Omicron — What should I know about TESTING and RISK
This message from the Town of Mono was posted on
February 11, 2022
About Testing:
What is the difference between a PCR Test and a Rapid Test?
PCR Test:
For the PCR you'll need to go to a testing centre, and with this test it will take several days before you get the result. The PCR has been the standard test used in testing centers and has been used at international borders crossings. In a newly infected person, the PCR test is likely to become positive almost immediately.
Rapid Test:
You should now be able to obtain rapid tests (Rapid Antigen Test) throughout Dufferin County. at pharmacies and grocery stores. You perform the test yourself and it gives you a result in matter of minutes.
If you become infected with COVID-19 your rapid test will be negative on the day of infection. It will take a few days until you will test positive. If you get symptoms — usually a runny nose or sore throat or unusual fatigue — the test will usually be negative on the first day of your symptoms. You should test yourself on the third day of illness and if negative retest 48 hours later. If still negative, it's highly unlikely you have COVID. However, if the test is positive, it's usually very accurate. You have COVID.
The most recent recommendations for accurate results when doing the rapid test are to swab both cheeks, followed by the back of the throat or tongue, and then both your nostrils. Place this swab in each cheek and roll it gently, swab the back of the throat or tongue, and then place it into each nostril straight back until it gets to the tickle point and roll it again. Directions are with the test kit and must be followed carefully. It has been found that the Omicron virus seems to start in the mouth and then move over time to the nose, a fact that has resulted in the advice to test in both mouth and nose.
About the risk: It is well known that Omicron is the latest COVID-19 variant and that it passes from one person to another very easily. Fortunately, in Ontario and in Dufferin County this wave peeked around mid January and we have been on the down slope since then.
For assessing previous waves, we have relied on new case numbers as indicated by COVID testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic persons. Unfortunately, with this wave, we were not able to continue with community testing — largely because the testing capabilities were swamped by the massive size of the omicron wave. Wastewater testing has now become the standard means of assessing community infection. Wastewater testing evaluates the amount of active virus in the community and relates directly to the number of people that are infected and provides a number known as a signal. The size of the signal is directly proportional to the number of active cases in the community. Province wide we currently test wastewater from 101 treatment plants and pumping stations in all 34 of our Ontario Public Health Units. This covers almost all persons in urban areas. The signal has been decreasing since mid-January. Currently its strength decreases by 50% every 10 days. Clearly, we are currently on the downslope of the Omicron wave. The signal is still significantly higher than it was prior to the Omicron wave, which indicates that there are more people currently infected with COVID than there were prior to Omicron’s arrival in Ontario
Well, what then is my personal risk?
We know that the Omicron virus passes from one individual to another more easily than previous variants. We also know that with this variant the standard 2 jab vaccination is not nearly as protective as with previous variants. With three jabs (including a booster) you are much less likely to get the disease. If you have not been able to or have chosen not to get vaccinated you have a 10 to 12 times greater risk of being admitted to an ICU and potentially requiring a ventilator than if you have had 2 or 3 vaccinations. As it has been with all other variants the risk of death is higher for persons over 70 years of age and higher still for persons over 80 years of age. Risk is again increased if you have other health conditions such as diabetes, cancer or are immunocompromised.
The virus usually/almost always is passed on in an indoor setting. Although initially in the pandemic it was thought that the virus was passed from one person to another when they were within six feet or closer by coughing or sneezing or otherwise expelling large respiratory droplets this is no longer thought to be the dominant method of spread. It is now clear that most infections are transmitted through fine droplets that float about in the air for minutes to hours. These droplets — sometimes called aerosols — are produced by normal breathing and talking and in larger quantities by shouting, coughing and singing. The best way to prevent transmission from an infected person is to not be in an indoor place especially if poorly ventilated where aerosols can accumulate, be fully vaccinated and be well masked. A good mask should be held to your face without air leaks. N95 or KN 95 masks are now more available especially online. Their ability to prevent you from receiving these fine droplets is extremely good and is many times better than the standard blue surgical mask or triple layered cloth mask.
