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Home » Halton Medical Officer of Health Issues Statement in Response to Province’s new COVID-19 Response Framework

Halton Medical Officer of Health Issues Statement in Response to Province’s new COVID-19 Response Framework

*Please see below a media release issued by the Region of Halton.

The Regional Municipality of Halton
For Immediate Release
November 4, 2020

On November 3, 2020, Ontario released its COVID-19 Response Framework to Help Keep the Province Safe and Open (external link). Please read the statement (PDF file) attached from Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health, in response to the new Framework and impacts on current recommendations in Halton.

THE MOH STATEMENT IS ALSO PROVIDED BELOW:

November 4, 2020

To the Halton community,

On November 3, 2020, the provincial government announced the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework.

The framework takes a graduated approach that allows for additional public health measures to be introduced and removed incrementally. Each public health unit is placed in one of five levels (Prevent, Protect, Restrict, Control, and Lockdown) based on defined criteria, including weekly incidence rate and % positivity. The framework outlines public health and workplace safety measures for businesses and organizations, for each level.

Halton Region is currently listed in the Protect level within the framework, based on data for the week of October 26, 2020. Levels will be confirmed by the province on Friday, November 6, 2020 and become effective on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.

Halton residents and organizations will need to follow the public health measures outlined in the framework, effective November 7, 2020. Please note that the framework includes public health measures for fitness classes and team sports, and that the measures in the framework will replace the recommendations I provided on October 19, 2020 in my letter to the Halton community.

I continue to recommend:

Limiting close contact to household members; and
Limiting non-essential activities outside of the home.

Thank you again to everyone for taking public health measures seriously, and above all for being kind to one another. It is important to stay vigilant, and to consider the risks to yourself and your household as you plan your daily activities.

Please continue to visit halton.ca/COVID19 for information on cases. Public health guidance on halton.ca/COVID19 will be updated to align with the provincial framework.

Yours in health,

Dr. Hamidah Meghani,
Halton Region Medical Officer of Health

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PLEASE NOTE: To stay updated on what the City of Burlington is doing regarding COVID-19, please visit the dedicated pages burlington.ca/coronavirus (and subscribe) and bit.ly/mayormeedwardCOVID19updates, and our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page — bit.ly/COVID19BurlingtonFAQ that are updated as new information becomes available.

A Burlington COVID-19 Task Force has been created to help support our community through this unprecedented emergency — updates will be provided at burlington.ca/COVID19taskforce.

To report an incident of non-compliance with provincial emergency orders, please contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.

We’ve also created a dedicated page to feature the local organizations and businesses that have inspired us during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking action to support our community in new and creative ways — head to bit.ly/covidwallofinspiration.

HELPFUL RESOURCES & RELATED LINKS:

Community questions and requests regarding City of Burlington services can be directed to Service Burlington by phone at 905-335-7777, by email at city@burlington.ca or online.
Halton Region has created a Reopening Schools resource webpage for parents, students and teachers at halton.ca/covid19.
For further COVID-19 information, including where to get tested, please visit Halton Region Public Health halton.ca/coronavirus
Residents can stay informed at burlington.ca/coronavirus as well as on our social media channels: @cityburlington on Twitter and facebook.com/cityburlington
Questions about the cancellation of Recreation programs can be directed to rentals@burlington.ca or liveandplay@burlington.ca or 905-335-7738
City of Burlington: www.burlington.ca/coronavirus
Resources for Residents & Non-Profit Organizations: www.burlington.ca/covid19resources.
Halton Region: www.halton.ca/coronavirus
Government of Ontario: www.ontario.ca/coronavirus
- Provincial Emergency Orders: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/200052
Government of Canada: www.canada.ca/coronavirus
World Health Organization: www.who.int
Joseph Brant Hospital: josephbranthospital.ca/covid-19
Team Burlington Business Supports: burlingtonchamber.com/team-burl-supporting-burl-business-during-covid-19/
Burlington Food Bank: call 905-637-CARE (2273), or visit burlingtonfoodbank.ca
Food for Life: call 905-635-1106 and press 7, or visit foodforlife.ca
Canadian Mental Health Association – Halton Branch: call 289-291-5396, or visit halton.cmha.ca

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*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist

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