Who do you hire as coun

Pierre Savard defeated St. Pius 4-1 to win the NCSSAA Boys Contact A/AA hockey championship played last week at the Walter Baker Centre in Barrhaven. Sebastiano Mariani scored twice for Savard with Liam Duperre and Eric Shaughnessy also scoring. Jeff Morris photo

Closures, precautions in community as Barrhaven battles COVID-19

By Charlie Sena k

As the number COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Ottawa, Nepean MPP and Minister of Heritage, Sports, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lisa MacLeod issued a statement alongside Ontario health minister Christine Elliot.

In the statement made on March 13, MacLeod said COVID-19 is having a strong impact on the Heritage, Sport, and Tourism industries, but the Ontario government is taking proactive steps to keep it afloat.

“As a measure of prudence, the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture industries has convened a series of advisory groups with leading sector stakeholders in Ontario’s $74-billion heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries to ensure the government is provided with the post up-to-date information of economics,” MacLeod and Elliot said in the statement.

The statement goes on to say that the government is in close communication with organizations such as professional and amateur sports organizations, airlines, hotels, and others to gather information on attendance records, revenue and economic impacts.

“We are also speaking regularly with our agencies and attractions to proactively initiate the latest health, safety, and cleanliness protocols to protect the public and staff members,” the statement read. On the same day museums in Ottawa announced that they would close due to safety concerns — and the City of Ottawa announced all City recreation and culture facilities — including libraries — will be closed starting Monday, March 16 until at least April 5 as a precautionary measure to the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes the Walter Baker Centre, Nepean Sportsplex and the Ruth E. Dickinson Library.

Schools in Ontario will also be closed for at least two weeks after March Break, also not re-opening until April 5. This measure was implemented with the fear of families not listing to the government of Canada’s call to avoid travel, and bring the illness back with them. People can carry COVID-19 for up to 14 days.

All of this is having an impact on local businesses who are also putting precautions in place. Anabia Cupcakes in Barrhaven has decided to serve all drinks in disposable cups, all food on a napkin or in a takeout container, and will also not be accepting cash.

Movie theatres including Cineplex in Barrhaven have decided to reduce the number of tickets they sell, lowering their number of seats by a minimum of 50 per cent. It is expected that you sit a minimum of one metre away from someone to risk exposure of germs. All studies have shown that COVID-19 is not airborne yet is spread through droplet and contact.

The Barrhaven BIA has also announced that they are either cancelling or postponing all of their events between now and April 5 to keep everyone’s health wellbeing at mind.

“This includes our Networking After Work event on March 24th and Barrhaven’s Downtown Open House on March 28th,” they said in a Facebook post.

On social media people have been posting pictures of bare shelves at local grocery stores including at Loblaws and Costco in Barrhaven where toilet paper, cleaning materials and masks were quickly sold out.

On March 13, Costco was forced to close its doors for over an hour after the fire marshal shut them down due to the number of people in the store. Shoppers said they waited in line for over an hour and had to fight their way through the crowds to get back into the parking lot. At its peak it’s reported that over 600 people were entering the Barrhaven location every hour.

It’s safe to donate blood during COVID-19

Canadian Blood Services is concerned by a recent spike in appointment cancellations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the organization responsible for the national blood system outside Quebec, we are determined to keep our promise to help every patient, match every need and serve every Canadian. To do that we require the ongoing generosity and commitment of donors.

“Patients depend on these lifesaving donations,” says Dr. Isra Levy, Canadian Blood Services’ vice-president of medical affairs and innovation. “Every day they are needed for patients undergoing surgery and cancer treatment, as well as to save lives following traumas such as motor vehicle accidents.”

Canadian Blood Services operates a national blood inventory where products are regularly shifted around the country to meet hospital and patient needs. The inventory is currently strong, but the recent increase in cancellations is worrying, particularly in light of the blood shortages already being reported in other countries affected by COVID-19. Donating blood in Canada continues to be safe. Our robust cleaning and infection-control practices protect all donors, staff and volunteers. All prospective donors are also carefully screened for any symptoms of illness, including very mild ones. This screening occurs during both appointment booking and upon arrival at the donor centre or event. Those with any symptoms are not allowed to donate blood and are instructed not to visit.

“Our donor centres are islands of wellness within Canada’s health system,” says Dr. Levy, a public health expert and a former medical officer of health for the city of Ottawa. “They are not places where sick people gather.”

More information on COVID-19 is available at blood. ca/covid19. To make an appointment to donate, download the GiveBlood app, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or book now at blood.ca. Walk-in appointments are also available at all locations.