COVID-19 Business Update: July 31st, 2020

July 31, 2020 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • The Ontario government, in consultation with the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, has amended orders O. Reg 364/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 3 and O. Reg. 263/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 2, under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, implementing additional measures for restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments. In order to keep patrons of restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments safe, the amended orders will implement the following measures:
    • All patrons will be required to be seated at all times, in both indoor and outdoor areas, with limited exceptions; and
    • Bars and restaurants (and also tour boat operators) in Ontario will be required to keep client logs for a period of 30 days and to disclose the client logs to the medical officer of health or an inspector under the Health Protection and Promotion Act on request, which will support case and contact tracing.
    • Complementary changes are being made in respect of existing provisions relating to tour operators and tour boat operators.
  • Businesses and sectors unable to open or facing significant difficulties in operating under the current restrictions are invited to visit Ontario.ca/reopen to submit a reopening proposal. Businesses are also encouraged to use the government’s guide to develop a workplace safety plan. Government officials will work collaboratively with them on a plan to safely reopen, where feasible. The plan will be considered by public health officials and the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee as part of Ontario’s approach to Stage 3.
  • The Ontario government will move DriveTest centres into the second phase of its reopening plan beginning on Tuesday, August 4. 2020 road testing for class G2 and all motorcycle licences will resume and the number of locations offering commercial driver road tests will expand. To reduce crowding and support physical distancing, most DriveTest centres will continue to serve these customers based on the date of the customer’s birth. Customers who need road tests should visit DriveTest.ca to schedule a test. The government has also temporarily extended the expiration dates of all driver’s licenses and has asked that Ontarians take advantage of this and avoid visiting a DriveTest centre unless absolutely necessary.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit will be phased out as the first people to receive the $2,000 (US$1,494) monthly payments start losing eligibility at the end of August. Those who don’t immediately qualify for employment benefits will receive a stipend while the government reworks the country’s employment system. As of June, only 40 per cent of the 3 million jobs lost in March and April had been recovered. About 8.5 million Canadians, more than 40 per cent of the labor force, received at least one CERB payment. The program has already delivered $63 billion in benefits. Trudeau said premiums for employment coverage wouldn’t increase during the crisis.
  • The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, today announced that COVID Alert, a new national mobile app, is now available to Canadians for free download. The app, first developed in Ontario, helps notify users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. It can be downloaded for iOS (Apple) and Android devices.
  • The Niagara Region mask bylaw is now in effect. Please review Wednesday’s update for more details. If you have questions, you can contact the GNCC or Niagara Region for assistance.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, you must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days. Call a public health authority immediately. Do not visit any healthcare provider in person before you have been directly advised to by public health authorities.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Share this:

Niagara Falls Craft Distillers Announces National Partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada for Proceeds of Sales of Niagara Cares™ Sanitizer

July 30, 2020 | COVID-19 Member News, Members in the News

Niagara Falls Craft Distillers Ltd. (“NFCD” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Habitat for Humanity Canada (Habitat Canada) for the sale of Niagara Cares™ sanitizer in 100+ Habitat ReStores™ across Canada as part of NFCD’s national partnership commitment to Habitat Canada. 

Niagara Cares™ sanitizer is available in bottles of 500ml gel hand sanitizer with a pump and 1.89L liquid sanitizer without. It is produced using NFCD’s proprietary charcoal filtered process and meets and exceeds all W.H.O. and Health Canada regulations. NFCD will donate a portion of all Canadian sales of its Niagara Cares™ Sanitizer products to Canadian Registered Charites (CRCs) such as Habitat Canada through its NFCD Care Giver™ Foundation using Canada Gives www.canadagives.ca. 

“I’m delighted with our new partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada. Their (Habitat) mission, vision and values resonate well with our own and, together, we can make a real difference,” stated Joel Mallard, NFCD’s General Manager. “I believe that Canadian purchasers of Niagara Cares™ sanitizer can provide much needed support to Canadian Registered Charities at this critical time when they are struggling to survive; we are all in this together and this is the perfect opportunity for all Canadians who purchase sanitizer to make a difference during the COVD-19 crisis – it’s the right thing to do.” 

