Health Archives — Lindsay Advocate

Community anger growing with long wait times at LifeLabs

Published on September 12, 2020 in Community/Health by Roderick Benns

Outrage over long wait times at Lindsay’s LifeLabs – the only such laboratory in Kawartha Lakes – is growing.

The Advocate has fielded several emails and calls from residents who are increasingly frustrated not only with the wait times but with the conditions of their wait. According to several people who were standing in line, chairs are not provided for those who may need a break from standing and people are forced to be outside — even in inclement weather.

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Mental health has suffered during pandemic but help is available

Published on September 3, 2020 in Health/Opinion by Jack Veitch

Every year approximately 4,000 Canadians die by suicide, averaging nearly 11 people every single day.

Suicide has been an issue that has impacted all genders, races and ethnicities around the world for centuries. However, with the onset of a global pandemic in early 2020, suicide measurements also saw a change.

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The other pandemic: Opioid deaths surge during age of COVID

Published on August 29, 2020 in Community/Health by Trevor Hutchinson

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global event that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death.

The numbers are staggering whether measured nationally, provincially, or locally. Between January 2016 and December 2019 there were 15,393 apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada. In 2019 there were 1,509 opioid-related deaths in Ontario.

In our local health unit region there were 22 opioid-related deaths in 2019. As of August 14, 2020, there have been 88 suspected drug overdoses in the area served by the Kawartha Lakes Police Service (KLPS) compared to 93 for all of 2019.

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Most schools re-opening in the fall: TLDSB to announce more details soon

Published on July 30, 2020 in Education/Health by Kirk Winter

Where is our local voice? School board should speak out about Ford’s classroom plans

Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced in Whitby today the re-opening of most Ontario schools for a five day a week, five hour a day of regular learning commencing Sept. 8.

The event, held at a Catholic secondary school, was a who’s who of the provincial Conservative Party with local MPP Laurie Scott joining in for the announcement. Durham Catholic trustees were invited and were in attendance, but no teaching staff or support staff were present for this crucial announcement.

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Are we masking up? Lindsay pharmacist says ‘yes’

Published on July 28, 2020 in Community/Health by Lindsay Advocate

Just prior to the local health unit’s mandating of masks in mid-July, the grumbling seemed deafening – from consumers, but also from some business owners tasked with enforcing this new rule.

It’s not uncommon to, a few weeks into the new regulation, observe the unmasked wandering aisles in defiance – serving as fodder for the shaming soldiers of social media. But in most quarters of Kawartha Lakes, the majority of residents of Kawartha Lakes would seem to falling in line.

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Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team gets closer to fruition

Published on July 23, 2020 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

The Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team (KL-OHT) today announced that it has been invited to complete a full Ontario Health Team (OHT) application by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Ontario Health Teams are being introduced to provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities, according to the Ontario Health Team website.

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Health unit updates mask use instructions as more places open

Published on July 16, 2020 in Community/Health by Lindsay Advocate

With more businesses and services opening July 17 under Ontario’s Stage 3 reopening plan, the local health unit is updating its directives on non-medical mask use in indoor public places.

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Wear a mask when you dine at restaurants, says health unit

Published on July 14, 2020 in Business/Health by Roderick Benns

Mask-wearing rule and eating in at restaurants will both be possible, says health unit

As Kawartha Lakes gets set to open its restaurants for indoor dining again, many are wondering how that option co-exists with the rule about wearing a mask in public places.

As it turns out, you’ll be expected to do both, according to Bill Eekhoff, communications officer at the local health unit.

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Health unit further clarifies mandatory mask announcement

Published on July 8, 2020 in Community/Health by Lindsay Advocate

The local Health Unit is clarifying its instructions about mandatory mask wearing in commercial premises — a policy that takes effect July 13. Commercial establishments are premises that are openly accessible to members of the public and used for the purposes of offering goods or services for sale.

An establishment would include a mall or other structure containing commercial premises, including: retail stores, convenience stores, restaurants, personal services settings, grocery stores and bakeries, gas stations, indoor farmers’ markets, areas of mechanics’ shops/garages/repair shops which are open to the public.

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Local health unit makes masks mandatory in local businesses

Published on July 7, 2020 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

Under instructions issued by the local Medical Officer of Health, area businesses will have to have a policy in place that requires people to wear a non-medical mask or face covering before entering their commercial establishment.

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