I know many in our community are concerned about the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Team Lindo will do our best to provide updates and direct constituents to reliable sources of information about preventative measures and public health advisories.
Updates are available daily on the following websites:
Information from Region of Waterloo Public Health on local cases, how to protect yourself, and where to seek further medical support.
Information from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
Find out how to protect yourself, what to do if you’re sick, and how to recognize possible symptoms. Updated twice daily, in 30 languages.
Information from the Government of Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada
Updates on the national response, travel advice, and preparedness.
Important travel advisories and restrictions related to COVID-19, from the Government of Canada.
For Medical Advice
Telehealth Ontario
For medical advice, you may contact Telehealth Ontario, a free, confidential service. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information is available in multiple languages.
Telephone: 1-866-797-0000
If you have recently traveled
Travellers returning to Waterloo Region from Hubei province (China), Iran or Italy should:
- Call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400 within 24 hours of arriving
- Stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including others at home, for a total of 14 days from the date you left Hubei province (China), Iran or Italy
- Contact Region of Waterloo Public Health if you develop symptoms (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing)
Travellers returning to Waterloo Region from all other countries are asked to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19.
Symptoms including fever, cough or difficulty breathing may develop up to 14 days after departure. If you develop symptoms within 14 days, you should:
- Stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including others at home
- Call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400
Call ahead before going to a medical office or an emergency department to allow health care staff to manage your case appropriately.
School Closures, Travel, and Social Distancing
On March 12, the Minister of Education announced that all publicly-funded schools will be close for two weeks following March Break, meaning schools will remained closed until April 3.
The University of Waterloo has suspended all on-campus courses from March 14-23. More information here.
Wilfrid Laurier University is discontinuing in-person instruction in all courses effective Monday, March 16 at 8:30 a.m. for the remainder of the winter 2020 term. More information here.
Conestoga College updates can be found here.
On March 13, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Medical Officer of Health, advised every Canadian to cancel all travel outside of Canada.
On March 13, Ontario’s chief medical officer Dr. David Williams called for the “immediate suspension” of all gatherings over 250 people.
Queen's Park
All party leaders, including NDP leader Andrea Horwath, met with the Premier on March 11 for an update on the province’s response.
The Ontario NDP has also been advocating for stronger protections for workers, by calling for the government to reinstate paid sick leave and to halt the requirement for sick notes. We have also been relaying constituent questions and concerns to the provincial government as they arise.
Our Constituency Office
As per the latest recommendations from Ontario Public Service, my staff and I will be working from home until April 3, 2020. We will continue to serve our constituents. The quickest way to get in touch with us is by emailing [email protected].
We may be slower to respond than usual due to a high volume of calls and emails, but rest assured that we will reply as quickly as possible.