Today’s Northumberland reached out to the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit to see what their COVID-19 enforcement stats and activities have been during the pandemic.
Today’s Northumberland would like to thank HKPR District Health Unit Manager of Health Protection, Bernie Mayer for his help in getting the information.
HKPR Enforcement/Inspection Activities
COVID-19 has impacted all of us in the past 10 months. With the many pandemic restrictions, control measures and emergency orders put in place since March 2020, much of the COVID-19 work carried out by HKPR District Health Unit staff has centred on inspection and enforcement.
Our team of Public Health Inspectors have been particularly busy these past 10 months doing the following:
· Ensuring local businesses and workplaces that operate during COVID-19 do so safely and follow all public health guidelines/regulations.
· Responding to public complaints about COVID-19 breaches and field specific questions from businesses/workplaces about compliance.
· Enforcing COVID-19 restrictions and rules, by working in close collaboration with OPP, Municipal Police Services and local by-law officers to ensure compliance with all emergency orders.
When it comes to COVID-19, our approach has been ‘progressive enforcement’ — educate, warn and then enforcement. However, given that people and businesses should be aware by now of the requirements to prevent COVID-19, the Office of the Solicitor General has instructed there be fewer warnings and a tougher line taken.
Here is some information and statistics that highlight some of the Health Unit’s COVID-19 enforcement and inspection activities during the pandemic. You may also want to check with the OPP, local police services and municipal bylaw enforcement officers, as they have been key partners in helping to charge/enforce COVID-19 rules (and have done so in a number of cases):
· From January to September 2020, HKPR Public Health Inspectors responded to 1,468 calls/complaints pertaining to various COVID-19 issues. (NOTE: This stat applies across all three counties – Northumberland County, Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes)
· From January to September 2020, HKPR staff conducted 73 investigations at personal care services/businesses in the tri-county area as a result of COVID-19 complaints. These personal services include: tattooing, body piercing, hairdressing, barbering, waxing, electrolysis, manicures and pedicures.
· Public Health Inspectors also conducted pre-opening inspections for dozens of local child-care centres in the three counties to ensure compliance with the new COVID-19 guidance documents
· Since the start of the pandemic, Public Health Inspectors have also provided information, resources and guidance documents for different sectors, including:
Homeless shelters and other group settings
Farmers markets/special events
Housing service providers
Migrant farms
Day camps
Child-care facilities
Personal service settings (e.g. nail salons, hair salons, tattoo studios)
Food premises/restaurants
Community gardens
Schools
Trailer parks and short-term rentals
Golf course and marinas
In terms of COVID-19 enforcement activities (since March 2020), Health Unit staff have also done the following:
· Laid two COVID-19 related charges in Northumberland:
One charge for Northumberland resident not quarantining/isolating as required
One charge against Northumberland business for not complying with COVID-19 rules
· Issued dozens of warnings and directions to local businesses and organizations to ensure COVID-19 compliance
· Issued three orders (under Health Protection and Promotion Act, Sec. 13) to Northumberland businesses to remain closed for health hazards relating to COVID-19
· Delivered 24 ‘Section 22’ letters to residents in the Health Unit region (of which 16 were delivered in Northumberland County). These letters inform the individuals that they MUST isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19, as directed by public health staff. These letters contain copies of the Health Unit’s Section 22 Class Order (issued under the Health Protection and Promotion Act) that states people can face daily fines for failing to obey the legal rules.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