Can I repeatedly use my mask?
Yes, just keep it clean and store it in your car or at home in a clean container or plastic bag. It is estimated that you can use an N95 or KN95 mask for about 40 hours before disposing of it. This depends on you keeping it clean and it being intact. Virus particles do not accumulate on it from day to day. The virus “dies” when outside the human body. An N95 or KN95 will not be as effective if it is washed. It will lose some of its superior efficiency due to loss of its electrical charge — an important function that is there to attract small particles. Blue — looking like paper — surgical masks cannot be washed and should be disposed of — probably after a day of use, while three-layer cloth masks can be repeatedly washed and reused.
The three main factors which govern the spread of the COVID-19 virus are: its own biology (how contagious) the susceptibility of the populace (how vaccinated) and the population’s behaviour (how people protect against the virus and interact with others).
Appropriately, when this pandemic began, there was a huge focus on public health measures that should prevent virus transmission. These measures are well known from experience with other infectious diseases. These well-known basics are wearing face masks, cleaning surfaces including the hands, physical distancing from adjacent persons, and not gathering in large groups. These four public health measures are based on the expected behaviors of the virus as it infects people. However, our understanding of the infectious process has evolved and at the same time variants have become more transmissible and more severe. These factors must govern our future public health and personal care planning.
Initially we concentrated on the concept that an infected person passed on the virus primarily in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. These droplets were thought to be large enough that after coughing or sneezing they dropped to the ground or floor within two metres. This understanding drove the guidance to distance oneself at least two metres from others. Further, we felt that the large droplets could be prevented from leaving the infected person by them wearing a mask – or protect a non-infected person by wearing a mask. This is all correct.
We also thought that the virus could infect a person by being transferred from a contaminated surface to one’s hand and then to the mouth. However, this has rarely been documented and questions the validity of the ubiquitous practice of frequent sterilization of many “public” surfaces.
The newer information is that the virus is present in high concentrations in fine droplets often called aerosols, which are less than five microns in size. These droplets are usually formed deep in the lungs and are expelled by normal breathing. They are produced in great amounts by talking, singing and during heavy exertion. The concentration of virus in fine droplets is frequently greater than that in large droplets. Most concerning is the fact that these fine droplets can remain suspended in the air for hours and if indoors they will build up in concentration overtime. This build-up occurs in varying amounts depending upon the frequency of air exchange in the room and the quality of air filtration. There is robust evidence that the bulk of COVID-19 infections are due to fine droplet transmission rather than by large droplets. It is particularly telling that people have rarely been infected when outdoors, and further, spreader and super spreader events occur indoors.
How Does the Use of Face Masks Protect Us from Droplet Transmission?
Although masks are very effective at decreasing large droplet transmission, the story is not as good for the effectiveness of masks in preventing the passage of small droplets. Fine droplet protection will depend upon the filtration quality of the mask and how snuggly the mask fits the face. To improve filtration of fine droplets, mask construction should use finely woven or spun materials in three layers.
Mask fit to the face is also important. A good quality face mask with gaps at the sides of the mask will allow significant amounts of air to escape or enter and will result in loss of much of the value of the mask. This gap problem is sometimes present with medical masks that commonly use ear loops. These leaks can easily reduce the efficiency of the mask to 50%. Double masking such as wearing a tight-fitting cloth mask on top of a blue “paper” medical mask can obliterate gap problem as can knotting the blue ties close to the mask. Both double masking and knotting are very effective.
The best masks are N95 or K95 — which by design prevent the transmission of at least 95% of airborne particles which are 0.3 microns or larger — as long as the mask fits snuggly to the wearer’s face. Most studies of N95 masks show a filtration efficiency of over 99%. Early in the pandemic these masks were in short supply, and were reserved for high-risk health care workers, but are now available on the internet. High quality masks are very necessary indoors or in enclosed spaces where the concentration of fine airborne droplets can build up.
