City of Sarnia: COVID-19 Update – January 19th 2021
Press Release
The Sarnia Primary Control Group (SPCG) met electronically with staff from the County of Lambton, Bluewater Health, and Point Edward regarding developments related to COVID-19.
The Lambton Public Health (LPH) has been working with stakeholders to formalize a COVID-19 immunization roll-out plan for Sarnia-Lambton. Full details of the plan will be presented to Lambton County Council through a special meeting scheduled January 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. This meeting will be livestreamed for public viewing.
Access the meeting agenda and livestream link here: http://www.lambtononline.ca/meetings
LPH has noted they are working closely with Bluewater Health to plan for secure vaccine storage, and while an exact date is unknown, plans are based on receiving the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine for Sarnia-Lambton the week of February 1, 2021.
Dr. Ranade, Medical Officer of Health, provided a video presentation to Long Term Care and Retirement Home staff on January 14, 2021. Checkout the helpful information for our entire community to learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, safety and effectiveness, areas of uncertainty, Sarnia-Lambton vaccine rollout plan, and additional considerations. View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZaSY3cO2uE&feature=emb_title
The first phase of the plan will be to vaccinate the most vulnerable group, the residents and staff of Long Term Care and Retirement Homes. Lambton Public Health staff are actively working with these groups to ensure that residents and staff are ready to receive the vaccine.
As vaccine supply increases, the immunization campaign will expand accordingly. Timelines are approximate and subject to vaccine supply availability. Updates and more specifics will be added as information becomes available.
Additional priority groups that will follow vaccination of Long Term Care and Retirement Homes:
- Health Care Workers
- Other congregate care settings
- First Nations
- Older adults
As vaccine supply increases at the later phases the general population will have access through multiple locations, multiple immunizers including primary care providers and pharmacists, etc. Vaccination is part of the solution to reduce community transmission.
It is important to continue to follow public health advice and take everyday actions to help stop the spread of the virus. For more information visit: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/
Provincial Update:
On January 16, the Ontario government, extended most orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA) for another 30 days.
As of Thursday, January 14, 2021 a stay-at-home order came into effect requiring everyone in Ontario to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes (i.e., trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care, for exercise, or essential work).
Individuals are now required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Additionally, a mask is now recommended outdoors when physical distancing of two metres is not possible.
New enforcement measures are set to allow Provincial offences officers, including Police, Municipal Bylaw officers, and First Nations Constables to issue tickets to individuals, employees, or corporations who do not comply with the stay-at-home order. Additionally, all enforcement personnel now have the authority to close a premise or disperse individuals in contravention of an order.
The Province has updated the essential business list. For more information, call the “Stop the Spread” business information line.
The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development launched the “Stay Safe All Day” campaign that focuses workplace inspections in areas of high transmission (i.e., lunch or break rooms).
The COVID-19 Ontario Regulations under the ROA and Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people’s mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. In addition to limiting outings to essential trips, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.
The Ontario government has issued an emergency order to temporarily pause the enforcement of residential evictions to make sure that people are not forced to leave their homes during this provincial declaration of emergency and while the stay-at-home-order is in force.
A full list of emergency orders under the EMPCA as well as orders under the ROA can be found on the e-Laws website. For more information:
- Ontario regulation 10/21 under Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 Amending O. Reg. 82/20 RULES FOR AREAS IN STAGE 1 Filed: January 13, 2021
- Ontario regulation 11/21 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act O. Reg. 11/21 STAY-AT-HOME ORDER Filed: January 13, 2021
- Ontario regulation 12/21 made under the Provincial Offences Act Amending Reg. 950 of R.R.O. 1990 Filed: January 13, 2021 PROCEEDINGS COMMENCED BY CERTIFICATE OF OFFENCE – offences under an EMCPA order
- Ontario regulation 13/21 made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act O. Reg. 13/21 RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS Filed: January 13, 2021
The Ontario government has opened applications for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant. The grant, first announced in December, provides a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000 to eligible small businesses who have had to restrict their operations due to the Provincewide Shutdown.
Local Update
City Hall and other facilities remain closed to the public; however, services are available online, over the phone and by email during business hours: https://www.sarnia.ca/comment/.
We encourage the community to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful parks and trails the City has to offer, however it remains imperative that citizens do not treat these spaces as destinations and avoid congregating or gatherings.
Sarnia Transit bus routes are in full operation. We encourage riders to use services for essential trips only, requiring passengers to wear face coverings.
To find the right supports, visit COVID-19: Support for People, which has information about the many available and free mental health services and supports.
Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms, options to get tested, and details about current case counts, outbreaks and trends from the COVID-19 status dashboard and surveillance reports at LambtonPublicHealth.ca.
For more information on COVID-19, visit:
- City of Sarnia website: https://www.sarnia.ca/covid-19/
- Facility closures and a list of financial supports and resources are listed on the Lambton County website: https://www.lambtononline.ca/en/resident-services/covid-19.aspx
- Lambton Public Health website, including local COVID-19 Testing Assessment Centres: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca and COVID-19 Case Map
- Public Health Ontario website: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/
- Province of Ontario website: www.ontario.ca/coronavirus
- Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine web page to view the latest provincial data and information on COVID-19 vaccines.
- Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
Businesses also have the right to create additional standards over and above this by-law,
Business owners/operators are not expected to engage in confrontations with members of the public who are not wearing a face covering. We suggest business owners/operators politely remind patrons of the By-law requirement.
Businesses also have the right to create additional standards over and above this by-law, pursuant to the Trespass to Property Act and their responsibilities under the Occupier’s Liability Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Residents must supply their own face covering. Some business owners/operators will supply masks but they are not required to do so.Residents must supply their own face covering. Some business owners/operators will supply masks but they are not required to do so.As of 11:30 a.m. on January 19 the SPCG can report that:
Summary of COVID-19 cases in Lambton County
| Confirmed Cases | 1,675 |
| Resolved Cases | 1,418 |
| Deaths | 33 |
| Active Cases | 223 |
| Current Active Outbreaks | 13 |
| Incidence Rate per 100,000 – Week of January 3- 9, 2021 | 226 |
| Percent Positive – Week of January 3- 9, 2021 | 6.2 |
By-Law Enforcement COVID-19 Reporting System
| Total number of complaints and inquiries received | 1,589 |
| Total number of emails received | 1,343 |
| Total number of phone calls received | 246 |
| Total number of fines issued | 5 |
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For further information, please contact:
City of Sarnia, Customer Service
customerservice@sarnia.ca or 519-332-0330 Ext. 3131
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