“We are thrilled and honoured to have been chosen by NFCD to be the first recipient of its Niagara Cares™ donations under its Care Giver™ Program,” said Julia Deans, President & CEO of Habitat Canada. “The donations we will receive from the proceeds of selling Niagara Cares™ sanitizer products will help local Habitats continue the important work of building decent and affordable homes for people in need of housing in communities across Canada.” 

“It’s not very often in business that you get to do good and ‘do good’ at the same time,” Andy Murison, NFCD’s President and CEO and one of its three founders, said. “I can’t believe the volume of sanitizer sales we have achieved in our first three months and, of course, the more we sell the more we can donate.” 

About Habitat for Humanity Canada: 

Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. With the help of volunteers, Habitat homeowners and 53 local Habitats working in every province and territory, we provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. 

About Niagara Falls Craft Distillers Ltd. (NFCD): 

Niagara Falls Craft Distillers (NFCD) is a 100% Canadian owned manufacturer of premium craft spirits, beers and ready-to-drink products. Established in Niagara Falls, Ontario in 2016, NFCD has distribution agreements in Ontario and Alberta. In February of 2019, NFCD tripled our distillery production capacity by relocating from a historic Lundy’s Lane location to 8699 Stanley Ave., in Niagara Falls. NFCD acquired a St. Catharines bottling facility in June 2020 to accommodate the explosive demand for our new Niagara Cares™ sanitizer products and for our popular Niagara Falls Distillers Craft Vodka, Whisky, Maple Whisky, Gin and Rum products available at the LCBO and extending to Western Canada later this year. NFCD is committed to promoting Niagara Falls’ legacy and history globally through our products and we can think of no better City to help lift our spirits and yours during this period of social distancing and self-isolation. 

For More Information please contact:
Andy Murison, President & CEO andy@niagarafallsdistillers.com 289.681.0124
Joel Mallard, General Manager joel@niagarafallsdistillers.com 905.616.3190 

To order our Spirits online, please visit our Website:
www.niagarafallscraftdistillers.com 

To order sanitizing products for an organization, please reach out to Joel Mallard directly. 

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: July 30th, 2020

July 30, 2020 | Uncategorised

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • The Niagara Region mask bylaw takes effect tomorrow. Please review yesterday’s update for more details. If you have questions, you can contact the GNCC or Niagara Region for assistance.
  • The Ontario government today announced its plan to allow licensed child care centres across Ontario to open at full capacity starting September 1, 2020. EarlyON Child and Family Centres will also be permitted to reopen with in-person programming along with before- and after-school programs for school aged children which will be permitted to operate with standard ratios and maximum group size requirements. All of these programs will be subject to health and safety protocols.
  • The Ontario government is also announcing the reopening of schools for in-class instruction beginning this September. The government has unveiled a plan that aims to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, provide school boards with resources and flexibility, and accommodate regional differences in trends of key public health indicators. Elementary schools (Kindergarten to Grade 8) will reopen province-wide, with in-class instruction five days a week. Secondary schools with lower risk will reopen with a normal daily schedule, five days a week, while most secondary schools will start the school year in an adapted model of part-time attendance with class cohorts of up to 15 students alternating between attending in-person and online. Students from Grade 4-12 and school staff will be required to wear masks. Parents will continue to have the option to enroll their children in remote delivery.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, you must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days. Call a public health authority immediately. Do not visit any healthcare provider in person before you have been directly advised to by public health authorities.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Share this:

Niagara College Teaching Winery whites strike gold in national competition

July 30, 2020 | Members in the News

Excitement is bubbling up at the Niagara College Teaching Winery after two wins at a national competition – including a trophy for Best Sparkling Wine of the Year.

The All Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC) awarded the NC Teaching Winery’s 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc Brut the coveted title of Best Sparkling Wine of the Year, along with a Double Gold trophy in the Sparkling Wine (Traditional Method category), while its 2017 Les Marmitons Gastronomy Chardonnay won Gold in the Chardonnay Under $20 category.

ACWC director Bev Carnahan noted that this year marked the 40th running of the wine competition – one of the oldest in the world. The 2020 competition drew 805 wine entries from 130 participating wineries across Canada. Judging was held in Prince Edward County beginning July 20 and results were posted on July 25.

Carnahan applauded the NC Teaching Winery for being among three first-time trophy winners this year.

