus can be spread by shoes, Plummer said staff are changing clothes and shoes when they enter and exit any HHHS facility. They don a new pair of scrubs and footwear for their shifts. When they leave, they change out of them and HHHS has laundry facilities so staff are not wearing clothing home.

HHHS further announced a partnership with the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre to supply separate accommodations to any staff who would prefer to stay there after their shifts, or because they’re working extra-long hours and commuting. Plummer said the accommodation would not be used by staff who have to self-isolate.

The CAO acknowledged community support, and thanked the public for offering to bring staff food, but said HHHS cannot accept food donations.

“If you, or someone you know, wishes to donate food, we encourage you to reach out to our local food banks (Central Food Network, Minden Food Bank, and Haliburton 4C’s Food Bank) to support local families in need during this difficult time.”

And while there has been a positive response to HHHS’s call for additional staff, Plummer said they are still looking for healthcare professionals. She said they have had people apply with no direct care experience. They’re helping out as observers and screeners at entranceways. “We’re still certainly looking for frontline, maintenance and housekeeping staff.”

Pregnant women opting for stay-at-home births

Lisa Gervais

April 15, 2020

Morgan Dinunzio did not expect to be having a baby under the circumstances of a pandemic.

The Bancroft-area resident, who is 38-weeks pregnant, said she had intended to have her first baby at a Peterborough hospital. But concerns about COVID-19 changed her plans.

“With everything going on, once I heard they had cases there, and once I’ve seen how quickly it’s spreading everywhere else in the world,” Dinunzio said. “Midwives convinced me to do a home birth.”

Midwifery Services of Haliburton-Bancroft said that’s a trend amongst their clients, with more expecting families opting for home over hospital.

Registered midwife Stephanie Simon said about two-thirds of their clients are now choosing a home birth, versus about onethird before the pandemic. She said although Peterborough’s unit is a fairly closed area, their clients have still been worried about the transmission in the city.

“The safety net of being in the hospital doesn’t feel quite as safe anymore,” Simon said. “One is the worry that they themselves would get COVID-19. And the other, bigger concern we hear about is the babies might get it.”

“It worries me knowing there’s definitely cases at Peterborough hospital,” Dinunzio said. “Whereas I know in my home, who’s coming in and out of my house. A little more reassuring.”

Hospitals are also limiting how many support persons are allowed during birth. But Simon said they are still recommending hospital births for people with low risk.

But social distancing rules have impacted pregnancy as well. Simon said like everyone else, midwives have had to adjust, doing more remote conferencing, wearing protective equipment and upping sanitization.

“No longer having any face-to-face interaction has been quite different for us,” Simon said. “A lot more anxiety and worry. Spending a lot more time doing counselling appointments.”

However, Simon said fortunately, research is showing pregnant women are not more vulnerable to COVID-19, nor can they transmit to a child before birth. Dinunzio said there have been additional hurdles in the last weeks of her pregnancy, as she’s stayed home and relied more on her partner to take care of things such as shopping. Prenatal care has also been different, but she praised midwifery services.

“I was really thankful that I had them,” she said. “One of the midwives visited me at home for one of my visits. So, they’ve been really accommodating.”

Dinunzio said there is a lot of preparation with a home birth, but the midwives have been reassuring.

“I was a little skeptical at first, but they’ve been good,” she said. “I’m pretty confident about it.”

Fraudsters take advantage of virus

Lisa Gervais

April 15, 2020

Local Renata Swiezawski said she was alarmed when a fraudster contacted her family as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.

The person attempted to coax an account number from her husband over the phone with the promise of payment from a government tax credit. The fraud did not fool them, but Swiezawski said she worries about other vulnerable people during the crisis.

“The government is throwing lots of money,” Swiezawski said. “Our brains are working double time. We’re not checking everything carefully, lots of people get confused.”

OPP said frauds are continuing during the pandemic and scam artists are leveraging the crisis into their efforts.

Central region media relations spokesman Sgt. Jason Folz said police have seen COVID-19 adapted into scams, such as selling protective equipment and sanitizer at inflated prices, more door-to-door collecting since people are staying inside and falsely soliciting donations for charities.

“The OPP has seen numerous people taking advantage of this situation with people at home,” Folz said. “People need to be wary of anyone they don’t know either soliciting them at their door, by phone, text or email.

“I can’t say for sure it’s increased, but it’s changed its direction,” he added. “Everyone’s mind is on the COVID outbreak. That’s how they’ve adapted what they’re doing.”

Folz said rather than trust strangers soliciting charitable donations, people should instead stick with charities they already know and trust.

People can report scam attempts to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Those victimized by a scam can also contact the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.

Swiezawski said people need to be careful and ask questions if anyone requests personal information or money.

“Everything at the moment is a state of emergency … It will be a time for crooks, really bad crooks, people who don’t have the mercy,” she said. “We’re scared.”

Businesses shift after essential service list cut

Lisa Gervais

April 13, 2020

Haliburton’s construction and marina sectors are winding down but accepting of the provincial government’s decision to limit their operations on the newest essential businesses list April 3.

The province cut the list of businesses which could stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction and marina industries were considered essential when the first list was released March 23. But now new residential construction is halted, though ongoing construction projects can continue. Marinas can also only open to assist those accessing a primary residence. The rules apply until at least April 18.

Haliburton Marine and Storage owner Pat Bradley said he is not thrilled by the decision, but he agrees with it.

“We’re a community that’s going to get affected very, very drastically if we don’t all do something about it,” Bradley said. “Morally, the right thing to do is limit the exposure to everybody in any way that you can.”

