PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
For immediate release: June 7, 2021
Second Dose Appointment in June? Check Clinic Schedule, says Health Unit
NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is advising individuals who have their COVID-19 vaccine second dose appointment scheduled for a date in June, 2021, to check the clinic schedule below or at myhealthunit.ca before arriving for their vaccination. Due to a glitch in the provincial booking system, some individuals have second dose appointments booked on dates when clinics are not scheduled. Individuals whose second dose appointment does not fit into a date and time listed below can contact the provincial booking line at 1-833-943-3900, or the Health Unit at 1-844-478-1400, to book a new date and time for their second dose. Youth clinics have not been impacted.
Scheduled clinics as of June 7, 2021:
North Bay
- Thursday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, June 21 from 9 a .m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Powassan
- Friday, June 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sundridge
- Tuesday, June 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Mattawa
- Wednesday, June 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
West Nipissing
- Thursday, June 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Parry Sound
- Tuesday, June 8 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday, June 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 29 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Media Inquiries:
Catherine Levac-Lafond, Bilingual Media Relations Coordinator
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca
Vaccine Clinic – Will now also be offered in Powassan at the (Sportsplex) on June 11th, from 4-7pm. All bookings will be done through the Provincial Booking System.
How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment (ontario.ca)
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
Main Reception
705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 toll-free, staffed Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email: contact@healthunit.ca. We will respond to your email within two business days.
PUBLIC NOTICE
NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – As the warmer weather approaches and individuals start to use area waters, folks are reminded to continue to follow public health measures and provincial requirements under the Shutdown and Stay-At-Home Order.
Under the current Stay-At-Home Order, everyone is to remain home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), exercising outdoors, or for work that cannot be done remotely. Swimming can be a great outdoor activity as long as public health measures are followed.
Current research suggests the risk of transmission from recreational waters is very low. However, COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when in close contact with others. It is common to see people swimming and playing in the water in close proximity of one another and the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is greater if physical distancing is not maintained.
If you plan to attend a beach:
• Limit travel and use beaches close to your own communities, when possible.
• Use an alternate beach if the beach is crowded.
• Do not go to the beach if you or any member of your household is experiencing any symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, runny nose) or if you have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms.
• Practice physical distancing – stay two (2) metres from others who do not reside in your home or where you are living, and if you live alone, physically distance from anyone outside your exclusive close contact home. This includes while on the beach and in the water.
• Wear a face covering indoors and outdoors as required and whenever physical distancing is difficult. Do not wear a face covering to swim.
• Wash or sanitize your hands often. Bring alcohol-based hand sanitizer and make sure you sanitize your hands when arriving at the beach and before eating or drinking.
• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
The Health Unit is reminding the public that bacteriological testing of beach water will not begin until mid-June. Water may contain high levels of bacteria for up to 48 hours following heavy rainfall. If the water has high levels of bacteria, you may get ear, nose, eye, and throat irritations, and stomach disorders. Please stay out of the water after it rains.
Please contact the Environmental Health Program at 1-800-563-2808 ext. 5400 with any questions about beach water quality.
April 1, 2021
As we continue to navigate through the Health Emergency for Covid-19, the following public areas have adjusted public access:
Effective April 3, 2021, in response to the Province ordered shutdown:
Township Office – closed to the public
The Township Office will be staffed and operating during regularly scheduled hours however will be closed to public access. The drop slot in the front door of 45 Beatty Street will be available for those wishing to drop off payments (cheques accepted only) or forms.
All items received through the drop box will be quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours before being processed. Telephone and email will be monitored during normally scheduled hours. 705-724-2144 or admin@nipissingtownship.com.
Council understands that these are challenging times for everyone and continues to monitor the changing situation, responding to all legislated requirements in every effort to maintain the health and safety of our residents.
Landfill Sites
The Landfill sites will continue to operate during regularly scheduled hours. EXACT CASH or CHEQUE will be accepted as payment only. Change will not be provided. Receipts will still be provided by staff.
Please follow all directions provided by Staff and wear face coverings while at the Landfill site.
Community Centre and Fitness Centre
Both facilities are closed to the public and not available for public use at this time.
We thank you for your understanding during this time.
NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – Today the Government of Ontario confirmed the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) will be moving to the Red – Control level of the provincial’s COVID-19 Response Framework (Colour-Coded) as of March 8, 2021. The Health Unit had been effectively shutdown and under a Stay-At-Home Order since December 26, 2020, and had remained under such an order recently as the result of the recent presence of COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOCs) in the community.
Today’s announcement allows the Health Unit to slowly progress to less restrictive measures, while still recognizing the ongoing importance of public health measures to protect those most vulnerable in our community. The movement to Red – Control level was based on the local COVID-19 situation, the presence of VOCs in our community, and the continued elevated case load and pandemic outcome in neighbouring health units.
