By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Vaccines rolling out across county The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference with acting medical officer of health Dr.…
Fleming College receives $336,000 to bolster mental health…
By Mike Baker With many post-secondary students across the province struggling to adapt to new learning protocols brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government is stepping in to provide additional funding for programs…
The Past Year of a Pandemic: Community reflects…
By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. In Haliburton County, 51 cases of COVID-19 and one death due to…
Haliburton County reports first death due to COVID-19
By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A resident of Haliburton County has died due to COVID-19, according to an epidemiological report update from the health unit on March 4. The death marks the first…
Fourteen variants of concern identified in region
By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Fourteen additional variants of concern have been identified in COVID-19 cases in the region, that number more than doubling last week from five last Monday to 12 on…
HCDC provides millions in loans during pandemic
By Chad Ingram The Haliburton County Development Corporation has provided millions of dollars in loans to local businesses since the COVID-19 pandemic began nearly a year ago.“Basically as soon as the pandemic hit, I got…
High demand for holiday homes driven by pandemic
By Darren Lum Finding that perfect spot on a lakefront in cottage country will be even more elusive than ever before thanks to unprecedented demand this year spurred by a desire to get away following…
Vaccine roll-out: ‘trickle is starting to turn into…
By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The following are brief reports from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference with Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health, held on Feb.…
Board of health advocating for paid sick day…
By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Acknowledging the difficulty in staying at home and self-isolating for people who do not have paid sick leave benefits, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit’s board…
Region sees 1,000th case of COVID-19
By Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference held virtually Feb. 17. The health unit marked a milestone over this…
Students displaying symptoms told to stay home for…
By Mike Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Ontario government has introduced changes to the COVID-19 school screening protocol, now calling on students who display even a single symptom to stay home for at least…
New Nick Russell album to be released next…
By Chad Ingram Virtuosic Haliburton Highlands guitarist Nick Russell is dropping a new album March 1.Entitled ARCHTOP, the album takes its name from the 1949 Gibson L-7 guitar Russell used throughout its recording. Archtop guitars…
Second Talk with the Doc meeting planned for…
By Sue Tiffin Members of the public can now connect directly with the health unit’s acting medical officer of health and have questions related to COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic answered in ‘Talk with the…
Six additional variants of concern identified in health…
By Sue Tiffin Staff reporter This story was updated after a regularly scheduled Feb. 24 press conference held by Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Pine Ridge district.…
Families react to decision to delay March Break
By Mike Baker The Ontario government’s recent decision to postpone March Break for all students and teachers across the province has received a mixed response from families throughout Haliburton County.Last Thursday [Feb. 11], Ontario’s education…
Lockdown over, but risk not diminished: MOH
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference held virtually Feb. 10. As of Feb. 16, Ontario’s stay-at-home orders will be lifted and public…
Haliburton County to remain in lockdown until at…
By Mike Baker The provincial stay-at-home order will remain in place for residents of Haliburton County for at least another week.Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Monday [Feb. 8] that the lockdown had been extended…
HHHS confirms negative results for COVID-19 testing of…
Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) confirmed on Sunday [Feb. 7] that the COVID-19 tests of all staff at Hyland Crest in Minden have come back negative.“Obviously this is a tremendous relief for everyone but it…
Variants not yet identified in Haliburton County
By Sue Tiffin As of last Wednesday, the public health unit was responding to nine outbreaks at long-term care homes, including one at Hyland Crest in Minden where two essential caregivers tested positive.Gemmill said of…
COVID-19 outbreak declared at Hyland Crest
By Sue Tiffin A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden on Sunday [Jan. 31]. Two essential caregivers have tested positive for the virus. The outbreak is the first for…
COVID-19 vaccine administered at Extendicare Haliburton, second batch…
By Mike Baker 42 residents of Extendicare Haliburton were among the first county residents to be vaccinated on Friday [Jan. 29].There were plenty of smiling faces on show as some of the community’s most senior…