The province also restricted several businesses to alternative models like curbside pick up and delivery only. These include stores selling hardware products, vehicle parts and supplies, pet and animal supplies, office supplies, computer products and repairs and safety supplies.

“If you are not an essential business, you need to close your doors, work from home if possible and play a role to help contain this outbreak. This is a matter of life and death,” Premier Doug Ford said in a press release.

The Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association said in a press release it supports the province’s decision to limit construction. It added members have worked to meet requirements for sanitization and distancing on build sites allowed to continue.

“The Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association has been focused on the health and safety of everyone on job sites,” president Keith Thomas said.

As far as the government flipping on what businesses are essential, Bradley said he can understand how COVID-19 could make it difficult to figure out.

“If I’m being completely honest, it would be hard to argue a boat is an essential service,” Bradley said. “But this thing evolves so quickly. Nobody knows the right thing to do at the time.”

For now, Bradley said working online and phone only has not hurt them much and customers are supportive. But he added a delayed start date to the cottage season will hurt.

“It has yet to hit our pocketbook, but it will, I know it will. The way other businesses have been hit already, very, very hard. I sympathize with them,” he said. “I hope everybody chooses to do the right thing and we get over this as soon as possible.”

COVID-19 reaches Haliburton

Lisa Gervais

April 13, 2020

COVID-19 has officially reached the County of Haliburton with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit confirming the first six cases in the area April 1 and 13.

The health unit said the first case was a man in his 90s, who was brought to Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) March 30, diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for COVID19. The County resident had no travel history and had not been in direct contact with any other confirmed cases. HKPR said the man was admitted to hospital, isolated and is recovering.

HKPR medical officer of health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy said it is another reminder to take precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing and hand washing. The first Haliburton case comes more than two weeks after the first case in the district, which was March 11 in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“I don’t know why it’s taken this long to have a first case confirmed in Haliburton,” Noseworthy told The Highlander. “People should take appropriate precautions. They should stay home unless they’re providing an essential service.”

The health unit indicated it would not send media releases about cases beyond the first but will continue to provide updated numbers on cases, deaths and outbreaks.

In a press release, Noseworthy said the health unit has worked with HHHS throughout the pandemic to prepare for a positive case. HHHS also partnered with the County and the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team to open a COVID testing centre March 31.

“We will continue to take the steps required to protect the health and safety of our community, patients, residents, clients, staff and physicians, and encourage everyone to do their part to keep our community safe,” HHHS CEO and president Carolyn Plummer said.

Noseworthy said she had no idea how many unconfirmed cases there might be in Haliburton but added people “should assume it’s in the community” and limit trips to essential ones, such as grocery shopping.

“Very, very, very important that people stay home, stop the spread and stay safe,” she said.

There are still people not heeding that directive, Noseworthy said.

“For the most part, they are, but I do believe there are people out there who aren’t,” Noseworthy said. “We know there are people congregating out in the community … and that’s got to stop.”

Public health must be protected

Lisa Gervais

April 12, 2020

With people recognizing the everyday heroism of frontline workers during this pandemic, I would like to give a shout out to those working in public health.

Public Health officials are not always recognized as much as their counterparts in emergency rooms or family clinics. Things such as education campaigns, flu shot reminders, research and sometimes-controversial harm reduction initiatives can be easy for your average person to brush aside. But the battle against COVID-19 will be won by the incredible labour of public health workers and they deserve all the praise in the world for their efforts, which have gotten most people on board with social distancing.

Perhaps public ignorance is part of why the province targeted public health for cuts and restructuring this past year, something that garnered relatively little fanfare compared to cuts to education and autism programming.

But people should have a better understanding now of what makes public health so vital – and why we cannot afford to cut it.

The province began downloading public health unit costs to municipalities this year, earning scorn and putting municipal leaders in an awkward position. Public health units also received information last year the government would amalgamate the 35 units into 10. That has not yet come to pass but a modernization review was underway before COVID-19 hit.

It is uncertain at this point how many units the province will amalgamate, moves which would assuredly be done with cost savings in mind. I am sure some adjustments will be welcome efficiencies. But anything that can be reasonably interpreted as a cut will, and should, be extremely unpopular.

The costs of investing in public health to prevent illness will generally be cheaper than the costs of treating that illness down the line. Although there may be some duplication in public health work, amalgamating units is questionable as an answer, when there is plenty of local-specific health issues that need a local-specific response. We have seen that during the pandemic in our tri-county area, where numbers differed drastically in the City of Kawartha Lakes due to the outbreak at Pinecrest Nursing home in Bobcaygeon.

The crisis has shown what makes public health so important – to prevent the spread of illness before people reach emergency rooms and hospital beds. Whenever we are safe from COVID-19, any government will have a hard time slashing public health.

By the end of this, based on Ontario’s projections, tens of thousands of Ontarians will owe their lives to the work of public health.

But the service will remain just as important even when COVID-19 fades into memory. Harm reduction and illness prevention are vital, even if underrated. This crisis has also taught us to be more mindful of serious health threats to come. We need health units to be prepared for the next pandemic, whenever it is.

It was not right for the province to download costs to municipalities, a copout to save costs when ultimately, the taxpayers still bear the bill. The County has complained about getting more of the bill when they have little say in health unit spending and it is a fair argument. The province may feel pressed to find more savings, but municipalities are also under economic pressure and do not have the same ability to absorb costs.

When the dust settles after COVID-19, the public needs to stand up and protect public health, just as public health protected them. We cannot take it for granted.

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