Looking at the data and flattening the curve
Dear Dartmouth South,
It’s been a week since the last update and in that time new cases seem steady at approximately 30 per day. The troubling news is that we are seeing rapid spread in our long-term care facilities, especially Northwood. Public Health is paying close attention to how to control this spread and keep residents and workers safe.
Here in Dartmouth people continue to be challenged by the closure of parks and school yards. All school grounds are closed, as are all parks. The trail along Lake Banook on the Prince Albert side is open, as is the path around Oathill Lake. The waterfront trail is also open between the Alderney and Woodside Ferry but Ferry Terminal Park is closed.
Our many small businesses continue to be negatively impacted. More government assistance has been announced, and we are hopeful the federal government’s forthcoming Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program will ease their rent burden.
In the meantime, the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission made shopping local that much easier. Check out their new online shop!
Many of us are struggling to work, or navigate government programs after losing employment, to parent, and to keep ourselves together in this extremely trying time. Be patient with all of it, and with yourselves. We’re in uncharted waters, and we can only do our best. As always, we are constantly updating our website with relevant and useful information and links.
Provincial Updates
The Provincial State of Emergency has now been extended to May 3, and it is likely they it will be extended again; it must be renewed every 2 weeks.
Quite a bit of data is now available to public. The Province released modelling and projections earlier in the week, and here you can find the number of cases organized by geographic area. In the modelling projections PDF, you may notice that the number of cases is significantly higher in the Dartmouth region. This is partly accounted for by cases in the community, in a few long-term care homes, and also some localized outbreaks. Testing facilities have been set up in these communities and there is now ongoing communication with the public health teams.
Based on the modelling, we can expect to see COVID-19 peak near the end of April or early May. The number of cases in our province from now until the end of June could range anywhere between 1,453 to 6,269, depending on how well people adhere to the public health directives.
The upper range of this modelling would cause an unprecedented strain on our healthcare system – which is why it is so important that we continue to take this seriously by adhering to public health measures such as social distancing, practising good hygiene, only going to stores for essential items, etc.
The Province is also releasing numbers from long-term care facilities. There are now 8 licensed long-term care facilities in Nova Scotia with cases of COVID-19. Out of those facilities, 55 residents and 43 staff (on-site and home care) have tested positive for the virus. New measures mandate that every long-term care worker wear surgical-grade masks when dealing with residents and these masks have now been supplied to long-term care, residential care, and continuing care workers in Nova Scotia.
The Provincial Department of Agriculture is working with food retailers to ensure that Nova Scotia products make it to store shelves. Temporary foreign workers, a critical component of our agriculture industry, are permitted to enter Canada – but, they will immediately be assessed for any signs of COVID-19 and will be required to quarantine for 14 days while being monitored for symptoms.
We’ll likely be into June before there is any discussion of loosening the current Public Health order. All HRM summer programs have been cancelled, so this summer will not be a normal one regardless of the most hopeful of scenarios.
CERB Updates
The Federal government continues to expand support to those who need help but didn’t originally qualify for the CERB, and to Canadians working in essential jobs who make less than they would if they received the benefit. This now includes:
Allowing people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB; this benefits volunteer or part-time workers who may be picking up shifts or temporary gigs, but are still experiencing financial strain.
Seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of COVID-19.
Workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.
Some essential workers’ salaries are less or similar to what they would receive from the CERB – as such, the government will work with Provinces and Territories to top up these salaries for those making less than $2,500 a month.
(As CERB is a federal program, questions should be directed to Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, 902-462-6453.)
We are hearing that people continue to have challenges meeting their monthly expenses. Nova Scotia Power customers who are unable to pay their power bill because they cannot work due to self-isolation or illness, or other pandemic-related circumstances are encouraged to call the NSP Customer Care Centre at 1-800-428-6230 to discuss options. The Home Energy Assistance Top-up (HEAT Fund) is also available to individuals and families in Nova Scotia who live on a low income to help with paying their energy bill. More information and applications can be found on the HEAT Fund page.
Halifax Regional Council voted this week to defer property tax payments until June 1, 2020 and to reduce the interest rate on arrears from 10% per annum to 15% per annum. People who remain employed and able to pay their taxes are encouraged to do so. For more information, visit the HRM website.
Music at Home
Congratulations to Joel Plaskett on the release of his latest album: 44! 🥳 He went live with David Myles to share some tunes and talk about the new record. You can watch it here!
New Scotland Brewing Co. has taken their live events online. This Saturday's feature is Dartmouth's own Mo Kenney. Catch her live at 8pm!
My office remains open virtually for your constituency-related needs. Don’t hesitate to call 902-406-2301 or email claudiachendermla@gmail.com if you need assistance.
Claudia
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