Update on COVID-19 in Frontenac County - updated as information comes in

Jeff Green | Mar 15, 2020

No confirmed cases in Frontenac County as of yet. 

First off. After following up on a number of rumoured cases, in both Sharbot Lake and Sydenham, as of Sunday, March 15, there are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Frontenac County or the City of Kingston. There has been one confirmed case each in the Kawarthas and in Stormont Dundas and Glengarry.

There may indeed be cases that have not yet been confirmed through testing, but none have been confirmed as of March 15.

The latest from Central Frontenac.  "Township of Central Frontenac has closed ALL municipal buildings to the public including the municipal office. This includes all council meetings and municipal hall rentals. Waste sites will still be open as normal however, safety precautions are in place at each site.  These measures are being put into place to put the health and safety of everyone at the forefront. Municipal staff will still be reporting to work and available by telephone 613-279-2935. This closure will stay in effect indefinitely and reviewed on a regular basis."

The township of South Frontenac took measures on Friday, March 13. Not only did the township post information on their website (click here)  which includes information on prevention, detection and treatment, it are also links to the provincial and national government sites. The township also extended the deadline for property tax payments.

Further information is available at the KFL&A Public Health site (click here) Frontenac County has also posted information on their site (click here) pertaining to Fairmount Home, which has instituted limitations of visits in response to a directive from the Ontario Ministry of Health. Only “essential visitors” are permitted to enter the home at this time, essential being defined as those who have a resident who is dying or very ill”. These visitors will be actively screened. 

The same protocol is in place at Pine Meadow Nursing Home in Northbrook.

Within the broader community, many events have been canceled over the weekend, and many more that are scheduled over the next month are being canceled. Church services were held at some churches on Sunday and were not held at others. Please check with your own church for information.

Organisations such as Southern Frontenac Community Services (Diners Club, Grace Centre) have curtailed their services - Diners Lunch Club, Foot Care Clinics, VON Exercise Program and the COPD Support Group are canceled for this week. Adult Day Programs are not on the cancellation list which means they may be running this week. We will update this as information becomes available.

The Frontenac Arena, which was scheduled to close for the season on March 21, is closing as of tomorrow, March 16, eliminating March break skating opportunities.

All events scheduled at Frontenac Park are canceled and the Visitors Centre is closed. Day use of the Park is still permitted so the trails are available.

All public events and activities scheduled by the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, including events for children during March break, have been canceled, and as March 16 the branches are closed as well, until April 2. The Lennox and Addington Public Library has been closed.

Scheduled community breakfasts over the next few weeks, including in Snow road (Snowmobile Club – March 21) Sharbot Lake (Lion’s Club – March 21)) Verona (Lions’ Club – March 28) and Inverary (United Church – April 4) have all been canceled, as have a number of Lenten lunches.

All public use of recreation facilities in Addington Highlands, including the Flinton Recreation Centre and Denbigh Hall, are closed and scheduled events have been canceled, this includes bingos, etc.

The Maberly Hall, in Tay Valley township, is not accepting bookings and all township recreation programs have been canceled.

The Perth office of both MPP Randy Hillier and MP Scott Reid remains open. Residents are encouraged to phone or email. The phone number is 613-267-8239.

Council meetings are scheduled this week in South Frontenac (7pm on Tuesday, March 17 at the township office in Sydenham) and Frontenac County (9:30am at the County Offices in Glenburnie – shared entrance with Fairmount Home)

As of Sunday, the agendas for those meetings had been posted, but as with most events it pays to check before heading out because the situation is fluid.

All of the cancelations listed above have come about on or after March 13, and with most offices closing at 4:30 on Friday, a fuller picture will not emerge until Monday when offices re-open.

It is important to note that public gatherings have not been banned in Frontenac County. A show by Turpin’s Trail at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn on Saturday Night went ahead as planned. The St. Patrick’s Dance at the Sydenham Legion was canceled however, underlying the message to call ahead, and to follow the advice of Public Health officials to be diligent about hand washing and to remain in isolation if you have symptoms such as a cough or fever.

This list will be updated as information from our reporters comes in

Look to Frontenacnews.ca for updates or check our twitter or Facebook feeds. A full listing will be published in the Frontenac News on Thursday, March 19