Town of Mono's COVID-19 Message Centre:

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.  

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/full-list-of-where-to-get-free-covid-19-rapid-antigen-tests-in-ontario-1.5774753

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.

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Previous Messages

Time to get very strict — or to ease off?

A few months back we hardly knew the word.  Now, “variant” has become achingly familiar. Variants create a threat that may radically complicate our global pandemic response.  VERY worrisome is that the longer the pandemic prevails, the more that new variants will develop.

A variant is a virus whose genetic make-up is slightly altered.  It is a spontaneous change — a mutation — that occurs when the virus replicates.  Of the hundreds of COVID-19 variants, today there are three variants of concern (VOC).  Current they are — the UK,  the South African, and the Brazil variants.  Other candidates for the VOC list include one from California and one just identified from Nigeria.

The problem with a VOC is that their slightly altered genetics affect how they react when they contact a host like yourself.  The mutations in all three VOCs are changes to the knobby protuberances called spikes on the surface of the virus.  The spikes enable the virus to invade human cells, to replicate, damage the cell and create disease.  The changes to the spike allow the virus to more easily invade our cells and thus produce disease more readily than did the original coronavirus.

If a VOC is more infectious — the UK variant spreads between 50% and 70% more easily than the original coronavirus — it will soon become the dominant virus in a community.

A short math lesson….

The basic reproduction number — Ro — is the number of people on average who will get the disease from one person who has the disease. An Ro of 1.0 means every infected person will give the disease on average to one other person, and the total case numbers never change.
With an Ro of 1.1 the case numbers will gradually increase, as each infected person will on average infect slightly more than one other. The goal of any epidemic control is to get the Ro below 1.0 . This will eventually close down the epidemic. (Ro numbers are determined by the degree of infectivity of the virus, vaccines and public health measures such as distancing and mask wearing).
Here is the scary math. If 1,000 people were infected with the usual SARS-CoV-2 variant with an Ro number of 1.1, they would transmit the virus to another 1,100 people. After 10 cycles of this there would be 2,593 active cases. If the Ro number grew to 1.5 (e.g.the UK variant), after 10 cycles there would be 57,665 active cases. A cycle length is 1-2 weeks.

In England, Ireland, and Israel, the UK variant became the dominant virus in a couple of months.  This evolution was accompanied by a surge in the total number of cases.  If other factors are equal, with a more infectious coronavirus, the basic reproduction number (Ro value) will increase, and quickly we will move into another wave of increased cases.

Recent reports from England suggest that the mortality rate for the UK virus is about 33% higher than the original coronavirus.  The 53% mortality for the recent outbreak at Roberta Place in Barrie also points to a potentially higher mortality rate for the UK variant.

Another difference is very worrisome. Children almost universally shrug off the coronavirus, however children and young and older adults seem to be equally susceptible to the UK variant.

If the virus continues to circulate uncontrollably in different parts of the world, no one can return to normal. The hoped-for solution is in the creation of effective vaccines.  The hope is that vaccines will enable global control.  After the start of the pandemic the first vaccines were produced, put through phase I, 2, and 3 trials, and were approved for emergency use in 11 months — an incredible  accomplishment.

Currently we have three different vaccines that are in the public space.  They are remarkable for having up to 95% efficacy.  In comparison the flu vaccines are 40-60% effective at preventing influenza.   The thinking is that if we can get enough of the population immunized — estimates are 50-80% — the Coronavirus will become markedly diminished in its ability to spread through the community.

With the advent of VOCs, the ugly possibility is that new variants will not be sensitive to the vaccines now in use.  Studies suggest that the three vaccines in current use are quite effective against the UK Variant and somewhat less so against the South African variant.  The vaccine makers are now playing catch-up, altering their vaccines in response to the changing genetics of the mutating virus — a process that will reward the nimble, and will have a huge effect on the success of global pandemic control.

There has been recent emphasis on the importance of the quality of face masks.  Initially it was suggested that any cover including a head scarf was valuable protection for yourself and others. These inadequate face coverings are still seen in public.

The more recent understanding about COVID-19 transmission through aerosols (the tiny droplets that are swept into the air from our throats and lungs by simple breathing and then linger in the air) is that they play a huge part in indoor COVID-19 transmission.  Masks, to be effective, should obstruct the passage of these aerosol droplets.  The best masking options are to use a three layered tightly-fitting mask; to wear two masks at the same time as Dr. Anthony Fauci has recently been doing; or to use the now available KN95 masks (a version of an N95 used by at risk health care workers)

What can you do if a more infectious variant enters our community?

The answer is to do more of the same,

     and to be stricter about it!

  • physical distancing,
  • wearing a good mask,
  • not travelling or meeting indoors except with your immediate family,
  • Get vaccinated as soon as possible.

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Election: Unofficial Results

View the Results

Voter Information

Learn about Voting

Who Is Running?

List of Candidates

Becoming a Candidate

The nomination period ended on 2 pm, August 19, 2022.

In this Section:

  1. Recent News
  2. How Do I Vote?
  3. Who Can Vote?
  4. Offices to Be Elected
  5. Who Is Running? (Candidate List)
  6. Is Online/Telephone Voting Safe? What If My Pin Is Stolen?
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Accessibility Plan

Recent News

Election Results

Voter Turnout

Voters: 1,880 voted out of 7,486 eligible voters (25.1%).

