COVID-19 Support

To help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect the public and staff, all District facilities will be closed to public access effective noon today, Tuesday March 17, 2020 until further notice.   This includes, but is not limited to:

• Administrative Office at 70 Pine St. in Bracebridge
• Community Services Hubs in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville

Many of our services including paramedic services, long-term care, water and wastewater, waste management and road operations will continue to operate as usual to support our community. Social housing facilities will continue to be maintained and other housing supports, social assistance and emergency assistance programs will also continue to be provided by phone, online or by email.

We are still here to serve you!  You can access information and any of our services by calling us at 705-645-2100 or by email.

For the latest updates on all District program and service impacts, and to learn more about the actions taken in response to COVID-19, visit www.muskoka.on.ca/coronavirus  

The District and Area Municipalities are dedicated to protecting and supporting individuals, and recognizes the important role that everyone has in keeping our communities safe and healthy.  We are meeting frequently and working closely with community and health partners to coordinate efforts and plan together to support the community needs should more resources be required.  Updated facility access information and program or service impacts are available at:

• Town of Bracebridge 
• Town of Gravenhurst 
• Town of Huntsville
• Township of Georgian Bay
• Township of Lake of Bays
• Township of Muskoka Lakes

For further COVID-19 information, please visit Simcoe Muskoka Public Health unit: http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Promos/Novel-Coronavirus

COVID-19 Outbreak Status lifted at the Pines Long-Term Care Home

We are pleased to share that the outbreak status at the Pines Long Term Care Home has again been lifted following a period of 14 consecutive days with no new cases.  We thank staff for their hard work, perseverance and dedication that made this significant achievement possible.  We also thank residents, families and the community for their on-going support and best wishes.

The District remains focused on protecting residents and staff from COVID-19 and extensive measures are being taken to ensure the health, safety and well-being of residents and staff.  Routine, weekly testing of all staff continues as per the provincial guidelines.

Status of Vaccinations and Testing:

• On Saturday, January 16th, all consenting residents, and essential caregivers received their first dose of the COVID-19 Pfizer BioNTech vaccination.
  • 137 out of 145 residents (94%) and 60 essential caregivers received their first dose of the vaccine. The second dose administration date has not yet been scheduled.
  • 160 out of 210 employees have either received their first vaccine or have completed the two-part series in the vaccination process.
  • Scheduled weekly testing of all staff will continue to support early detection of any spread of the COVID-19 virus in the home.

Timeline of COVID-19 Related Events at the Pines:

• The Pines experienced an initial outbreak of COVID-19 after one employee tested positive on August 30, 2020. Following the initial positive case, one resident tested positive for COVID-19 on September 2, 2020. 
• The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) determined that the first outbreak was resolved on September 16, 2020.
• Additional staff members tested positive on September 19 & 25, 2020.
• The outbreak status was lifted on October 8, 2020 following 14 days with no additional positive cases.
• On November 13, 2020 a staff member tested positive with no additional positive cases. Due to the nature of this case, the home was not declared in outbreak at this time.
• One staff member tested positive on January 5, 2021 with no additional staff or resident cases identified. As a result, one Pines home area was declared in outbreak on January 5, 2021 and this outbreak was resolved by SMDHU on January 19, 2021.
• A staff member tested positive on January 20, 2021. The positive staff member and one additional close-contact employee are currently isolating at home and are being monitored by SMDHU.

Update - January 29, 2021: All in-person Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled until January 22, 2021 have been rescheduled.

A notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the court. For more information, please view full notice. 

For more information, please contact the Provincial Offences Act office: poa@muskoka.on.ca Full details of the order: Ontario Court of Justice.

The Port Carling Locks will reopen for the summer season on June 8, 2020, with restrictions in place to protect the health and safety of staff and the community.

Large Locks
Monday to Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
- remain in your vessel at all times
- docks/handles/etc. not sanitized
- 2020 fees in effect ($11/passage)
- cashless payments only

Small Locks
Self-Serve, 24/7
- facilities not sanitized
- practice physical distancing
- respect onsite signage
- 2020 fees in effect ($11/passage)

James Bartleman Park
The park is open to visitors. Please practice physical distancing and respect others using the park.

Washroom Facilities
Open
- cleaned twice daily
- respect onsite signage
- use at your own risk

We thank visitors for following onsite signage to ensure operations at the Port Carling Locks can continue this summer. The District of Muskoka is following the advice of public health officials and continues to make every effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Visitors should follow the advice of public health experts, including necessary hygiene practices and physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others. 