“I want to thank each and every member of our community for doing their part to protect themselves, their families and their neighbours. This is not easy. Many of us have had to make significant sacrifices but together we will get through these challenging times. With the vaccine on the horizon, I am hopeful that we are inching closer to a slow return to normal,” stated Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health.
“We have seen the COVID-19 situation can escalate very quickly, especially with the Variants of Concern. By slowly easing into the framework, I am hopeful that we can keep our COVID-19 case numbers low, including reducing the spread of VOCs. Until we have maintained a low number of cases and we’ve increased COVID-19 vaccination in our district, our best line of defense is to keep following public health measures,” continued Dr. Chirico.
The Health Unit reminds everyone that the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is by following public safety measures, such as continuing to stay home, regularly washing your hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, wearing a face covering, physically distancing, not touching your face, and coughing or sneezing into your sleeve.
There are many notable changes to entering the Red – Control level, including:
Organized Public Events, Social Gatherings and Wedding, Funeral and Religious Services, Rites and Ceremonies
• Limits for all organized public events and social gatherings, where physical distancing can be maintained:
o 5 people indoors
o 25 people outdoors
• Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, where physical distancing can be maintained (applies in any venue other than a private dwelling):
o 30% capacity of the room indoors
o 100 people outdoors
Restaurants, Bars and Other Food and Drink Establishments
• Capacity limits, where physical distancing can be maintained:
o 10 patrons seated indoors
o Limit of 4 people may be seated together
o Require contact information for all seated patrons
o Face coverings required except when eating or drinking only
• No buffet style service
• Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
• Dancing, singing and the live performance of music is prohibited
Retail
• Capacity limits of:
o 75% for supermarkets and other stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores, pharmacies
o 50% for all other retail, including discount and big box retailers, liquor stores, hardware stores and garden centres
• Stores must post capacity limit publicly
• Stores must have passive screening for patrons (for example, posting signs outside the store front about not entering if you have COVID-19 symptoms)
o This does not apply to indoor malls, which are required to actively screen their customers before they enter the mall. Malls can use the patron screening tool to help meet this requirement.
• Stores within the malls subject to appropriate retail measures
Personal Care Services
• Oxygen bars, steam rooms, saunas, bath houses and other adult venues, closed
• Sensory deprivation pods closed (some exceptions)
• Services requiring removal of face coverings prohibited
• Require contact information from all patrons
• Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
• A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
To read the entire COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open, visit Ontario’s website.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
For more information, please visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) wishes to remind the public of the Ontario Ministry of Health’s updated guidelines for self-isolation, even if you only have one symptom of COVID-19. The updates are in response to the evolving situation related to COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOCs) across the province.
The provincial guidelines now require that symptomatic individuals isolate at home until:
• they receive a negative COVID-19 test result OR
• they receive an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional OR
• it has been 10 days since their symptom onset and they are feeling better.
When a symptomatic individual is isolating, everyone else in the household, both adults and children, are required to stay home, even if the other members of the home do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If possible, it is recommended that the symptomatic individual self-isolate away from other household members. If the symptomatic individual chooses not to be tested for COVID-19, all household contacts must self-isolate for 14 days from their last contact with the individual during their isolation period.
Example, if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 but are self-isolating with a symptomatic individual who chooses to not be tested, you will have to isolate an additional 14-days after their 10-day isolation period.
“These enhanced self-isolation requirements are a result of the increasing number of VOC cases in Ontario and we have seen a large number in our district,” notes Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “VOCs are highly contagious; therefore, tightening these isolation measures helps to reduce the impact on our hospitals and health care system.”
If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, first self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek testing or further care. If you need further assistance, call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808. If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should call 911 and mention your symptoms.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
For more information, please visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
NEWS RELEASE
NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) has completed the first dose of all long-term care home resident COVID-19 vaccinations in our district. Nine hundred seventy-two residents have received immunization against COVID-19, as well as 42 long-term care home health care workers, 31 individuals from First Nation elder care facilities, and 24 First Nations Health Care providers. An additional 18 doses were administered to hospital patients awaiting transfer into a long-term care home. A total of 1,087 vaccines have been administered to date in our district. This is a 96.9 per cent uptake of eligible residents of long-term care homes immunized.
“The staff at the First Nation Health Care Centres, the Health Unit, and long-term care homes have done a tremendous job in working together to vaccinate our long-term care home residents and First Nation elder care individuals,” states Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “We have a lot of work still to be done, with many other groups to immunize in phase one of the vaccine distribution framework.”
