By Sue Tiffin On Jan. 13, at the first of a planned series of weekly media teleconferences launched last week, Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district…
Cancellation of February Frost Fest confirmed
By Darren Lum With outdoor activities such as dogsledding, ice-climbing, and bonfire feasting where the young and young at heart would eat s’mores by a fire, the Frost Festival always brought joy to Haliburton.Its venue…
Vaccine ‘likely’ not available in Haliburton until the…
By Mike Baker While rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is well underway in some parts of Ontario, one local doctor, as well as the acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge…
2020 the year of the pandemic, but not…
By Mike Baker Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott says “there is light at the end of the tunnel” as communities all across Ontario continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.Speaking to the Echo, a…
Reach out to help others, help yourself, support…
By Sue Tiffin While the new year might have started with hope and a new calendar, it also continues in the second wave of the pandemic that began almost a year ago, a crisis causing…
Clearing the air about aerosol cleaning for COVID-19
By Darren Lum With so much information out there in the public pertaining to what to do or not to do to protect against contracting the coronavirus, it’s difficult to know where to turn. Sometimes…
Health unit produces COVID-19 information videos
A series of videos featuring acting local medical officer of health Dr. Ian Gemmill have been uploaded to the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit YouTube channel.“The health unit produced these videos as a…
Schools to remain closed until Jan. 25 as…
By Sue Tiffin On the same day the province reported a single-day record of 3,519 new cases of COVID-19, as well as a record high number of 89 deaths, Ontario's chief medical officer of health…
Ontario initiates provincewide lockdown, taking effect Dec. 26
By Mike Baker The Ontario government is introducing a new province-wide lockdown in response to escalating cases of COVID-19.During the announcement on Monday, Dec. 21, Premier Doug Ford said a 28-day lockdown would begin in…
Health unit advising people ‘stay safe and stay…
By Sue Tiffin “Home for the holidays” is a saying with extra meaning in 2020, according to the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District acting medical officer of health, Dr. Ian Gemmill.“With COVID-19 cases circulating and…
COVID-19 deals blow to Haliburton Forest’s Poker Run
By Darren Lum COVID-19 has delivered a fatal blow to what would have been the 30th annual Poker Run, traditionally hosted by the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve every February.With rising cases of the coronavirus…
Privacy a concern for local health unit when…
By Sue Tiffin With each update of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the area from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit, comments from the public regarding their questions and concerns – namely, why…
All eyes on the UK
By Mike Baker Is anyone else at least a little bit surprised by the news that a COVID-19 vaccine could be readily available on these shores before the end of the year? And we’re not…
Haliburton moves into Ontario’s COVID-19 ‘Yellow’ zone
By Mike Baker New COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of people allowed at social gatherings and tightening regulations on bars and restaurants are being implemented across Haliburton County this week. It was revealed on Friday,…
Raising money and spirits through HHSS online auction
By Darren LumHigh school students are welcoming the public to participate in an online auction that will help to raise the spirits of this year’s graduating students, who have endured the challenges of attending school…
BIA, Lions Club calling on community to help…
By Mike Baker Two local organizations are encouraging area residents to help keep the Christmas spirit alive in Haliburton this festive season.The Haliburton and District Lions Club is teaming up with the Haliburton Village Business…
TLDSB equity task force lifts off
The following are brief reports of items discussed at the board of trustees meeting of Trillium Lakelands District School Board on Nov. 24. By Jenn Watt The school board has taken the first necessary steps…
Sweet support for Bitter Lake food drive
By Darren Lum The community members of the Bitter Lake, Burdock Lake and Long Lake area are putting their hearts towards a food drive to help residents that use the Haliburton food bank.Leading the charge…
Christmas happenings and a chance to win
By Angelica IngramA lot has changed in the past eight months and this column is just one example of something that’s different in Haliburton Village. As you may recall, the last time you read BIA…
Health unit staff give insight into contact tracing
By Jenn Watt While the task of COVID-19 case and contact management may be complicated and time consuming for staff at the local health unit, it’s also an emotional job, the board of health heard…
Some in-school public health services on hold
By Jenn Watt Some vaccinations and screening programs typically administered in schools have been relocated to health unit offices or put on hold for the 2020/2021 school year, members of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge…