September 12, 2022 – RCDHU Plans for Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Rollout and Urges Residents to be Patient
September 12, 2022 ‐ Starting today, Renfrew County and District residents 18 years of age or older will be able to book bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster appointments at local clinics. Please note that the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster will not be offered to residents attending clinics this week (September12-16).
July 27, 2022 – RCDHU Provides Update on COVID-19 Outbreak at Valley Manor
July 27, 2022 ‐ Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is reporting an active COVID-19 outbreak at Valley Manor Long Term Care facility in Barry’s Bay. The outbreak has resulted in numerous staff and resident infections and RCDHU is currently investigating 3 deaths that are suspected to be associated with the outbreak. The leadership team at Valley Manor, RCDHU, Renfrew County Paramedics, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, and other community partners are working together to assist the facility to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of staff, residents, and the community.
July 19, 2022 – Heat Warning Issued by Environment Canada
July 19, 2022 ‐ A heat warning has been issued for: • Barry's Bay - Killaloe • Petawawa - Pembroke - Cobden • Renfrew - Arnprior - Calabogie Hot and humid conditions are expected today and Wednesday.
July 12, 2022 – Increase in Local COVID-19 Activity
July 12, 2022 ‐ Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is monitoring signals for viral COVID-19 particles in Pembroke and Petawawa wastewater. While recent signals are relatively stable, COVID-19 particles are still being detected in local wastewater. This data compliments other evidence that demonstrates COVID-19 transmission and activity is still occurring across Renfrew County and District (RCD). For more details, please review the latest COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Initiative in Renfrew County and District (RCD) report. Please note that wastewater sampling in RCD is currently limited to Pembroke and Petawawa wastewater treatment plants, which represents only 30% of RCDHU’s total population. As such, trends in wastewater may not necessarily reflect overall COVID-19 levels and transmission for RCD.
July 5, 2022 – Blue-Green Algae Bloom Found – Muskrat Lake
July 5, 2022 ‐ The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU), Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) investigated the discovery of a plant-like substance floating on and around the shore at Muskrat Lake. The substance is suspected to be a blue-green algae bloom. Results from a water sample taken by MECP are pending to determine if the substance is a harmful algae bloom. OCWA is also regularly sampling at the Cobden water treatment plant to ensure the drinking water is safe to consume.
June 29, 2022 – School Immunization Catch-up Clinic
June 29, 2022 ‐ Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is required under the "Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)", to collect and maintain up-to-date immunization records for every student in Renfrew County and District (RCD) attending school. Immunization Notices are being mailed to students and their parent/guardian(s) if RCDHU does not have the necessary immunization records in the provincial database system, or if the student’s immunization records are not up to date with the required ISPA vaccines.
April 7, 2022 – COVID-19 on the rise again in Eastern Ontario: What you can do
April 7, 2022 ‐ The level of COVID-19 in the Champlain region is on the rise. The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal is increasing in the region and is at record levels in Ottawa. In addition, test per cent positivity across the region is high and increasing, according to regional public health units.
April 6, 2022 – RCDHU asks Residents to be Patient as Ontario Expands Fourth Dose Eligibility
April 6, 2022 ‐ Effective Thursday, April 7th at 8:00 a.m., Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) and its partners will be expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccination fourth dose (second booster) in line with the province. Eligibility will include residents 60 years of age and over, as well as First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-indigenous household members aged 18 and over. Booster doses are being offered to these individuals at a recommended interval of five months after receiving their last booster.
April 4, 2022 – RCDHU Shares Tips to Prepare for the Spring Thaw
April 4, 2022 ‐ With the arrival of Spring, comes the risk of flooding on some roadways and properties. Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) would like to remind residents and property owners of a few tips that can reduce the risk of flooding.
March 8, 2022 – COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Moving Back to the Pop-Up Model as Community Clinics Wind Down
March 8, 2022 ‐ Today, Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts made by community partners, health care workers, and volunteers to organize and run another successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the residents of Renfrew County and District (RCD). As of March 07, 2022, over 89% of the eligible population across RCD has received a full series of the COVID-19 vaccine (at least two doses), which is in line with Ontario’s provincial vaccination rates.