Due to the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine across Ontario and Canada, it is unknown when the Health Unit will receive the next shipment of vaccine. Once the long-term care home residents and First Nation elder care individuals have received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Health Unit will follow Ontario’s Ethical Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to prioritize the continuation of the vaccine rollout. The Health Unit region is currently in phase one. Other groups prioritized in phase one are:
• staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers), and other employees in long-term care settings;
• residents, staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers), and other employees in retirement homes and congregate living settings for seniors;
• health care workers, including hospital employees, staff who work or study in hospitals and health care personnel;
• adults in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations;
• adult recipients of chronic home health care.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine visit www.myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19Vaccine. For specific questions, please review our frequently asked questions page at www.myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19VaccineFAQ.
For immediate release: January 25, 2021
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Receives First Shipment of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
NORTH BAY, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) has received the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for the district. The shipment is small and is allotted to residents of long-term care, as prioritized in phase one of the province of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
The Health Unit has been in contact with long-term care homes to start the immunization process. It is anticipated to have all long-term care home residents and elder care residents of First Nations communities immunized by the provincial deadline of February 5, 2021.
Once the Health Unit receives additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine priority will be given to:
staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers) and other employees in long-term care settings;
residents, staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers) and other employees in retirement homes and congregate living settings for seniors;
health care workers, including hospital employees, staff who work or study in hospitals and health care personnel;
adults in First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations;
adult recipients of chronic home health care.
The Health Unit will continue to update the district on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine as information becomes available, including when the public can call for appointment booking.
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: January 18, 2021
Health Unit Closes OFSC Snowmobile Trails
NORTH BAY, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is requiring all Ontario
Federation of Snowmobile Clubs’ (OFSC) trails and trails utilizing Crown Land in the Health Unit district to
close effective January 21, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. for the duration of the Stay-at-Home Order and will be
reassessed at such time. This closure is done under the Medical Officer of Health’s ability to increase
restrictions within their district.
In accordance with the provisions of the Emergency Management and Civil Protections Act, and the
Regulations thereunder, specifically Stay-at-Home-Order, and the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to
COVID-19) Act, and the Regulations thereunder, specifically Rules for Areas in Stage 1, the Medical Officer of
Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit deems it reasonable and necessary to close all
Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs’ (OFSC) trails and trails utilizing Crown Land in the Health Unit
district effective January 21, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. throughout the entire district served by the North Bay Parry
Sound District Health Unit in order to decrease or eliminate the risk to community health presented by COVID
-19.
“We have been told to stay home and we need to do this. I have received many complaints about people
travelling from other districts to use the local snowmobile trails, thus putting our district at risk of COVID-19.
The OFSC recommends that snowmobilers avoid trailering and travelling to destinations that are outside their
health unit region to snowmobile, but people have not taken the direction seriously,” explains Dr. Jim Chirico,
Medical Officer of Health. “We are also seeing groups of snowmobilers congregating on trails, in parking lots
and other locations not maintaining a two metre distance and exceeding the gathering limits.”
On January 12, 2021, the province of Ontario announced the change in outdoor gathering limits from 10 to
five. Individuals must maintain a two metre physical distance from people they do not live with. Individuals
who live alone are allowed to be in close contact with one unique home, but must physically distance with
anyone who does not live in that home. Face coverings are also recommended to be worn outdoors.
“I do not recommend anyone gather with people you do not live with or if you live alone people who are not
a part of your unique close contact home,” states Dr. Chirico. “We are seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases
locally and the provincial projections do not look good. Our local hospitals have very little surge capacity and
limited resources which must be protected for the health and safety of our community. We must take extra
precautions to keep our district safe. However, the key is we must all work together.”
Outdoor physical activity, such as walking, running, playing outside and biking are important for physical and
mental health and still recommended by the Health Unit. However, all activities outside the house need to be
Please click link below to review Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the
Provincewide Shutdown.
moh-enhanced-provincewide-shutdown-en-2021-01-12-v3
Effective immediately all outdoor rinks in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit area have been ordered closed by the Medical Officer of Health in response to the Stay-at-Home-Order issued.
This closure includes the Township of Nipissing outdoor rink located at Heritage Park.
News Release – Health Unit Closes Skating Rinks and Tobogganing Hills
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: January 12, 2021
COVID-19 Outbreak at Eastholme Home for the Aged
NORTH BAY, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) has declared a respiratory
outbreak at Eastholme Home for the Aged – the causative agent is COVID-19. Aligning with the Ministry of
Health guidelines for an outbreak in a long-term care home, a COVID-19 outbreak is declared with a single
laboratory-confirmed case in a resident or staff member of a long-term care home. The individual who tested
positive is a staff member at the long-term care home. The individual is currently in isolation and individuals
who are high-risk contacts have been contacted by the Health Unit and are self-isolating.