“This is a testament to the calibre of program being headed by Gavin Robertson,” said Carnahan. “It bodes well for the future of Canada’s wine industry.”

News about the wins was well received at the NC Teaching Winery.

“These latest award-winning wines truly celebrate the knowledge, skills and creativity of our winemakers, faculty and students at the Niagara College Teaching Winery,” said Steve Gill, general manager of NCs Learning Enterprises. “This outstanding national achievement continues to raise the bar for high-quality wine education across Canada.”

First released in early 2019, 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc Brut was the Teaching Winery’s first venture into the style of Sparkling made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. The traditional method, bottle-fermented Sparkling was made from high quality, handpicked, bunch sorted Chardonnay grapes fermented in steel tanks and neutral oak barrels, and aged for 36 months on yeast lees before disgorging.

2017 Les Marmitons Gastronomy Chardonnay is an estate-grown, barrel-fermented Chardonnay, which spent 11 months ‘sur lie’ in French barriques and underwent malolactic fermentation with monthly lees stirring. The wine appears as a bright straw colour in the glass and the nose offers ripe pear, apple, Meyer lemon, vanilla and oak flavours. The palate is rich and creamy with more stone fruit flavours, and undertones of caramelized brown sugar, nutmeg, and a lively acid backbone that structures the wine.

The awards add to previous hardware won by both wines, including a gold for the 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc and a silver for the 2017 Les Marmitons Gastronomy Chardonnay from the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.

College Winemaker Gavin Robertson noted that College Chardonnays tend to do well in competition.

“The campus vineyard Chard block produces really beautiful fruit that we’re able to spend a lot of time working on in the growing season: pruning, shoot thinning, tucking, cluster thinning, and handpicking,” he said. “Students are involved in all of these activities because we use the vineyard as a living classroom for labs that support the viticultural sciences that they are exposed to in lecture.”

The College has won numerous awards from the ACWC over the past few years for many different wines – from Icewine, Brut, and Semi-Dry Riesling, to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Noir.

“It’s important that we win in diverse categories. We endeavor to produce wines in as many styles that are available in the Ontario industry as possible, to showcase as many production techniques to students as we can,” said Robertson, who is a graduate of the College’s Winery and Viticulture Technician (2011) and a Nuffield Canada scholar.

The wines are available for purchase at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre (Niagara College Daniel J. Patterson Campus, 135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake), or online at NiagaraCollegewine.ca  Proceeds from sales support student learning.

For info about the ACWC visit allcanadianwinechampionships.com.

Niagara College’s Teaching Winery is the first and only commercial teaching winery in Canada. It is located at the College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, along with the NC Teaching Brewery and the NC Teaching Distillery, which were also the first of their kind in Canada.

Niagara College offers more than 150 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, spirits, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: July 29th, 2020