We look forward to seeing you on the water.  

More information about the Port Carling Locks here. 

The District of Muskoka’s priority is to maintain waste collection services, while taking extra precautions to protect the health of essential workers and the needs of our community.

There are no changes to the curbside collection schedule.

Bi-weekly garbage collection resumed as scheduled annually, the week of November 1, 2020. 

For more information, please visit www.muskokarecycles.ca

District Council is supporting its customers and businesses impacted by COVID-19 and asking anyone experiencing financial hardship to please contact our office at 705-645-7954 or by email at watersewerbilling@muskoka.on.ca to set up flexible payment arrangements.

To help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect the public and staff, the District Administration Building is closed to public access at this time.  However, additional payment methods have been added for your convenience. Payments can be made electronically (refer to back of bill) or temporarily by credit card by calling 705-645-2100 extension 4238.

Municipal tap water is safe.
Water treatment plant processes include removal and disinfection of pathogens and viruses to ensure drinking water is safe . That means municipal tap water entering Muskoka’s businesses and households is safe for drinking, cooking, hand-washing and cleaning — and it’s not necessary to boil it first.

Public water taps are safe.
The District supplies communal access to safe municipal drinking water at various public water taps. As COVID-19 is monitored, these taps continue to be accessible. The District would like to remind the public to continue to practice physical distancing if in que to access water, and to perform increased personal disinfecting/sanitizing practices including sanitizing hands with alcohol-based rub before and after touching the tap/faucet. Click here for a map of the District's seasonal and year-round public water tap locations.

Don’t flush wipes! With the increased use of sanitizing and disposable wet wipes, the Water and Sewer Department reminds residents that wipes of any sort, including those labelled ‘flushable’ and ‘biodegradable’ should never be flushed down the toilet. Impacts of these products entering sewer systems can cause large blockages in sewer mains. These repairs can be highly costly and cause sewage backups into residences and other buildings. These wipes should be disposed of in a securely tied garbage bag, instead of flushing down toilets or drains. 

The District has suspended public access to our paramedic stations at this time to minimize the risk to our health care providers and our first responders. 

• TGIF Community Meals - Suspended until further notice
  Gravenhurst Community Service Hub, 141 Main Street, Gravenhurst. 
  More information: 705-645-2412 ext. 4654

• EarlyON – Regular programming temporarily suspended until further notice.  Follow us on Facebook for virtual programming and additional supports that your family may access during this closure.  For more information please contact 705-645-2412 ext. 4420 or visit www.muskoka.on.ca/earlyon
• Muskoka Home Child Care Agency - Open
• More information: 705-645-2412 ext. 4291

• The Nest - Both Locations Temporarily Closed
  If urgent assistance is needed during the closure please call 705-645-2412 ext. 4397
• Children’s Community Facilitation Program: Direct support or referrals to community agencies for families, who are in financial need.  Direct supports include access to funding to assist with basic needs of the child(ren) when no other sources are available.  There is an application process.  Please call: 705-645-2412 ext. 4415

WISE Mobile Active Living Centre – we are operating virtual programs, telephone and online, to keep older adults engaged and connected in Muskoka.  Our programs offer a variety of topics including health education, general interest topics, fitness, games, and fun!  For more information on these programs, topics and dates, visit www.muskoka.on.ca/seniorsprograms or call us at 705-645-2100 ext. 4199 or toll free: 1-800-461-4215 ext. 4199.

Information Line – We are happy to help you or a family member navigate resources and supports.  Please call our Information Line at 705-645-2100 ext. 4199 or toll free: 1-800-461-4215 ext. 4199.

Until further notice, the Corridor 11 Bus and the Rural and Community Connection service is to be used for essential trips only.
The District and Hammond Transportation are asking that you:

• don’t ride the bus if you aren’t feeling well
• don’t ride of the bus if you have been in close contact with anyone feeling ill
• don’t ride the bus if you ask that you do not ride the bus if you are not feeling well,
• don’t ride of the bus if you are in close contact with anyone feeling unwell, if you have a cough, difficulty breathing or fever, or if you have travelled outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks
• practice social-distancing by sitting as far apart as possible from other riders if you do need to take the bus during this time.

Learn more at: www.muskoka.on.ca/commuitytransit