The LocalSKIM for Monday, August 24
- The search for a missing man who jumped off a boat Saturday night near the shore of Sunset Beach and disappeared under the water continued today. (610 CKTB)
- Dr. Mustafa Hirji says Niagara may soon start to see the impact of the Delta variant on our hospital system as COVID-19 admissions are slowly increasing and will likely accelerate in the next couple of weeks. (610 CKTB)
- The Niagara Region interim integrity commissioner has dismissed two complaints against Regional councillor Bob Gale but disagreed with Gale’s assertion that one of the complaints, which was filed by fellow Regional councillor Laura Ip, was frivolous and vexatious. (St. Catharines Standard)
- Both the District School Board of Niagara and Niagara Catholic District School Board have stated that they should have the majority of the required work done to improve school ventilation systems before the first day of school. (St. Catharines Standard)
Niagara Region taking proactive steps to protect drinking water from blue-green algae
- Niagara Region is taking proactive steps to protect Niagara’s drinking water after identifying a small quantity of blue-green algae upstream in the reservoirs serving the DeCew Falls Water Treatment Plant.
- Microcystin, the neurotoxin released by blue-green algae, has not been detected during daily testing of the water leaving the Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant over the last few days.
- Therefore, there is no risk to human health at this time.
- The blue green algae is being removed to minimize the risk of it multiplying.
The LocalSKIM for Friday, August 21
- Waverly Beach (Fort Erie), Sunset Beach (St. Catharines), Long Beach and Reebs Bay (Wainfleet) have all been posted as unsafe to swim. (Niagara Region)
- The United States on Friday extended the closure of its land borders with Canada to non-essential travel through Sept. 21 despite Ottawa’s decision to keep its border open to vaccinated Americans. (Reuters)
- 76% of Canadians said they would strongly or somewhat support a vaccine passport system like the one Quebec is implementing, according to a new poll. (CP24)
- Niagara Region is considering developing a region-wide vaccine mandate for municipal staff and is also considering requiring individuals to be vaccinated in order to enter any regional building. (St. Catharines Standard)
- All 444 Ontario municipalities are asking the Ontario government to implement a province-wide, vaccination passport system to protect children and Ontario’s health care resources, and to support the safe, timely and stable reopening of public services, institutions, facilities and businesses. (St. Catharines Standard)
Niagara Health vaccination clinic closed Sunday, Aug. 22
- Niagara Health’s vaccination clinic at the St. Catharines Site will be closed Sunday, Aug. 22 due to low bookings.
- For more information, please visit https://www.niagarahealth.on.ca/site/vaccination-clinic.