Region announces emergency childcare plan, urges people to avoid groups
CBC News | Posted: March 27, 2020 5:38 PM | Last Updated: March 27, 2020
Large gatherings still happening in the region, says medical officer of health Hsiu-Li Wang
The region's acting medical officer of health is urging people to stay home and avoid faith-based gatherings this weekend to avoid spreading COVID-19.
Hsiu-Li Wang says the region has gotten "a lot" of calls about large gatherings that are still happening, including those organized by faith groups, despite the fact she told churches and other faith settings to close last week.
She urged religious leaders to explore virtual options and think of ways they can support their communities that don't involve meeting in person.
"It is more important now than ever that we do what we can to encourage and enable our residents to stay home when they do not need to be out," Wang told reporters Friday.
All gatherings that are not essential should be suspended, even if they involve fewer than 50 people, she said.
Number of cases up to 69
As of Friday morning, the region is up to 69 confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19, Wang said. Of those cases, 33 have been confirmed positive and 36 are presumptive.
Of that total, 11 cases are in hospital.
In the region, 1,463 people have been tested with 901 people being confirmed negative and officials still awaiting the results for 493 tests. Public health is monitoring 562 cases.
One case has been considered resolved, Wang said.
"We should all take precautions and assume that we could encounter COVID-19 across our region," she said.
Ontario currently has a backlog on test results, with people waiting at least four days between test and result.
Region of Waterloo Public Health says on its website it is taking five to seven days to receive test results from the Public Health Ontario lab.
'Physical distancing' not 'social distancing'
Wang said she is changing the language she uses around the distance people should keep from one another. She is now calling for people to observe "physical distancing" instead of "social distancing."
Both terms refer to the same concept of staying home whenever possible and keeping a distance of two metres from others.
The change in language clarifies that people can still maintain social ties through phone calls and virtual meetings but should limit trips outside the home and physical contact to what is absolutely necessary.
In advance of the weekend, Wang said people should try to limit walks, runs and bike rides on local pathways to what they feel is essential. She recommended people try to time their outings to when others won't be outside.
Emergency childcare for critical workers
Emergency care for children whose parents work in critical services will be available through the Region of Waterloo beginning late next week, the region said Friday.
The childcare will be run out of the Edith MacIntosh Children's Centre in Kitchener and the Christopher Children's Centre in Cambridge, both of which are owned by the region.
The region will also draw on its licensed home child care if needed, the region's director of children's services Barbara Cardow told CBC News.
The program is aimed at parents who work in critical services and who have exhausted all other possibilities.
"We recognize that the best place for children really is in their own home," Cardow said. "This emergency care is for when there is no other option."
A list of critical jobs and an application form are available on the region's website.
Children from birth to age 12 are eligible.
Cardow said the centres and home caregivers will screen children, parents and staff daily for symptoms of COVID-19.
They will also ramp up their cleaning and sanitizing procedures, spend more time outside and follow modified physical distancing guidelines.
For example, children in the two centres will be placed in smaller-than-usual groups and will avoid coming into physical contact with children outside of those groups.
Children will be matched with childcare options based on a variety of factors, such as their age and the hours of care needed, Cardow said.
The care will be free to parents with fees being paid by the Ministry of Education.
Business and economic support team
On Friday, the region announced help for local businesses dealing with the challenges of COVID-19.
The Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region is a joint project between the region, the seven area municipalities and the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation.
Representatives from the Cambridge and Greater KW Chambers of Commerce and Communitech are also on the leadership team, according to a news release from the region.
The plan is for the team to serve as a point of contact between local businesses and different levels of government, the team's chair Tony LaMantia said in a statement.
The region's chief administrative officer, Mike Murray, said the region will soon announce details for an emergency childcare initiative, aimed at kids whose parents work in essential services.