In summary recent knowledge is that fine droplets are produced by normal breathing and talking. These droplets are heavily laden with virus. If the air is not moving, they can float about and build up concentration over time. Epidemiological evidence supports fine droplets as the cause of most transmissions of COVID-19 virus.
The basics for protection from fine droplet spread is being cautious when indoors, having frequent circulation of filtered indoor air and the use of efficient face masks.
Appendix : Additional Data on COVID-19 transmission.
ABOUT AIRBORNE DROPLETS
Fine droplets (aerosols) are smaller than 5 microns. The majority are less than 1 micron (for reference – a human hair is about 70 microns in diameter).
Depending on their size, fine droplets can remain floating in the air for ½ to many hours before dropping.
In laboratory studies the half-life of virus in aerosols in terms of retention of infectivity is 1-3 hours for Covid -19. This may vary for variants.
The concentration of virus in fine droplets is often 2 times that in large droplets.
ABOUT THE VIRUS
The infectiousness of a person with Covid-19 often peaks two days before symptom onset and extends for a variable time thereafter.
Commonalities among superspreading events include indoor settings, crowds, exposure durations of 1 hour or more, poor ventilation, vocalization, and lack of properly worn masks.
CDC currently recommends that all persons – both unvaccinated and vaccinated wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial risk of transmission.
You will receive a Voter Instruction Letter that will have your PIN and instructions on how to vote online or by phone. A Voter Help Centre will be established at Mono's Town Hall to assist electors with the online & telephone voting process or other general election inquiries. The help centre at the Town Hall will be available on the following dates and times:
Friday, October 14, 2022 from 10 am to 4:30 pm
Monday, October 17 to Friday, October 21, 2022 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
8:30 am to 8:00 pm on Monday, October 24, 2022 (Voting Day)
Who Can Vote?
Residents of the Town of Mono or an owner or tenant of land in the Town
Spouse of an owner or tenant
Electors must also
Be a Canadian Citizen
Be at least 18 years old
Not prohibited from voting by law
Electors can have their name added to the Voters' List up to the closing of polls on Voting Day. To have a name added, one piece of identification that includes name and current residential address must be shown. You can view a complete list of acceptable identification in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (Ontario Regulation 304/13 Voter Identification).
Check and Confirm Your Electoral Information
Contact the Town of Mono to verify that you are on the Voters' list. 519.941.3599 347209 Mono Centre Road, Mono, ON
Offices to Be Elected
The Offices to be elected are as follows:
Office of the Mayor (ACCLAIMED)
Deputy Mayor (ACCLAIMED)
Councillor (3 seats)
Upper Grand District School Board Trustee
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Trustee
Conseil Scolaire Viamonde Trustee
Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (formerly Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre-sud)
Is Online/Telephone Voting Safe? What If My Pin Is Stolen?
The data centre environment is in Halifax and it hosts some of the most sensitive government and financial systems running in Atlantic Canada. It is built to provide a highly secure and reliable solution to ensure voter anonymity and secrecy of your vote while also ensuring a fair election process. Stealing and opening another person's mail is illegal as is representing another person and stealing that person's right to vote in an election. If you know someone else has voted with your PIN, report it to the Election Official immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I won't be in Mono during the voting period. Can I still vote?
Yes, even if you're on vacation outside of Canada, as long as you can either call or connect to the Internet, you can vote.
2. I find a lot of websites are difficult to navigate. How can I vote?
The voting system has been designed to meet the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) requirements to make sure everyone can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the system. If there are any issues (Internet connectivity, etc.), there is also the option to call and vote.
3. I use a screen reader. Can I vote online?
Yes, the system is WCAG-2 compatible and supports voting using screen readers.