July 29, 2020 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • Niagara Region has passed a new bylaw for restaurants and bars. Patrons must now be seated at all times unless entering, exiting, travelling to and from a washroom, or paying. Restaurants and bars must also maintain a client log with a name and contact information for at least one person in each party. The registry will include the date, check-in and checkout times and table number. The health department can access the information for contact tracing. Establishments must maintain the list for 30 days, after which it can be destroyed.
  • Niagara Region has released a template sign (PDF link) for businesses to place at all public entrances to their premises in anticipation of their mask bylaw, which comes into effect on Friday, July 31. As of that date, all Niagara businesses must:
    • adopt a policy regarding the wearing of face coverings that prohibits persons from entering, or otherwise remaining, within the enclosed public place unless they are wearing a face covering, subject to the exemptions provided for in the by-law
    • ensure that all persons working at the enclosed public place are trained in the requirements of the policy
    • provide a copy of the face covering policy for inspection by any persons authorized to enforce this by-law
    • post clearly visible signage conspicuously at all entrances to the enclosed public place containing the following text in a minimum font size of 24 point:
      Protect each other
      Wear a face covering
      Cover your nose, mouth, and chin
      Required by the Face Covering By-law
      Does not apply to children under the age of five and those who are unable to wear a face covering as a result of a medical condition or a disability.
    • provide hand sanitizer with a minimum 70% alcohol content, at all public entrances and exits at all times for the use of members of the public attending the enclosed public place
  • The following are exempt from the regional mask requirement. Note that businesses may not require proof of an exemption, but are also not obliged to admit or serve anyone claiming an exemption or refusing to wear a mask, and may be legally required to refuse entry under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect their employees and other customers.
    • Children under the age of five
    • A person who is unable to wear a face covering as a result of a medical condition or a disability
    • A person who is unable to remove the face covering without help
    • A person who would have their breathing inhibited or restricted by wearing a face covering
    • A person while consuming food or drink provided by a business that is permitted to operate
    • A person receiving services involving the face
    • A person engaged in sport or other strenuous physical activity
    • A person while helping or accommodating another person with a hearing disability
    • Individuals working in an enclosed public space that isn’t open for public access
    • Individuals working behind a physical barrier
  • Face coverings are not required in:
    • Daycares, schools, post-secondary institutions and other facilities used for educational purposes
    • Hospitals, independent health facilities and offices of regulated health professionals
    • Buildings and services owned and operated by the Province of Ontario or the Federal Government of Canada
    • An indoor area of a building that’s accessible only to employees
    • Portions of buildings that are being used for the purpose of providing day camps for children or for the training of amateur or professional athletes
  • To learn more about face coverings and how to properly wear, fit, remove and clean non-medical face coverings visit:
  • On Friday, July 31, the City of Toronto and Peel Region will move into Stage 3 of the provincial re-opening framework. After 12:01am on July 31, only Windsor-Essex will remain in
  • The federal government has given Bill C-20 royal assent, ensuring that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program will continue until Dec. 19, 2020. Employers with revenue losses of less than 30% are now eligible for the program, including those that previously qualified but have now recovered above the 30% loss threshold. Specifically, the changes introduced in Bill C-20 will:
    • Allow the extension of the CEWS until December 19, 2020, including redesigned program details until November 21, 2020.
    • Make the subsidy more accessible to a broader range of employers by providing a gradually decreasing base subsidy to all eligible employers that are experiencing a decline in revenues. This will help many struggling employers with less than a 30-per-cent revenue loss get support to keep and bring back workers, while also ensuring those who have previously benefited could still qualify, even if their revenues recover and no longer meet the 30 per cent revenue decline threshold.
    • Introduce a top-up subsidy of up to an additional 25 per cent for employers that have been most adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. This will be particularly helpful to employers in industries that are recovering more slowly.
    • Provide certainty to employers that have already made business decisions for July and August by ensuring they will not receive a subsidy rate lower than they would have under the previous rules.
    • Address technical issues with the CEWS identified by stakeholders, for example by providing continuity rules to address circumstances where an employer purchased all or substantially all of another entity’s business assets.
    • Make the proposed amendments to the CEWS previously introduced in Bill C-17, An Act respecting additional COVID-19 measures.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, you must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days. Call a public health authority immediately. Do not visit any healthcare provider in person before you have been directly advised to by public health authorities.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: July 28th, 2020

July 28, 2020 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • The Toronto Board of Trade, in partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada, has launched the Recovery Activation Program (RAP), an immersive online workshop program that connects businesses with industry experts for guidance, mentorship and practical advice about process modernization and end-to-end digital transformation. RAP is now expanding to businesses of all sizes throughout the province. Interested parties can apply here. This program will run monthly until March 2021. RAP Focuses on 5 Key Pillars:
    • Digital Modernization: Harnessing technology to transform internal processes and enhance external business opportunities.
    • Technological Hardware: Learning about digital capacity, backend hardware and risk mitigation techniques for a digital transformation.
    • Structural and Regulatory Alignment: Exploring the legal tools and regulatory requirements for a successful digital restructuring.
    • Digital Restructure Financing: Accessing the right mentors, investors, and resources to prepare businesses to undertake a restructuring.
    • Marketing and Sales: Leveraging data-driven marketing and sales insights to inform a digital transformation.
  • The Ontario government is resuming weekend GO train service to the Niagara region beginning on August 1. New schedules with four trips to and from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines each Saturday, Sunday and holiday will enable convenient day or overnight trips, either in Niagara or Toronto. GO Transit’s partnership with Niagara Parks Commission connects WEGO bus service with the GO trains in Niagara Falls, seamlessly bringing travellers to their final Niagara Falls destinations with no taxis or parking needed. Tourism is a key economic driver in Ontario, supporting more than 400,000 jobs and generating over $36 billion in spending. Niagara’s $2.4-billion tourism industry contributes over 40,000 jobs to the region and attracts more than 13 million tourists every year. Please note that a mask or cloth face covering is now required on GO Transit.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, you must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days. Call a public health authority immediately. Do not visit any healthcare provider in person before you have been directly advised to by public health authorities.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Share this:

