Health Archives — Lindsay Advocate

Local health unit’s acting medical officer of health alarmed by rise in COVID cases

Published on January 8, 2021 in Health by Roderick Benns

With the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to rise throughout the province, the local acting medical officer of health is urging area residents to do everything they can to stop the spread of the virus.

Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, is echoing comments made today by Premier Doug Ford when he said that today’s numbers are “scary,” and the province is in a “desperate situation” after reporting a record number of cases and deaths.

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Waiting for first vaccines: Medical officer of health says it’s ‘all hands on deck’

Published on January 7, 2021 in Health by Roderick Benns

As Ontario’s COVID-19 infection numbers risk spiralling out of control, the acting medical officer of health, Dr. Ian Gemmill, says the vaccine rollout can’t happen soon enough.

In a wide-ranging discussion with the Advocate, Gemmill says the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit is still waiting for its first doses to get started on phase one of the planned vaccination program.

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Community Care granted $144,000 from Ontario Trillium Foundation

Published on January 7, 2021 in Community/Health by Lindsay Advocate

Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes is proud to keep the community moving, thanks to a $143,700 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The funding was used for the purchase and retrofit of two wheelchair and stretcher-accessible vans. The vans are a vital piece of Community Care’s Specialized Transportation program, providing seniors and adults with special needs with affordable transportation.

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Changes to some Ross Memorial guidelines: Community update

Published on January 5, 2021 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

Ross Memorial Hospital and partners are working together to prepare for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine locally, according to provincial guidelines, as more doses become available.

The province has launched a webpage to share updates and information about the vaccine. Until COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, it’s important to follow public health guidelines, according to a press release from RMH, and abide by the provincial lockdown measures.

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COVID-19 making the gruelling experience of dying or grieving even more painful

Published on December 17, 2020 in Health/Social Issues by Nancy Payne

Of all the cruelties inflicted by the pandemic, separating people from someone they love who is about to die has to have been among the most vicious. And what of people who received a life-altering diagnosis this year, or who are trying to adjust to life after the death of a parent or spouse?

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Local health team increases equality of care

Published on December 17, 2020 in Health/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team is ensuring its family doctors and health care providers have increased knowledge and skills in providing health care for questioning, transitioning and transgender patients and their families and caregivers.

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Health unit expecting to help 1,700 local seniors with dental care

Published on December 11, 2020 in Health by Kirk Winter

Are you a senior of modest means living in Kawartha Lakes in need of dental care? The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit may have a program for you.

The recently launched program will give seniors without health insurance access to anything from preventative dental care to full dental services right here in Kawartha Lakes.

Pam Stuckless, director of health promotions for the HKPR Health Unit, shared background on the program with the board during a virtual meeting on Dec. 3.

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Local entrepreneur gets his COVID smell tester product approved by Health Canada

Published on December 10, 2020 in Business/Health by Roderick Benns

Michael Bryant’s success has always been about adaptability. It’s seen in his agri-tourism destination known as Dromoland Farms. It’s obvious with his purchase of the town trolley car to meet local tourism needs. Now, Bryant has turned his attention to developing an easy-to-use COVID-19 test — and yesterday he got authorization from Health Canada to sell it. The product is called Anosmic COVID-19 Smell Tester. It’s the first (and only, according to Bryant) authorized product that can screen people in their own homes to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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Colour us yellow: Province pushes Kawartha Lakes out of the green with rising COVID numbers

Published on December 4, 2020 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

New COVID-19 restrictions are coming into effect in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and in Kawartha Lakes, as the region shifts from ‘green’ to ‘yellow.’

As of 12:01 am on Dec. 7, the province is moving the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit region into the Yellow-Protect level of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework.

The local area was one of two health units in southern Ontario to remain in the Green-Prevent category but has been told by the province that it will now move to the next level.

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Toronto breaks down neighbourhoods where COVID is occurring – why not here?

Published on December 4, 2020 in Health by Roderick Benns

Toronto breaks down neighbourhoods where COVID is occurring – why not Kawartha Lakes?

As COVID-19 numbers begin to climb again, many Kawartha Lakes residents are asking why the local health unit isn’t breaking down COVID numbers by neighbourhood or community.

Medical Officer of Health for the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, says it’s all about balancing the right to privacy with the public’s right to have good information about infection rates.

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