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• Editorials • Obituaries • Agriculture • Throwback
The
THIS WEEK
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 36 No. 26
Thursday, June 25, 2020
$1.25 GST included
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
COVID-19 testing continues By Denny Scott The Citizen
A graduation to remember Robbed of a proper graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario’s students, schools and staff have had to get creative to celebrate those graduating from Grade 8 and moving on to high school. High school, college and university graduation ceremonies have also been hosted virtually to mark students’ achievements in a year
when gathering in large groups isn’t safe. To put the cherry on top of a successful school year, staff from Huron Christian School in Clinton toured the community last week in a decorated bus celebrating this year’s Grade 8 graduates. The bus made a stop in Blyth to congratulate Ashley Goudy, left, and Sarah Sparling, who were members of the graduating class. (Denny Scott photo)
Wingham Canada Day fireworks cancelled The Wingham Firefighters’ Association recently announced that the annual Canada Day fireworks display in Wingham has been cancelled due to social gathering limitations, saying that community safety is the association’s number one priority. Donations are still being accepted to help make the 2021 fireworks a success. Alongside announcing the
cancellation, the Fire Department of North Huron and Firefighters’ Association reminds the public that fireworks in North Huron are only permitted on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, New Year’s Eve and any additional date approved by North Huron Council. Fireworks are permitted on those days, provided they are set off on private property with the owner’s
HE fire calls down By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Fire Chief Marty Bedard presented his annual report on the Huron East Fire Department to council at its June 16 meeting, which was held virtually. Looking back on 2019, Bedard said the department responded to 140 emergency calls, which is below
the 2018 figure of 166, but slightly above the five-year average of 136. Over half of the calls were in the Seaforth area, with that branch of the department responding to 75 calls in 2019, compared to 42 in Brussels and 23 in Grey. In Seaforth, 17 calls were for automatic alarms, 16 calls were medical, 12 were for motor vehicle Continued on page 9
permission and those operating the fireworks are over the age of 18, or under the supervision of a responsible person 18 years or older. Fireworks are not permitted on public property such as parks or streets. If fireworks are going to be discharged on privatelyowned property, the following safety tips are recommended: • Appoint a responsible person to be in charge. Only adults who are aware of the hazards and essential safety precautions should handle and discharge fireworks. • Carefully read and follow the label directions on fireworks packaging. • Always keep a water hose or pail of water close by when discharging fireworks. • Discharge fireworks well away from combustible materials like buildings, trees and dry grass. • Keep onlookers a safe distance away, upwind from the area where
fireworks are discharged. • Light only one firework at a time and only when they are on the ground. Never try to light a firework in your hand or re-light dud fireworks. For dud fireworks, it is best to wait 30 minutes and soak them in a bucket of water. Dispose of them in a metal container. • Discharge fireworks only if wind conditions do not create a safety hazard. • Keep sparklers away from children. Sparklers burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing, cause blindness and result in severe burns. As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, it should be immediately soaked in water to avoid injury. • If someone gets burned, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes and seek medical attention, if necessary. The Fire Department of North Huron wishes everyone a happy and safe Canada Day!
The Huron Perth Public Health team will no longer be reporting the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the area; only positive tests will be reported moving forward according to Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen. In a telephone press conference last Thursday, Klassen announced that, like the rest of the province, Huron Perth will only be releasing positive COVID-19 and will include demographic information like age, gender and municipality. Negative results will be reported provincewide. Klassen said tests are now being completed so people can visit longterm care facilities that allow visits and the process for that testing remains the same: complete an online assessment or call your healthcare provider or the HPPH to determine whether testing is needed, then follow the directions given. “If you’re not well, stay home and keep your germs to yourself,” she said. “Notify close contacts so they can self-isolate. Reduce the risk of community spread.” Klassen went on to say that even a negative test result doesn’t rule out the possibility of COVID-19. She said anyone who has come into contact with a known case should self-isolate for two weeks even if they test negative. Klassen also spoke to the use of masks, saying that while she hadn’t seen enough evidence to justify issuing an order to wear them constantly, there is enough evidence to state that masks may act as “source control”, meaning anyone with unexplained respiratory problems should wear them to prevent spreading any disease. She said she is constantly monitoring research on masks but strongly recommends wearing them when a two-metre distance can’t be kept. She also advised adhering to requests from retail establishments asking people to wear masks when entering. “Not everyone can wear masks,” she said, adding that those who can should in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As of Monday, Huron and Perth Counties climbed to 57 confirmed cases of COVID-19, one more than the previous week. Three of those cases are considered active. The cases are broken down between Perth County, which has 43 cases, and Huron County, which has 14 cases. The one new case was identified Continued on page 3