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The
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Citizen
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Thursday, March 4, 2021
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Volume 37 No. 9
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
Outbreak ends in Seaforth By Denny Scott The Citizen
Brighten the place up As the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on and the world reaches March of 2021 after feeling like March of 2020 never ended, several Auburn residents sought to brighten up their community. Several community leaders were out on Saturday morning with bottles full of colouring to
decorate the snowbanks along the streets of Auburn in an effort to put a smile on residents’ faces. Above, Tanya, right, and Paige Ferguson did some of their best work, getting creative with this snowbank with bright and vibrant colours, reminding anyone who passes that spring is right around the corner. (Denny Scott photo)
Blyth campground report to be produced By Denny Scott The Citizen The Blyth Business Improvement Area’s (BIA) plans to capitalize on increased camping activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have to wait at least another two weeks. BIA Chair David Sparling spoke to North Huron Council at its Monday night meeting, repeating a presentation for the third time in recent weeks on the future of the Blyth Campground. Council, however, told him to work with local groups and North Huron staff to prepare a plan to convert some of the property’s camping spots in order to make them more attractive to travelers. Sparling requested to modify a
number of the northernmost camping spots at the Blyth Campground to add amenities like picnic tables and firepits. He hoped this would capitalize on the increase in RV and tent camping that has accompanied the pandemic and travel restrictions. He also said that online booking and payment would go a long way toward making the project a success. Sparling and BIA Vice-Chair Shane Yerema estimated that the project would cost between $10,000 and $12,000. Sparling said that campers want local camping and festival experiences, both of which are available through the Blyth Campground, thanks to the Blyth Festival potentially moving its 2021 season there for outdoor shows.
Sparling pointed to the Elliott Park campground in Exeter, which has only eight sites, but is often full thanks to amenities like campfire pits and picnic tables, as well as its online booking program. While Sparling said the BIA was ready to start creating the necessary amenities alongside “more knowledgeable” groups like the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, council wanted to take things back and review the plan itself with staff and groups like the association. As for the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, President Judy Sloan spoke in favour of the project, provided the group was involved in the decision-making process and that the fire pits could
be removed because the association’s annual reunion is an open-fire-free event. She said her impression from Sparling’s presentation was that the fire pits would indeed be removable. Reeve Bernie Bailey blamed the delay in a review of local parks, including the campgrounds, on COVID-19, but said that groups coming forward and showing initiative indicated to him that Sparling’s concept is a great idea. Other council members agreed, with Ric McBurney saying the idea is “exactly what Blyth needs” and council should push ahead for it. Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip, however, said he felt there needed to be more discussion between the Continued on page 3
Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for Huron and Perth Counties, had good news to share during Huron Perth Public Health’s (HPPH) weekly teleconference on Monday. Alongside reporting that the outbreak at the Seaforth Manor Nursing Home had been declared over after 69 cases (44 residents and 25 staff) were reported, she also announced that Huron and Perth Counties were officially in the “Yellow” zone of the province’s COVID-19-response framework, the second-least restrictive zone. The “Yellow”, or “Protect” level of the framework includes looser restrictions on restaurants, bars and recreational facilities. The Seaforth Manor Nursing Home outbreak was declared over on Feb. 28. The outbreak at the retirement home wing of the centre continues to be declared active with 12 confirmed cases in residents and one confirmed case in a staff member. There are two other outbreaks across the area, both at the Stratford Jail: one congregate living outbreak and one workplace outbreak. There is currently one active COVID-19 case at Jeanne Sauvé Catholic Elementary School in Stratford that, according to the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, has resulted in a class closure but not in an outbreak or school closure. There are currently no COVID-19 advisories listed by the Avon-Maitland District School Board. While cases were up across the area over the past week, Klassen reported there were only 14 new cases and 21 active cases across the area. The trend of lower case numbers is one of the reasons for the shift to the “Yellow” level of the framework and she hopes that trend continues. “We’d like to see [the numbers] stay there,” she said. “It’s essential everyone continues to follow [public health’s] safety and advice.” She said people need to continue to practise hand hygiene, wear masks and avoid unnecessary gatherings to continue to keep the pandemic at bay. “The pandemic isn’t done with us yet,” she said. There was one negative note to the press conference when Klassen noted that Huron and Perth Counties had hit a grim milestone with the 50th COVID-19-related death being reported in the area. The fatality was an individual connected to the Continued on page 24