By Mike Baker The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit received its first allocation of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday evening, with staff planning to start vaccinating residents of the area’s long-term care homes this…
Haliburton hospital ready for patient transfers from GTA
By Mike Baker Following another weekend of almost 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 across Ontario and a further 102 deaths, health officials are preparing for the worst with many hospitals, particularly in the GTA, dangerously…
‘This is serious’ says MOH in health unit’s…
By Chad Ingram On Jan. 13, at the first of a planned series of weekly media teleconferences launched by the health unit last week, Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton,…
Vaccine ‘likely’ not available in county until summer
By Mike Baker While rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is well underway in some parts of Ontario, one local doctor, as well as the acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge…
Schools to remain closed until Jan. 25 as…
By Sue Tiffin On the same day the province reported a single-day record of 3,519 new cases of COVID-19, as well as a record high number of 89 deaths, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health…
Marina closes following COVID-19 exposure
By Sue Tiffin The online version of this story has been updated with comments from the local health unit, which were submitted after press time, as well as the family's COVID-19 test results. The Christmas…
Long wait ahead for vaccinations
By Chad Ingram With the approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine in the country by Health Canada last week, shipments began to roll into the provinces this week, with the first inoculations being administered.However, as…
Privacy a concern for health unit when reporting…
By Sue Tiffin With each update of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the area from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit, comments from the public regarding their questions and concerns – namely, why…
Pandemic disrupts 43-year history of ice racing
By Darren Lum Just before 2020 is over it seems COVID-19 has struck another public event down.Health safety is standing out as the guiding influence over the decision to cancel winter driving events at the…
Haliburton moves into Ontario’s COVID-19 ‘Yellow’ zone
By Mike Baker New COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of people allowed at social gatherings and tightening regulations on bars and restaurants are being implemented across Haliburton County this week. It was revealed on Friday,…
Some in-school public health services on hold
By Jenn Watt Some vaccinations and screening programs typically administered in schools have been relocated to health unit offices or put on hold for the 2020/2021 school year, members of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge…
Health unit releases survey on COVID-19
The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit wants to know how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting you. The health unit has released a survey it is asking residents of Haliburton County, Northumberland County and…
MH staff to remain in office for now
By Chad Ingram Minden Hills staff who work out of the township’s administrative building on Milne Street will continue working from the location for now.Minden Hills council held a special meeting held virtually via Zoom…
What makes for a COVID-19 ‘outbreak’
By Jenn Watt The following are brief reports of items discussed at the board of health meeting for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit on Thursday, Oct. 15. Deciding whether to label a…
Minden Post Office employee tests positive for COVID-19
By Sue Tiffin An employee of the Minden Post Office has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Canada Post.“We informed our employees at the Minden Post Office last week [Oct. 8], that one of their…
Health unit launches new COVID-19 data dashboard
By Sue Tiffin A new way to deliver data has been launched on the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit website. The health unit had been receiving requests from residents to present the data…
Crisis calls up 30% since March
By Sue Tiffin Mental health support and crisis intervention workers are preparing for the second wave of COVID-19, and the potential government rollback to provisions that might accompany that surge of cases, as the seasons…
Guideline changes may reduce number of children tested…
By Sue Tiffin “Thank goodness guidelines have changed, easier on families for sure,” said Dr. Norm Bottum after the provincial government updated screening protocols for children last week, amending a COVID-19 screening policy to focus…
Minden business owner fined for face mask infraction
By Chad Ingram The OPP have confirmed they have charged a Minden business owner under the province’s Reopening Ontario Act, and while the police do not disclose the names of those charged under the act,…
Strong season for farmers’ market despite COVID-19
By Darren Lum As the Haliburton County Farmers’ Market nears the end of their year, the vendors and organizers thank shoppers for the season’s success.Farmers’ market president and Minden farmer Andrew Graham said it’s important…
Tracking COVID-19 in schools
By Sue Tiffin Parents and caregivers, as well as Ontarians in general, concerned about confirmed COVID-19 cases in class or at daycare will be able to track outbreaks of the virus at schools and child…