Dear friends and neighbours of Haliburton County,
As we head into winter, I wanted to provide you with an update about our continued response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Some may have noticed activity around our facilities in Minden and Haliburton. We are completing some renovations at
the Minden site, in order to ensure we are prepared in the case that there is a surge of local COVID-19 patients. There
has also been a new mobile parked in our back lot at the Haliburton site, which is going to house a change room and
shower stalls for acute care staff. It also has additional capacity for meeting space in the future.
You may have also noticed that the COVID-19 Assessment Centre shifted into a new trailer earlier this year, and our legal
team is just in the midst of reviewing a new memorandum of understanding between the organizations staffing the
centre. We expect this review will be completed in short order, and that the Assessment Centre will continue to run
through the winter.
As well, I wanted to remind everyone that our COVID-19 visitor policies for our Long-Term Care homes (Hyland Crest and
Highland Wood) remain the same, and there have been no changes to outings or frequency of testing for staff and
visitors at our facilities at the present time. However, essential caregivers and general visitors are now required to
provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on a biweekly basis to continue with visits. We are also asking those planning
short stay outings with our residents to undertake them with an abundance of caution, including maintaining measures
like wearing masks, social distancing whenever possible, and frequent hand hygiene.
Finally, you may have heard today that Haliburton County, as part of the HKPR District, will move to the ‘Yellow-Protect’
zone in terms of the Ontario COVID-19 response framework this coming Monday, December 7th. With the prevalence of
the virus across the province rising, lockdowns in other regions, and the holiday season upon us, this is no surprise. For
more information about this change and what it means for restrictions in our region, please visit our Health Unit’s
website at www.hkpr.on.ca.
Just as I ask our staff to remain cautious about their infection control and prevention measures, I am also respectfully
asking this of our community. Measures like wearing masks, social distancing, limiting trips outside the home, limiting
visitors to your home, avoiding social gatherings, and frequent washing of your hands are so important to limiting the
spread of COVID-19. I know there will be brighter (and warmer!) days ahead for us all, and I remain deeply grateful for
everything our community continues to do to protect the health and safety of our staff, patients, residents, families,
friends, and neighbours.
Take care,
Carolyn Plummer
President & CEO
As we head into winter, I wanted to provide you with an update about our continued response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Some may have noticed activity around our facilities in Minden and Haliburton. We are completing some renovations at
the Minden site, in order to ensure we are prepared in the case that there is a surge of local COVID-19 patients. There
has also been a new mobile parked in our back lot at the Haliburton site, which is going to house a change room and
shower stalls for acute care staff. It also has additional capacity for meeting space in the future.
You may have also noticed that the COVID-19 Assessment Centre shifted into a new trailer earlier this year, and our legal
team is just in the midst of reviewing a new memorandum of understanding between the organizations staffing the
centre. We expect this review will be completed in short order, and that the Assessment Centre will continue to run
through the winter.
As well, I wanted to remind everyone that our COVID-19 visitor policies for our Long-Term Care homes (Hyland Crest and
Highland Wood) remain the same, and there have been no changes to outings or frequency of testing for staff and
visitors at our facilities at the present time. However, essential caregivers and general visitors are now required to
provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on a biweekly basis to continue with visits. We are also asking those planning
short stay outings with our residents to undertake them with an abundance of caution, including maintaining measures
like wearing masks, social distancing whenever possible, and frequent hand hygiene.
Finally, you may have heard today that Haliburton County, as part of the HKPR District, will move to the ‘Yellow-Protect’
zone in terms of the Ontario COVID-19 response framework this coming Monday, December 7th. With the prevalence of
the virus across the province rising, lockdowns in other regions, and the holiday season upon us, this is no surprise. For
more information about this change and what it means for restrictions in our region, please visit our Health Unit’s
website at www.hkpr.on.ca.
Just as I ask our staff to remain cautious about their infection control and prevention measures, I am also respectfully
asking this of our community. Measures like wearing masks, social distancing, limiting trips outside the home, limiting
visitors to your home, avoiding social gatherings, and frequent washing of your hands are so important to limiting the
spread of COVID-19. I know there will be brighter (and warmer!) days ahead for us all, and I remain deeply grateful for
everything our community continues to do to protect the health and safety of our staff, patients, residents, families,
friends, and neighbours.
Take care,
Carolyn Plummer
President & CEO