By James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Respiratory illnesses continue to surge at the four health care facilities in the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s catchment area. Dr. Nicole Bocking, the unit’s medical…
Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines available
Local families encouraged to make informed decision about vaccinations for children As of 8 a.m. today (July 28), parents and caregivers of children aged six months to under five years are now able to book…
Decrease in COVID-19 prior to possible fall increase
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference with medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking, held virtually on June 1 . The health…
Sixth COVID-19 wave has peaked: MOH
The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit board of health meeting held virtually on May 19. By Sue Tiffin Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health, gave a…
HHHS responds to community concerns about emergency department…
By Sue Tiffin Responding to growing community concern that Minden hospital has been given a closure date, Haliburton Highlands Health Services CAO and president Carolyn Plummer told the Times, “No closure or service reduction decisions…
MOH strongly recommends indoor masks
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports of a letter penned by medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking on April 20, and items discussed at the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit…
‘Fairly significant increase’ in COVID-19 activity: health unit
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference with medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking, held virtually on April 6. “When we saw…
HHHS planning around physician and nurse shortage
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports of items discussed during a March 24 virtual meeting of the Haliburton Highlands Health Services board. HHHS has continued to face nursing and physician staff shortages…
County council plans May 11 return to in-person…
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports of items discussed during a March 23 committee of the whole meeting and recommended to be approved by county council. With all provincial restrictions related to COVID-19…
Health unit responds to government’s lifting of restrictions
The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit press conference held March 9 with medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking. By Sue Tiffin An acceleration of the lifting…
Mask mandates lifted later this month
Ontario is lifting mask mandates for most indoor public settings as of March 21, with the remaining COVID-19 regulations to be lifted at the end of April. Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran…
Dorset tower to reopen
By Sue Tiffin After two years of closure, Dorset tower will be open to visitors once again. Additionally, recreational programming in Algonquin Highlands that has been altered or cancelled throughout the pandemic will be running…
Kinmount Fair announces return for 150th celebration
By Jerelyn Craden The Kinmount Fair is coming back after a two year pause due to the pandemic, and its new theme is history-making: Celebrating 150 years. “Thirteen fairs [throughout Ontario] have dissolved over the…
Health unit nearly balances budget prior to new…
By Stephen Petrick The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit will have an almost balanced budget as it moves into a new fiscal year. It’s a positive sign for an institution which bore a…
Vulnerable groups have faced greater hardships during pandemic,…
By Stephen Petrick The COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a lesson on how vulnerable populations are put at more risk than other groups when health emergencies occur. That’s the message delivered by members of the…
Minden’s vaccination clinic to run until March 24
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference held Feb. 16 with medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking, and press releases distributed by…
Multiple indicators showing Omicron wave plateau
By Sue Tiffin The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit press conference with medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking, held virtually on Feb. 9. “We are seeing…
Staff shortages could cause temporary library closures
Board members broach topic of reducing number of branches By Sue Tiffin Library patrons are being asked to ensure the branch they’re headed to is open prior to visiting, as temporary closures could occur…
MOH acknowledges frustration, emphasizes community effort
The following are brief reports from a Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit press conference with medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking, held virtually on Feb. 2. By Sue Tiffin When asked her…
Health unit hopes to resume halted services soon
By Stephen Petrick The local health unit hopes to resume some of its services in the coming months, if the Omicron variant wanes. The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District health unit’s school-based immunization program has…
Health unit shifting the strategy for handling COVID-19
Dashboard case counts to give way to wastewater, hospital admission data By Stephen Petrick Health officials are ushering in a “paradigm shift” in how COVID-19 is managed and the health unit will have to work…