24 Fraser Rd Leamington
519-322-2551
Leamington
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PLUMBING • HEATING • HVAC SERVICES •
Vol. 11, Issue 09
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic
519-326-9010
FREE
KIDS Province declares state of emergency
EA$ T for
2
EVERY Y WEDNESDA
26 Erie St. N., leamington
519.322.0032
remains committed to bringing you the local news and the paper will continue to be published. However, at this time we will be closing our office to the public until further notice. We are doing this as a result of the large number of people who visit our office on a regular basis, including many older individuals, and also because we have a number of employees who have family members with compromised immune systems. In the meantime, we can be reached at 519-398-9098 and sun@southpointsun.ca.
We thank you for your understanding.
Editor’s note: The past few days have been The Leamington branch of the Essex trying for all of us. News releases and confer- County Library is also closed. ences from all levels of government have made Effective Wednesday, Parks Canada has it clear that COVID-19 should not be taken suspended visitor entry into all National lightly. At the Southpoint Sun, we have done Parks, including Point Pelee. our best to gather the most up-to-date inforIN KINGSVILLE mation available, knowing full well that inforAll town-run facilities are closed and mation is changing rapidly. any events upcoming are cancelled. The Parents, businesses and travellers are Kingsville branch of the Essex County scrambling this week to change the way Library is closed. Non-essential meetings they live after the COVID-19 pandemic have been postponed and although town reached Canadian shores. hall and the Kingsville Arena lobby are Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a open, residents are strongly encouraged state of emergency in Ontario early Tues- to access information by phone or on the day morning, mandating closures of cer- town’s website, www.kingsville.ca tain types of businesses but being clear IN WHEATLEY that “this is NOT a provincial shutdown.” All Chatham-Kent libraries and arenas The federal and provincial govern- are closed effective Tuesday morning. ments have been at the forefront of the Check the website at www.chatham-kent. fight against the virus, with the municipal ca if you have any questions. levels following their lead and advising IT’S A DIFFERENT WORLD the public to ‘do their part.’ Closures and restrictions were becomWith Ford’s announcement Tuesday, it ing apparent throughout the district by has effectively forced the dine-in closure Tuesday morning. Tim Hortons and Mcof bars and restaurants and cancellation Donalds both closed their dining areas of events, and self-isolation if you return and were allowing take-out and drivefrom a trip outside of Canada, no matter thru only. Many other restaurants were where you went. doing the same. At press time, Windsor-Essex and Schools across Canada are closed for Chatham-Kent did not have any March Break this week, and “It’s everyone’s will follow up with a twocases of COVID-19, but testing continues and cases are expected responsibly to do week hiatus beginning next to pop up in the near future. week, as it gives anyone their part in Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical reducing the who travelled outside of the Officer of Health for Windsorcountry an opportunity to spread of Essex, said on Monday that the make sure they aren’t carryCOVID-19” most important thing you can do ing the virus. is stay home if you are sick. While this presents a Janice Dawson “Wash your hands early and quandary for working paroften, and most importantly, stay ents, the governments are home if you are sick,” he said. asking that you keep your children home Dr. Ahmed also advises the public to and let them enjoy the confines of their stay away from large crowds. own back yard. This sentiment was echoed at every All long-term care facilities are closed to level of government as Prime Minister visitors. Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford ERIE SHORES HEALTHCARE both held news conferences on Monday. At Erie Shores HealthCare, visitors All of the agencies urged social distanc- have been restricted to one visitor per paing to ‘flatten the curve’ of the virus as the tient, with no visitors under 18 allowed. number of cases rise. Visiting hours remain unchanged. IN LEAMINGTON According to Director of CommunicaThe Municipality of Leamington has tions, Arms Bumanlag, that may change announced that all of their facilities, in- if needed. cluding the Leamington Kinsmen Recre“We strongly encourage all of our comation Complex (LKRC), were closed as of munities to check out our newsroom at Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m., until at least www.erieshoreshealthcare.ca for the latApril 6. All programs are discontinued est and follow us on social media on Faceduring that time. book, Twitter and Instagram,” he said. The Leamington Municipal Building is Erie Shores HealthCare CEO Janice alo closed. Visit www.leamington.ca for Dawson spoke to the Sun about the possifurther details. bility of a testing centre being set up here.
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Visitors and patients arriving at Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington will be greeted by a screening process, as pictured above. (submitted photo)
“Yes, we have had conversations with Ontario Health regarding hosting an Assessment Center at ESHC. However, at this time – we have not been approved by the Ministry of Health to open the Assessment Center. We await further direction from the Ministry of Health”, she said. Further, Dawson urged everyone to do their part. “We are working closely with our partners in Windsor and have a seat at the local and regional table. As things change and directives evolve – we will communicate to our community what changes are occurring at ESHC. It is our utmost priority that the hospital is doing everything possible to keep our patients and staff safe. And we kindly ask our communities do the same. It’s everyone’s responsibly to do their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19”, she said. WHAT TO DO? If you suspect you have symptoms indicating a possible COVID-19 infection, refer to the Windsor Essex County Health Unit’s guidelines by isolating yourself from others and immediately calling your healthcare professional or the Health Unit at 519-258-2146 extension 1420. Or visit their website at www.wechu.org SOME GOOD NEWS For seniors needing necessities but cannot get out, or are afraid to access the grocery stores, there is help available on Facebook. A local group has started a page for this service, all run by volunteers. Visit the Facebook page ‘Seniors needing necessities during coronavirus.’ Help is there if you need it.
To Our Valued Customers, Sadly, due to current circumstances, our Spring Open House on April 4th has been cancelled. The health and safety of our customers and employees are our main priority. Please note that the shop will remain open and we will continue to deliver, however we will take it day by day. Stay healthy friends xo
Krissy Thiessen & Design Team
