Midland - Staff Updates

Updates will be provided based on the the current status of our region under the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework.

Green or Yellow = Bi-weekly updates

Orange, Red or Grey = Weekly updates

Updates - Nov. 20 - Present

Health & Well-being

Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre

1156 St. Andrews Drive, Midland

*New location as of Friday, August 28, 2020*
(Inside the clinic building in the Georgian Bay General Hospital's parking lot)

By appointment only:
Book appointments online by visiting: http://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-updates/

Call 705-529-1025 to book appointment, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Visit COVID-19 - Stop the Spread for an up-to-date listing of recognized symptoms of COVID-19.

Self-Assessment Tool for COVID-19

If you think you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use this self-assessment to help determine how to seek further care.

Self-Assessment Tool - COVID-19

Safety Precautions

While it is always our priority to maintain safe and healthy facilities, ultimately it is up to each one of us to maintain proper hygiene. Proper hygiene is always important to protect yourself and others from becoming ill. You can help reduce your risk of infection by doing the following:

Wash your hands often, being sure to use soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds.

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

When coughing or sneezing:

Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand.
Dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash or sanitize your hands immediately afterward.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean the following high-touch surfaces frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water): toys, phones, bedside tables, toilets, electronics, door handles, television remotes, desks, tables, etc.
Maintain physical distancing; at least 2 metres distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Physical Distancing

Physical Distancing is one of the most of effective ways to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and the Town is ensuring our staff follow this guideline. To ensure everyone’s safety, we ask that residents practice physical distancing and maintain at least a 2 metre distance from Town staff.

For Returning Travellers: Self-Isolate!!!

If you've returned from travel you must self-isolate for 14 days to avoid spreading the virus throughout the community. It does not matter your age or if you do/don't have symptoms. Self-isolate! You can pass the virus along even without showing any symptoms.

How to self-isolate

Mental Health Support

CAMH - Coping with Stress & Anxiety

Anxiety Canada

Coronavirus anxiety support

Mental and emotional wellness support

Free Meditation classes

Free Mindfulness practice sessions

Support for Canadians & Businesses

Apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Federal Government Economic Response Plan

COVID-19) – Employment and Social Development Canada

Apply for EI Benefits

Support for Canadians

Support for Businesses

Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit

The Ontario government is providing parents with $980 million in direct support as part of the Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit. Under this new round of funding, payments will be doubled to $400 per child and $500 for a child with special needs to help offset additional learning costs. This investment is part of the 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy.

For more details visit the Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit website.

Businesses: Get help with COVID-19 costs

Property tax and energy bill rebates as part of the Ontario Small Business Support Grant:

These rebates are offered by the Province of Ontario for businesses that are, or were, required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures. Please refer to the website below for details on eligibility and a link to apply:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs. A copy of your bill/invoice is required.

COVID-19 Tourism Response Fund

The COVID Tourism Response Fund provides $500,000, to be distributed by Regional Tourism Organization 7 in collaboration with Grey County, Simcoe County, City of Barrie and the City of Orillia for tourism-related businesses in the form of a one-time, non-repayable contribution of $2,500 - $20,000.

For more details and to access application forms, please visit www.RTO7.ca

Relief Within Reach - Support for Small & Medium Businesses

A collection of financial support links available for businesses and entrepreneurs in North Simcoe.

"Businesses and entrepreneurs across Simcoe North have made extraordinary sacrifices throughout these unprecedented times. This website was designed specifically to help to easily access all the financial support available. My office is here to help." - Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North.

Relief Within Reach

One-time tax-free payment for seniors - Federal Government

The payment for seniors provides support through a one-time payment:

$300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security pension, and
an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement

This measure will give a total of $500 to seniors who receive both the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and will help them cover increased costs caused by COVID-19.

For full details, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/
publicpensions/notice-covid-19/one-time-payment.html

Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA)

Helping isolated, low-income seniors and people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions across Ontario get meals, groceries, medicine and other essentials to stay safe at home during COVID-19

OCSA COVID-19 Community Support Finder

CEAP for Residential Customers - Applications Begin July 13

The Government of Ontario is making $9 million available to support residential customers struggling to pay their energy bills because of COVID-19. The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) provides a one-time, on-bill credit to eligible residential electricity and natural gas customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments.

Electricity and natural gas utilities and unit sub-meter providers (USMPs) will begin accepting applications for CEAP on July 13, 2020, delivering the program in accordance with rules laid out by the OEB. CEAP funding is limited, with utilities and USMPs expected to process applications in the order in which they are received. Please note, submitting an application does not guarantee funding. To apply for CEAP funding, customers should contact their utility or USMP directly.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and on-bill credit amounts, visit: https://www.oeb.ca/rates-and-your-bill/covid-19-energy-assistance-program-ceap

OTF - Resilient Communities Fund

The Resilient Communities Fund is a one-time fund to support the non-profit sector recover and rebuild from the impacts emerging from COVID-19 so they can effectively meet the needs of communities across Ontario.

More details and to apply.

Request amount:

From $5,000 to $150,000

Grant term:

up to 1 year

Application Deadlines*:

September 2, 2020 at 5 pm ET. and December 2, 2020 at 5 pm ET.

*Due to the expected high demand and in our efforts to support as many organizations as possible, only one grant per eligible organization will be awarded. Organizations that receive a grant from the September 2nd deadline will not be eligible to apply for the December 2nd deadline.

CEAP for Small Business & Charities - Applications begin August 31

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business: Applications Begin August 31

The Government of Ontario is making $8 million available to support small business and registered charities who are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of COVID-19. The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments.

To apply for CEAP funding, customers should contact their energy provider. Electricity and natural gas utilities and unit sub-meter providers (USMPs) will begin accepting applications for CEAP-SB on August 31, 2020, delivering the program in accordance with rules laid out by the OEB. CEAP-SB funding is limited, with utilities and USMPs expected to process applications in the order in which they are received. Please note, submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and on-bill credit amounts, visit oeb.ca/ceap.

Downtown Midland (BIA) Digital Improvement/Marketing Grant

The Downtown Midland Business Improvement Area (BIA) is pleased to introduce the new Digital Improvement/Marketing Grant to assist business owners within the BIA during COVID-19 to create/update online stores, create/update websites, outsource social media management, and run social media advertising campaigns.

The Digital Improvement/Marketing Grant will offer the opportunity for business owners to market themselves online and update/create a website and/or online store during COVID-19. Improvements/marketing requested by a business owner will be considered, and with BIA approval, the business owner will receive a grant.

For full details and to apply, visit: https://downtownmidland.ca/ForBIAMembers

COVID-19 Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

Local Community Futures offices are available to walk you through the application process. Please visit the County of Simcoe’s Economic Development website for more information on eligibility and the office nearest you.

County of Simcoe - COVID-19 Business Resources

The County of Simcoe Economic Development Office has a website listing COVID-19 resources to assist Simcoe County businesses

COVID-19 Business Resources

Stop the Spread Business Information Line

The province has launched a toll-free line 1-888-444-3659 to provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province's recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.

On Monday, the province issued an emergency order to close at-risk workplaces and encourage non-essential businesses to find ways to help their employees work from home. The government also reminded businesses to put in place protocols for physical distancing and regular hand-washing in order to protect the health and safety of employees and the general public.

Businesses who have questions about closures of at-risk workplaces or how emergency measures impact their business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

Help is available from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 a.m.―5:00 p.m.

A complete list of essential services is available on the Government of Ontario's website.