“Our staff are working with Eastholme to provide important public health direction,” said Dr. Jim Chirico
Medical Officer of Health. “It is critical that we continue to follow public health measures to help slow the
spread of COVID-19 and help save lives.”
The Health Unit is asking the public to continue to practice COVID-19 public health measures especially
limiting travel outside your home to essential trips only. Other measures include physical distancing, wearing
a face covering, washing or sanitizing hands often and coughing or sneezing into your sleeve. The public is
also required to follow the measures under the provincewide shutdown.
If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first
self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care. If you need
further assistance call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808. If you have severe
symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should call 911 and mention your symptoms.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
For more information please visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
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Media Inquiries:
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
For immediate release: January 12, 2021
Health Unit Confirms No COVID-19 Risk to the White Woods School Community
NORTH BAY, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is confirming that two members of the White Woods school community tested positive for COVID-19 last week while schools were closed and students were online learning. There is no risk to the White Woods school community and the individuals are self-isolating at home.
Media Inquiries:
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca
Health Unit – Issuing COVID-19 Class Order
NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health has made the important decision to issue a Class Order under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. The Order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the Medical Office of Health determines the Order is no longer required. The Order enables North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit to enforce self-isolation requirements for the group of individuals whom it applies.
“A key role of Public Health in controlling the spread of COVID-19 is to identify, contact and ensure those testing positive for the virus and high risk individuals are isolating as quickly as possible,” explains Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “It is important that our district follows all public health measures, and when individuals who are required to self-isolate by public health are not following the rules we need to be able to take additional and immediate action.”
The Order is different from the provincial shutdown. Where the provincial shutdown asks everyone in Ontario to only leave home for essential purposes and to not be in close contact with anyone outside your home, the Order applies to all persons residing in or present in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region who are required by public health to self-isolate, including those who:
a. Are a confirmed case or probable case of COVID-19;
b. Have new symptoms (even mild symptoms) or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting the results of their test;
c. Have symptoms (even mild symptoms) of COVID-19, or have had such symptoms within the past 10 days;
d. Are a close contact of a person identified in (a) even if they do not themselves have any symptoms of COVID-19; or
e. Are a parent, or person with responsibilities of a parent, of a person under sixteen years of age identified in (a), (b), (c) or (d) who resides or is present in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region.
People in Categories (a), (b), (c) and (d) above must self-isolate and follow other directions in the Order.
The purpose of Category (e) is to require parents and others who have the responsibilities of a parent to ensure compliance with the class order by any person under 16 years of age.
Parents and others must self-isolate only if they themselves also fall within Category (a), (b), (c) or (d).
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, with support from police services, will enforce the Order. Failure to comply with this Order is an offence for which you may be charged, or liable to a fine of $880.00 (ticket) to a maximum of $5,000 for every day or part of each day on which the offence occurs or continues to occur. The Medical Officer of Health may also have individuals taken into custody (in a hospital or other appropriate facility) during their self-isolation period, if they are not in compliance or cannot comply with self-isolation requirements.
Complete information on the COVID-19 Class order can be found at myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19ClassOrder including a Frequently Asked Questions section.
The public is reminded to follow public health measures including the provincial shutdown, which comes into effect on December 26, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. For more information on COVID-19 visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
Health Unit – News Release: COVID-19 Recommendations For The Holidays
NORTH BAY, ON – The holidays are fast approaching and decisions on how to celebrate are coming up fast. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is reminding the public to plan for this holiday season to look different this year. The safest way to spend the holidays this year is by only celebrating in-person with the people you live with and celebrating virtually with everyone else.
“We’ve all made a lot of sacrifices this year and it is understandable the people will want to spend time with their loved ones, but we ask that this be done at a safe distance. We have seen an increase in the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 locally and throughout the province. Making the sacrifice to celebrate differently this year can help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” explains Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health.
The Health Unit is recommending that the public practice the following:
• Do not travel out of district unless for urgent or medical reasons.
o If you choose to travel, isolate for 14 days prior to leaving the district and isolate for 14 days upon return.
• Only celebrate in-person with individuals you live with. If you live alone, you may consider joining one other home.
• Celebrate virtually with individuals outside your home.
• Support local businesses and opt for curbside pickup when available rather than shopping in-store or outside the district.
• If you feel unwell, stay home and arrange to be tested for COVID-19.
• Keep your plans flexible. As the situation changes your plans might need to change too.
Please remember that having a “bubble” or a social circle is no longer recommended by the province, and you are asked to only come into close contact with individuals from your home.
For more information on COVID-19 and the holidays visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19Holidays.