Results of the 2022 Municipal Election

Election Results: Councillor (3 to be elected)
Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage, Total Votes
Elaine CAPES 637 13.1%
Marc DARBY 445 9.1%
Melinda DAVIE 656 13.5%
Frank FLOOD 354 7.3%
Robert John LACKEY 393 8.1%
Ralph MANKTELOW 988 20.3%
Bradley MAYER-HARMAN 566 11.6%
Shona ROBBINS 472 9.7%
Doug THOMSON 333 6.8%
SPOILED 3 0.1%
DECLINED 22 0.5%

Acclaimed

Mayor

John Creelman (ACCLAIMED)

Deputy Mayor

Fred Nix (ACCLAIMED)

Elected Candidates

Councillor

  • Elaine CAPES
  • Melinda DAVIE
  • Ralph MANKTELOW

School Board Trustees

2022 School Board Trustee Election Results

Upper Grand District School Board

Election Results: Upper Grand District School Board Trustee
Trustee Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage
Dr. Raymond J. SETO 2,738 43.4%
Lynn TOPPING 3,575 56.6%

English-language Separate School Board

Election Results: English-language Separate School Board Trustee
Trustee Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage
Paula DAMETTO-GIOVANNOZZI 66 43.7%
Domenic MAGGI 14 11.9%
Vince MANZELLA 18 11.9%
Sheralyn ROMAN 53 35.1%

French-language Public School Board

Election Results: French-language Public School Board Trustee
Trustee Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage
Saveria CARUSO 1 16.7%
Eric LAPOINTE 5 83.3%

French-language Separate School Board

Election Results: French-language Separate School Board Trustee
Trustee Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage
Genevieve GRENIER 6 100%
Patrick O'NEIL 0 0%

Related Documents

Candidate Financial Statements

How Do I Vote?

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)

Who Is Running? (Candidate List)

View the Full Candidate List

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.

Waterway Signing Survey

Please view the pictures & map below and use the intersections, roads, etc. for geographical context. There is a spot to fill in any alternative current, historical, or colloquial names of the rivers/streams/creeks/etc.

Personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for the purposes of collecting alternative names for waterways for potential inclusion in signage. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Clerk’s Office: ClerksOffice@townofmono.com, 347209 Mono Centre Road, Mono ON L9W 6S3, 519.941.3599.

Please fill out your contact your preferences: phone and/or email

Reference Map for All Waterways

29 Road Crossings Selected for Signage

Please provide a list of name corrections or alternatives in the fields. Please separate each name with a comma (,).

Graphic representation of a stream

10 Other Road Crossings Not Selected

Please provide a list of name corrections or alternatives in the fields. Please separate each name with a comma (,).

↑ Go Back to Reference Map

Are there any of the above "10 Other Road Crossings Not Selected", that you feel should be selected for signage. Please reference the stream number from the previous section. Provide one waterway per line and include the reason why you feel the additional waterways should be signed.

From what resources did you obtain the information? Please let us know if there would be an opportunity for the Town to examine the resources. If you are listing multiple resources, please list one resource per line.

Security Check *

Please check the box below. The security check helps to protect our system from spam and malicious submissions.

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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

Andrea Banyai

BANYAI, ANDREA

Political Party: New Blue

Website: www.andreabanyai.com

Contact: use the contact form at www.newblueontario.com/dufferin-caledon

Campbell, Laura

CAMPBELL, LAURA

Political Party: Green Party of Ontario GPO

Website: laura-campbell.ca

Contact: 519-278-4602 | contact@laura-campbell.ca

Anonymous person graphic
No image available

EMMANUEL, ERICKUMAR

Political Party: Ontario Moderate Party

Website: ontariomoderate.com

Contact: 416-839-4889 | erickumar@hotmail.com

Gordanier, Bob

GORDANIER, BOB

Political Party: Ontario Liberal Party

Website: www.bobgordanier.ca

Contact: 519-215-2135 | info@bobgordanier.ca

Jones, Sylvia

JONES, SYLVIA

Political Party: PC Party of Ontario

Website: dufferincaledon.ontariopc.ca

Contact: 519-942-0790 | sylvia@sylviajones.ca

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No image available

NGUYEN, LILY

Political Party: Ontario Party

Website: www.ontarioparty.ca/our_candidates_en

Contact: Dufferin-Caledon@protonmail.com

Prendergast, Tess

PRENDERGAST, TESS

Political Party: Ontario NDP/NPD

Website: www.tess.prendergast.ontariondp.ca

Contact: tess.prendergast@ontariondp.ca

Anonymous person graphic
No image available

SAYER, KAY

Political Party: Public Benefit Party

Website: publicbenefitparty.ca

Contact: contact@publicbenefitparty.ca

An Informational Guide to Town of Mono's New Checkout Bag Bylaw

Please select whether you are a Resident / Member of the General Public or a Business

Information for Residents

On January 1, 2021, you should no longer receive checkout bags from stores in Mono. You may only receive a bag if:

  • You are first asked whether you need a bag and you respond that you require one
  • The bag you receive is a paper bag
  • You must pay for the bag

Businesses must allow you to use any reusable bag that you may already have, including bags from competitors.

Woman receiving purchased products in reusable bag

Are There Any Exceptions? 

You may still receive bags in situations when the bag is being used to 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 receive small paper bags at no charge for smaller purchases.

For more information, view the Plastic Bag Bylaw.

Remember Your Bags Graphic

Information for Businesses

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.

Customer receiving purchases in a reusable bag

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

For more information, view the Plastic Bag Bylaw.

We're Listening

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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