March 16 update # 2 Closures and service changes in Frontenac County at the end of business March 16

Jeff Green | Mar 16, 2020

March 16 update on what is closed and what is still open, in Frontenac County and Addington Highlands

One by one, services are shutting down throughout Ontario, and Frontenac County is following that pattern

As of 2pm on Monday, March 16, Central Frontenac Township has closed its offices to the public, and all township facilities, including the four halls, are closed. This means that all township and non-township related activities that are scheduled for those halls are canceled unless the organiser can find an alternate location. Township dumps remain open, with safety measures in place. These measures are in place until April 13. Council meetings, including committee meetings, are suspended until then.

North Frontenac Township has also announced that is offices are closed to the public. The following statement accompanied the announcement: “Mayor Ron Higgins advises the Township of North Frontenac will be closing facilities to the public until further notice. This includes the following facilities: - municipal office - community halls - public libraries. All waste disposal sites remain open, regularly scheduled hours at this time. Emergency Services remain in effect and in the event of an emergency, dial 9-1-1. Staff will be working regular scheduled hours and are here to serve you via the telephone or email. Also, the Municipal Office has a mail slot available.

South Frontenac has decided to ask the public to self-screen for symptoms prior to entering their administrative offices on George Street in Sydenham and Public Works facility on Keeley Road. They are also encouraging residents to make use of phone or email rather than visiting the office whenever possible.

All municipal owned recreational facilities, on the other hand, have been closed to the public for the time being. These include – Glendower hall, Sydenham Library community room, Princess Anne community centre, Harris Park hall, Storrington centre, South Frontenac museum and all parks and fields for the purpose of scheduled events and gatherings. All fire stations are closed to the public. Township services such as emergency services and waste management, remain operational.

A scheduled meeting of Frontenac County Council on March 18 has been postponed.

Addington Highlands has closed all recreation facilities including the halls in Flinton and Denbigh

The Kingston Frontenac Public Library and the Lennox and Addington Public Library have both closed all branches.

Southern Frontenac Community Services has suspended Grace Centre Social Activity’s Diners Club and SALT events, foot care, and volunteer hospice and bereavement services.

Access to the Grace Centre is restricted to the side entrance and portables, with screening. Adult Day Services are still being offered. Transportation services are restricted to essential drives only. Fozen meals on wheels remain available as well as hot meals on wheels. Extra precautions are in place at the Meals on Wheels program. The Food bank will be open only on Wednesdays – food bank clients will receive pre-packaged hampers only and will be met at the door. Home-making and in-home respite services are also reduced to essential needs only. For further information, call 613-376-6477.

Rural Frontenac Community Services (RFCS) is continuing to offer Daycare Services in Sharbot Lake. The Early ON program is being offered, but only in certain locations because of hall closings. The services is available in Sydenham and Sharbot Lake in Rural Frontenac Community Services facilities. The service in Storrington is also available, so long as the Storrington Centre remains open. The Harrowsmith service is not available this week, but will be next week as long as Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church remains open. The Verona services is available so long as Trinity United Church remains open.  Service in Mountain Grove, Arden, and Plevna is not being offered because the halls are closed.  

RFCS Diners have been suspended, but Meals on Wheels continues to be offered as will the Adult Day Program. Please contact RFCS at 613-279-3151 for information about foot care.

Patient visits are being restricted at Pine Meadow Nursing Home (Northbrook) and Fairmount Home (Glenburnie) 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.

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.

Medical facilities have special restrictions in place as well.

Community events are being canceled at an accelerating rate. At this point, check first before heading out.

Further information is available at the KFL&A Public Health site

https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/novel-coronavirus.aspx -