pandemic Archives — Lindsay Advocate

Getting up to speed: The quest for fast rural internet

Published on July 12, 2020 in Business/Community by Trevor Hutchinson

“Our internet service is just deplorable,” declares Angela Field.

The entrepreneur and mother of four describes a situation where data must be rationed – that is, only a little bit of internet time can be used per day for fear of going over an internet company’s cap and being forced to pay more. Family members must alternate their activities with only one person online at any given time. And Field, with her husband Evan Lang, lives just 15 minutes outside of Lindsay — the largest settlement area in the city.

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Economic Recovery Task Force focuses on simplifying city processes

Published on July 10, 2020 in Business/Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

Farm country, Canadian Shield…anything but “cottage country”

The Economic Recovery Task Force held its third meeting this week, focusing on feedback it has received from working groups. It also considered options to improve processes in light of limited resources and staffing due to the pandemic.

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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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Kawartha Lakes joins call for more federal money to help municipalities

Published on July 7, 2020 in Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

Mayors and chairs from across Ontario, represented by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario, and the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario, issued a call for action on the COVID-19 financial emergency.

Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham echoed the sentiments expressed by Ontario municipalities by saying, “We need immediate provincial and federal support to cover lost revenue and additional costs caused by the COVID-19 crisis.”

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The reopening mantra: Do the right thing and let the rest go

Published on July 7, 2020 in Opinion by Nancy Payne

The only behaviour I can control is my own.

Never has that felt more true than right now, as summer lures us out of isolation back into a world where we’re still trying to figure out what’s safe, what’s considerate, and what we can live with. (This article by Advocate writer Kirk Winter is an excellent starting place.)

A Saturday afternoon in Bobcaygeon made me realize just how differently we all see those three things.

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Eleven unresolved community cases of COVID-19 in city

Published on July 3, 2020 in Community/Health by Roderick Benns

There are 11 unresolved COVID-19 cases in Kawartha Lakes, according to the local health unit, all of whom are self-isolating in their homes.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit data shows 171 confirmed cases total for Kawartha Lakes, minus the 141 cases considered ‘resolved.’ There are also 19 COVID-19-related deaths tied to confirmed cases in the community.

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The Cat came back: Restaurant meets learning curve head on

Published on June 16, 2020 in Business by Lindsay Advocate

For restaurants, it offered some relief – some.

But being restricted to take-out service only during the pandemic was hardly a simple matter of closing one door – literally – and directing customers to the other open door to that dedicated take-out counter.

If you’d never previously offered full-scale take-out you had to learn.

Fast.

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Five decisions you can make in the age of COVID-19

Published on June 14, 2020 in Opinion by Kirk Winter

Many Kawartha Lakes residents are struggling with what to do and how to behave regarding the COVID-19 pandemic now that the curve appears to be flattening.

Everywhere people turn they seem to be getting mixed messages from government and the media regarding behaviour that will keep people safe but also help their neighbour’s businesses survive to open another day.

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