4. What if I don't get a PIN in the mail by Election Day?
If you are an eligible elector and on the official Voter List, but did not get a PIN in the mail by the start of the election period, you can request a replacement PIN.
5. Is registration required?
No. At anytime during the election period, you may use your PIN to vote online or by phone.
Accessibility Plan
In an effort to ensure that the 2022 Municipal Election is consistent with the core principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the Town has developed an Accessibility Plan in advance of the election to identify measures to be taken.
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High speed fibre Internet for all of Mono:
Where do you and your party stand on rolling out high speed fibre for all of Mono? Multiple providers have applied to the Federal and Provincial governments for grants to extend service throughout the Town yet no announcements have been forthcoming. What will you do to expedite a process seemingly bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
Ministerial Zoning Orders:
Where do you and your party stand on use of this process to override local planning decisions? In general, where do you and your party stand on the ability of local municipalities to determine their future through locally driven planning solutions?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
413:
Do you and your party support the construction of a highway that parallels an under-utilized highway (407) Are you willing to support subsidizing use of the 407 as an alternative?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
Regional Transit:
Are you in favour of better GO bus service to Dufferin County including greater frequency, extension to Shelburne through Mono, weekend service, express runs to Brampton and general rationalization of service?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
Aggregate extraction:
Will you and your party support an assessment classification for pits and quarries that better recognizes their commercial/industrial activity? Will you also support an increase in the tonnage fee remitted to municipalities that better reflects wear and tear on roads and local impacts?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
Increased fines and penalties for drivers who break the law:
Mindful of epidemic speeding and reckless driving on our roads, do you support increased fines and penalties under the Highway Traffic Act, many of which have remained the same for 30 years? Mono has also called for the ability to use Automated Speed Enforcement on roadways with a speed limit of 80 km. without restrictions or conditions. Will you support this essential tool to curtail reckless road behaviour?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
Measures to increase affordable housing:
What is your plan to encourage affordable housing in municipalities such as Mono while at the same time being sensitive to their rural character?
Responses:
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Response
Ontario Liberal Party Response
Ontario NDP/NPD Response
Dufferin-Caledon Candidates
BANYAI, ANDREA
Political Party: New Blue
Website: www.andreabanyai.com
Contact: use the contact form at www.newblueontario.com/dufferin-caledon
On January 1, 2021, you should no longer provide checkout bags to customers. You may only supply a bag if:
You first ask customers whether they need a bag and they respond that they require one
The bag you provide to customers is a paper bag
Customers must pay for the bag. Businesses can set whatever price they feel is appropriate for these bags.
Customers should be allowed to use any reusable bag that they may already have, including bags from competitors.
Are There Any Exceptions?
You may still provide bags in the following situations if the bags do any of the following:
Package loose bulk items, such as fruit / vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy;
Package loose small hardware items such as nails and bolts;
Contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, poultry or fish;
Wrap flowers or potted plants;
Protect prepared foods or bakery goods that are not already packaged;
Contain prescription drugs received from a pharmacy;
Transport live fish;
Protect linens, bedding, or other similar large items that cannot easily fit in a reusable bag;
Protect newspapers or other printed material that may be left outside;
Protect clothes after laundering or dry cleaning;
Protect tires that cannot easily fit in a reusable bag;
Collect and dispose of animal waste
You may also provide a small paper bag at no charge for small purchases.
Penalties
Contravening the new Plastic Bag Bylaw will result in a fine of $150. Any person who is charged with multiple or repeat offences under this Bylaw is liable to the following fines if found guilty under Part 3 of the Provincial Offences Act:
$500 for each day or part day that the offence continues, limited to $10,000
$500 for each offence in a case of multiple offences and the total of all fines for each included offence is limited to $10,000
We are interested to hear about what the switch away from plastic will mean for you at checkouts. What changes will you as a customer or a business need to take? What supports may be helpful? Let us know in the comments. We are ready for your feedback and we are listening.
Comments & Feedback
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