Schools are now in full operation, stores and restaurants are open, and businesses are making the adjustments they can to accommodate a variety of work modifications. It’s so important to acknowledge the huge impact that COVID-19 has had in our community and beyond. We are so impressed with the ways that businesses have adapted to keep their staff working. We are so thankful for the staff who are back at work, doing their best to provide great customer service in trying times. And congratulations to everyone who has become more comfortable with the huge variety of technology options to keep in touch with family and friends, even when travel is limited and you can’t gather as freely in larger groups as we once took for granted.

Burlington is doing well. We currently have 39 active COVID-19 cases. This is the first time that I’ve noticed that there have been more second doses of vaccine given to residents of Halton Region (all ages) than first doses: 394,330 second doses compared to 389,211 first doses. Joseph Brant Hospital’s website indicates that they are caring for four confirmed cases.

Based on the most recent federal and provincial guidelines, the City of Burlington is requiring online screening before people arrive at their indoor facilities for sports, meetings, events, and recreational fitness activities. After reading hygiene considerations and information about keeping your distance, you click the “I understand” button, which results in an email sent to you with a large green checkmark that you show on entering the facility. Then, you must also show proof of identification and proof of vaccination (two doses plus 14 days). The online screening link is difficult to find online, so here it is: https://frm-cvd-ca.esolg.ca/Burlington-Screening/Burlington-Screening.

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce provides a wide variety of information for local businesses on their website. One of the sections that may be most useful these days is the Personal Safety and Protection Equipment Directory found at https://www.burlingtonchamber.com/personal-safety-and-protection-equipment-directory/. It includes a listing of businesses that produce and sell safety masks and gloves, face shields, plexiglass screens or dividers, disinfectant services, sanitizer, and more. Some of the local businesses mentioned in the directory include:

Black Robot: order signage, decals, and small-batch printing online at blackrobot.ca.

Branded Burlington: offers floor decals to help maintain safe distance. Contact info@brandedburlington.com for more information.

CGA Iron Works: make protective face shields. Order online at cgafaceshields.com.

Fast Signs Burlington: order online at fastsigns.com/656.

Gerrie Electric: call 1-800-335-6621 to order signage, thermometers, fogger, face shields, sanitizer or gloves.

Joseph Tassoni: order reusable face and hand coverings online at josephtassoni.com.

ServiceMaster Restore of Burlington: provides a full range of cleaning and disinfection services. Contact claims@servicemasterofburlington.com.

VIMI Corp: order marketing tools, face masks and shields, or floor decals online at www.vimi-ppe.com.

Would you describe yourself as a snowbird? Travellers hoping to drive to the U.S. this fall were likely disappointed that the U.S. border is not open to Canadians at this point. Canadians can still enter the U.S. by air.

We are wrapping up our monthly COVID-19 articles for now, hoping that we won’t see a need to bring them back anytime soon! Stay well.

Sources:

Halton Region, 2021. Status of COVID-19 Cases in Halton. Url: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus/Status-of-COVID-19-Cases-in-Halton (accessed October 2, 2021).

Joseph Brant Hospital, 2021. COVID-19. Url: https://www.josephbranthospital.ca/en/quality-and-performance/covid-19.asp (accessed October 2, 2021).

Correction: apologies from the editor — the “first” and “second” labels for numbers of vaccine doses were transposed in the original version of this article.