Latest News and Notices
April is World autism awareness month
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In 2007, April 2nd was designated as World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations General Assembly. Since its inception, autism awareness and acceptance have increased and a better understanding of neurodiversity has arisen but there is still more work to do!
We invite you, your school, workplace or sports team to host a fundraising event anytime in April to celebrate World Autism Awareness and Acceptance! Fundraising events allow you to join our team to ensure families with loved ones on the autism spectrum get the information and support they need!
We hope that you will join us to help spread our message from coast to coast. Don’t forget to tag @AutismCanada in your photos to be featured on our pages. Join the fun by hosting a FUNdraisertoday!
https://autismcanada.org/get-involved/national-autism-awareness/
Statement from the Chief Medical Officer of Health
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Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 - there is no option for anyone to opt out.
The lives of many Ontarians, especially our community's most vulnerable citizens, is in your hands and will depend on your actions over the coming days and weeks.
I strongly recommend you and other members of your household stay home except for essential reasons, such as to:
- Access health care services;
- Shop for groceries;
- Pick-up medication at the pharmacy;
- Walk pets when required; and
- Support vulnerable community members with meeting the above needs.
To the fullest extent possible, you should also limit the number of these essential trips. However, when you are out in public you must adhere to physical distancing by reducing your exposure to other people outside of your household by keeping two metres from other people.
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/03/statement-from-the-chief-medical-officer-of-health.html
United Counties of SD&G, United Counties of P&R and City of Cornwall Declare State of Emergency Over Spread of COVID-19
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Cornwall, March 26, 2020, 4 p.m. – In response to growing concerns over COVID-19 in Eastern Ontario, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G), the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) and the City of Cornwall have declared a state of emergency today as of 4:00 PM in an effort to slow the spread of this highly contagious virus.
Although there have only been four confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the combined jurisdictions to date, there are over 300 tests with results still pending. Public health authorities fear the virus is now spreading on two fronts: through the community from one individual to another, as well as area residents returning from their travels abroad.
“Over 50 percent of cases in Canada are not linked to individuals who have travelled abroad or been in contact with people who did,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). “This means there is now community spread of COVID-19 across the country, and our area will be no exception.”
The increasing threat of COVID-19 points to the importance of physical distancing as a measure to counter its spread. The public is therefore being asked to stay home as much as possible and to avoid all non-essential outings. When going out for absolute essentials like groceries and medication, everyone must maintain a minimum distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from one another.
The Warden of the United Counties of SD&G, Frank Prevost, states that while residents shouldn’t panic about the state of emergency, they should take public health advisories very seriously. “I want residents to understand that we have taken this measure to enable us to access additional resources to respond to COVID-19.”
Pierre Leroux, Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, echoes Mr. Prevost’s message. “While the situation regarding COVID-19 is still manageable in our area, declaring a state of emergency will allow the redeployment of county resources, such as personnel and equipment, to where we need them most.”
“Declaring a state of emergency is not a decision we took lightly, but it was the right decision to make,” says Bernadette Clement, Mayor of the City of Cornwall. “This will help us to come together more effectively to care for the most vulnerable among us, to deploy needed action quickly, and to efficiently coordinate preventive measures.”
Mandatory 14-day quarantine for returning travellers
Authorities at all levels of government are reminding residents that a 14-day quarantine is now mandatory for all Canadians returning from travel outside of the country. Returning travellers must go straight home upon their return to the country, and rely on help from family, friends, their municipality and local agencies for anything they need.
For more information about COVID-19, please consult EOHU.ca/coronavirus, Ontario’s website at Ontario.ca/coronavirus, where you’ll find a self-assessment tool, and the federal government’s website at Canada.ca/coronavirus.