Niagara Health Foundation launches Community Lottery with a guaranteed minimum prize of $20,000

July 27, 2020 | Members in the News

Niagara Health Foundation is excited to announce its newest fundraising initiative, the Niagara Health Lottery. The Niagara Health Lottery will open on July 27, 2020, and have a guaranteed minimum prize of $20,000 along with chances to win one (1) of five (5) $1,000 early-bird prizes. The Niagara Health Lottery will be an online 50/50 raffle with tickets available at www.NiagaraHealthLottery.com.

Tickets for the Niagara Health Lottery will be 3 for $10, 40 for $20 and 200 for $50. The deadline for the early bird-draws of five (5) $1,000 prizes will be August 14 at 11:59 pm, with the winners announced on August 15.

The Lottery will have a minimum guaranteed grand prize of $20,000. The tickets will be available for purchase starting July 27 through to August 28 at 5:59 pm. The Lottery will be open to all Niagara and Ontario residents. All proceeds from the Niagara Health Lottery will support patient care at Niagara Health and the Family Resource Centre for the Mental Health & Addictions Program at Niagara Health.

The Family Resource Centre will ensure that patients and families interact with a family engagement partner who has lived experience as a patient, family member or primary caregiver of a patient. The Centre will assist patients in navigating the services and programs available to them and their families at Niagara Health and in the broader Niagara community. Most importantly, it will provide vital connections to supporting families with the tools, confidence and comfort they need to know that they are not alone while supporting their loved ones during their time of need.

“We are excited about the Family Resource Centre and the opportunity to better support patients and families. Family and peer presence in the Centre will assist patients and families in connecting to ongoing resources that will facilitate individual and family recovery. This is a unique initiative that will benefit our program immensely in our ongoing collaborative work with patients and families,” commented Barb Evans, Director Patient Care, Mental Health and Addictions Program, Niagara Health

“We are frequently asked by volunteers, donors and community members if they can participate in our ‘Fast Cash Staff Lottery’ so we felt that we could expand this type of initiative to include everyone in Niagara. We have watched the community rally during the pandemic. We can’t wait to see five lucky winners win $1,000 and, one big winner, win a minimum of $20,000 all while supporting vital patient care and their families at Niagara Health.” said Chris Green, Director of Communications, Marketing & Community Engagement of the Niagara Health Foundation.

About Mental Health and Addictions Program at Niagara Health

Between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 the Mental Health and Addictions Program saw: 10,500 out-patients totaling over 52,000 visits, 2,059 in-patient stays, and over 5,500 psychiatric emergency visits.

About Niagara Health Foundation

Niagara Health Foundation raises funds to support Niagara Health for the advancement of healthcare in Niagara. Supporting Niagara Health in its mission, Niagara Health Foundation raises funds for priority equipment needs, redevelopment projects and patient programs at Niagara Health’s five sites, located in Welland, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Port Colborne, and Fort Erie.

For more information, visit www.NiagaraHealthLottery.com
Lottery license # 12057
Rules of Play: www.NiagaraHealthLottery.com

Share this:

COVID-19 Assessment Centres seeing record number of patient walk-ins for testing

July 24, 2020 | COVID-19 Member News

Niagara Health is seeing record numbers of walk-ins for COVID-19 testing at its three assessment centres as Niagara enters Stage 3 of the province’s Recovery Framework. Walk-ins more than doubled yesterday, totalling a record 251 of the 451 patients tested at the Niagara Falls and St. Catharines centres (Welland is not open on Thursdays). 

Walk-ins have been higher than usual each day this week, ranging from 143 on Monday to 251 patients yesterday. 

To avoid waits, those seeking to be tested are encouraged to book appointments in advance. This is the quickest and easiest way to be tested for the virus. Members of the public can book a test by calling 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19). 

The Assessment Centres in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Sunday, and the Welland Assessment Centre is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Walk-ins are accepted until 4 p.m. each day of operation, however calling in advance remains the most efficient way to be tested for COVID-19. 

Since opening in March, Niagara Health’s Assessment Centres have tested nearly 30,000 patients. 

A toolkit with information about our Assessment Centres, including locations and directions, hours of operation, how to register for a COVID test and accessing test results, is now available on the Niagara Health website. To download the COVID-19 Assessment Centres and Testing Toolkit, click here. 

Media contact:
Caroline Bourque Wiley
Caroline.Bourque-Wiley@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647, ext. 43111; 905-329-9523 

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: July 24th, 2020

July 24, 2020 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • Niagara Region became the latest Niagara municipal government to pass a mask bylaw last night, joining St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The law will come into effect on July 31st and will last until October 1st, unless extended. The bylaw will cover all Niagara municipalities, effectively overriding previous mask bylaws, although it may be overriden in turn by provincial or federal legislation. The bylaw (PDF link) mandates that:
    • Every person within an enclosed public place shall wear a face covering, and every public transit rider must don a mask prior to boarding and keep it on while riding.
    • Parents of children aged 5 or older are responsible for ensuring that the child wears a face covering.
    • As a business, this bylaw applies to your indoor spaces that the public can access, including any that would require a membership (e.g. a gym) or an entrance fee (e.g. a nightclub with a door charge).
    • Face coverings that are not purpose-designed, such as scarves or bandanas, are acceptable as long as they cover the nose and mouth.
    • You must post a sign at every public entrance to your business, have a mask policy, and have trained all your staff on that policy. The Region is working on template policies and signs, and we will let you know when these are available and host them on our site for you.
    • You must provide hand sanitizer with a minimum of 70% alcohol content at all public entrances and exits to your premises.
    • Exemptions are made for:
      • children under 5
      • anyone who can’t wear or put on a face covering owing to a medical condition or a disability recognized under the Ontario Human Rights Code
      • anyone eating or drinking in an establishment permitted to serve food or drink
      • anyone receiving a service that would not be possible while wearing a mask (e.g. dental treatment) provided that everyone except the recipient and provider of the service are a minimum of 2 metres away
      • anyone playing a sport or performing another strenuous activity
      • anyone assisting someone with a hearing disability
      • employees who are behind a physical barrier (e.g. plexiglass screen or a wall) or in a part of the building not open to the public (e.g. back offices or warehouse space).
    • You may not require proof of an exemption, but you are also within your rights to refuse service or entry to a person who is not wearing a mask, even if they claim a disability protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
    • Violating this bylaw can be penalized with a fine of up to $1,000 per offence.
  • Niagara Region Public Health is now operating three testing centres in Niagara (PDF link). The St. Catharines Assessment Centre is located behind the Walker Family Cancer Centre at the rear of the St. Catharines Site at 1200 Fourth Ave, and also operates a drive-through service. The Niagara Falls Assessment Centre is located in the Allied Health building behind the Greater Niagara General Site located at 5673 North Street in Niagara Falls. The Welland Assessment Centre is located in the auditorium of the Welland Site at 65 Third Street. The St. Catharines and Niagara Falls sites are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday, while the Welland centre is open from 9am to 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. To avoid wait times of 30-60 minutes for walk-ins, testing by appointment is recommended. Appointments can be booked by phone at 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19).
  • Niagara Region Public Health strongly recommends that restaurants collect customer names, contact numbers, times of arrival and what table/location they were sitting at, and that they retain that information for six (6) weeks.  This will be a huge help for any potential case and contact tracing, and the recommendation comes out of issues in other areas where large outbreaks have been tracted back to restaurants and bars. The maintenance of a 2 metre separation between people remains the single most effective measure for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
  • Service Canada is offering free webinars from 5 August, 2020 to 27 August, 2020 to provide information about federal government programs and services that could benefit clients including Indigenous peoples, seniors, persons with disabilities, families, youth, workers (including self-employed individuals), employers and newcomers. For more information, email Service Canada.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, you must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days. Call a public health authority immediately. Do not visit any healthcare provider in person before you have been directly advised to by public health authorities.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Share this: