[0:00] I'm honored to be joining the board. I'm born and raised in Thunder Bay area. My background is all nursing. We have done some traveling and

[0:10] lived and worked in the states for a period of time and then out in BC. So worked in various health care settings and different jurisdictions. So, you know, right currently I'm working for the

[0:25] I'm here at Greenstone District School Board as the disability and wellness administrator.

[0:31] So I've had a lot of work to do and done with the health unit this winter and through the spring in

[0:40] terms of COVID. So I'm excited to be sitting on the board and learning more about the board and the

[0:47] work that is done with the health unit. So thank you.

[0:52] Thank you very much.

[0:56] So going around the room, again, with the interference

[0:59] we're getting on the microphones, please just put your mic on as you speak.

[1:03] So we'll go through the same as we'll call it, say, who you are,

[1:06] and the area that you're representing.

[1:08] So Stevenson gets an idea of who we are and where we're from.

[1:13] So starting with Bishop.

[1:15] Yes.

[1:16] Hello and welcome.

[1:17] My name is Elena Bishop, and I represent all over Papung on council.

[1:21] Thank

[1:24] you Ms. Bishop Mr. Gail who's not with us is the CEO for the City of Thunder Bay. Miss

[1:31] Herashello. Hello Sonja. I know her quite well. I represent the municipality of Dorian,

[1:40] Redrock and Nippigan.

[1:43] Thank you Ms. Johnson. Thank you. Welcome Ms. Stevenson. I'm sure that you will

[1:49] I was in my, I think, third and fourth meeting.

[1:52] I have just come onto the board myself.

[1:54] I am a city councilor with the city of Thunder Bay

[1:57] and I represent council on the health board.

[2:02] Thank you, Mr. McEckron.

[2:08] You're on mute, sir.

[2:14] I'm having our time with, okay.

[2:15] My name is John McEckron, I'm the mayor of Manage-wise.

[2:18] I'd like to see you.

[2:20] And so on your journey,

[2:21] first and we have had the opportunity to speak.

[2:23] For me, I'm a councilor for the long-lack war,

[2:26] the municipality of Greenstone.

[2:28] Mr. Mullins.

[2:32] Aye, welcome.

[2:33] My name is Mayor Mullins.

[2:35] I represent a Scriber, Township Scriber and Township Therese Bay.

[2:41] I'm really enjoying my term on here.

[2:45] It's very enlightening to say the least.

[2:48] Thank you.

[2:49] Mr. Gorman.

[2:51] Hi, Sonia.

[2:53] I'm a Councillor with the Township of Gillies.

[2:55] and I'm also representing the township of Leigh being on this board.

[3:00] Do

[3:03] we have Mr. Smith on yet?

[3:07] Seeing him, Mr. Valance.

[3:14] Hello, my name is Greg Valance and I am a councillor for the town of

[3:17] Marathon. Welcome aboard.

[3:23] Thank you. We don't have Mr.

[3:24] Vesna with us. Newswear water. Welcome, Sanya. My name is Michelle

[3:29] Werboda and I'm with the City of Thunder Bay. I'm a director for the

[3:33] environment, environment division, so I'm looking forward to working with you.

[3:40] So there we go Ms. Stevenson, a few faces. Unfortunately this is as close as we've got to see each

[3:48] other in over a year. So at some point we will get face to face and we have a better understanding

[3:53] of some of the personalities of everybody.

[3:58] Voting, voting for today's meeting. Special thanks

[4:01] to Mr. Smith for keeping on my case while fighting another way to vote at the meetings. And we've

[4:07] gone through Roberts rules, we've gone through our by-law, so because we don't have in

[4:12] our procedural by-laws something saying otherwise, what I can do is ask instead of four people

[4:20] in favor, I can ask if there are any objections. And if I hear of no objections, then I can

[4:26] announce the motion is carried. Should someone wish to make an objection, then I will revert

[4:32] to our previous role called form of vote process.

[4:37] And unanimous consent, if there is no objective,

[4:41] it doesn't mean that someone may disagree.

[4:43] It may feel that they understand

[4:45] that the motion may be carried

[4:46] and to save the process of a vote.

[4:49] So please, all if you do have an objection,

[4:51] let me know, and we'll go through the process.

[4:53] Otherwise, I will ask if there are any, if none,

[4:56] that will certainly speed us up, so thank you.

[5:00] Second item is follow-up from the chair evaluations.

[5:04] I really appreciate the time people put in to evaluate my performance and how I can

[5:08] do better as your chair.

[5:11] One of the common threads was the process of questions.

[5:16] And to address the concerns and the suggestions that came out of the evaluations, process

[5:25] for questions will be that put your hands up electronically so I can see who has raised

[5:33] your hands. I will mark it down on the speaker's list. I will do my best to get it in order

[5:37] of hands going up. Ask your one specific question. If the response doesn't clarify your question,

[5:46] you can ask for an additional or supplemental to that question. Then I will go down to the next

[5:52] person on the list for their first questions. And the purpose of that is it was strongly

[5:57] suggested that I need to involve more people in asking of questions. So this will allow

[6:02] more people to take the opportunity to ask a question. And if you do think of a question

[6:08] as the process goes, raise your hand electronically, pick it up, and then maybe into the second

[6:15] round before I get to you, I will not get to everybody. And then if you have other questions,

[6:19] not tied to your first question. Let me know by keeping your hand up and I will

[6:25] add you into the second or third or fourth whatever number of questions that we do need.

[6:30] So hopefully that process will allow us to encourage people to ask questions

[6:34] and to ensure that everyone gets through their questions that they have.

[6:44] Item three on

[6:45] our agenda is decorations of conflict of interest. Are there any decorations of

[6:50] conflict, either personal or pecuniary.

[6:57] Non-mention will go to approval of the agenda

[7:01] and Ms. Stevens, do I need to amend the agenda for an item coming out of in-camera?

[7:11] I know sir, you do not. Okay.

[7:17] So it has been moved by Mr. Gorman,

[7:19] second by Mr. Mullins, that the agenda for the regular Board of Health,

[7:23] need to be held in June 16th, 2021 be approved. Are there any errors or

[7:28] emissions to the agenda?

[7:33] Are there being non-skated? Are there any objections to

[7:38] the carrying of this motion?

[7:44] There being none, the motion is carried.

[7:53] Information

[7:55] session, Ms. Ravichak, you have the floor for the I-PAC hub.

[8:00] Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'd like to introduce the manager of our infectious disease

[8:04] program Diana Galemlock and Anita Ella who is the coordinator of our

[8:09] infection prevention and control team hopefully they both keep up their

[8:13] camera glass so you can see them. During the pandemic the Ministry of Health

[8:18] identified gaps in eye-pack measures and how they get settings and in order to

[8:24] address this funding was provided. To organizations broke the

[8:28] province to create high-packed programs.

[8:31] More than public health units receive funding to create these programs for education and

[8:36] support for car sharing services, particularly ones that don't have internal programs such

[8:42] as shelter.

[8:43] So, at this point, I'll hand it over to Anita so she can provide more information on this

[8:48] program.

[8:52] Thank you, Danielle.

[8:53] So I did put together a quick PowerPoint presentation, so I'm going to go ahead and share

[8:59] my screen here.

[9:00] Just let me know if you can see it.

[9:11] Can everybody see that?

[9:12] We have it.

[9:13] Wonderful.

[9:15] So thank you for the opportunity to present today.

[9:18] I just want to provide you a little bit of a background on why IPAC hubs were developed.

[9:23] I'd like to Neil had it alluded to.

[9:26] Explain the concept of the hub and spoke model that our program is based on.

[9:31] Let you know who we serve and what supports we do provide here at the hub.

[9:35] So

[9:39] back in March of last year, who declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic,

[9:45] the health unit realized at that time that there was a great deal of work to be done,

[9:50] to ensure that congregate settings were prepared for COVID outbreak response.

[9:54] So congregate setting working groups were quickly formed,

[9:58] and we were able to support those settings.

[10:01] And this is truly where the planning and the important work began,

[10:04] ensuring that all settings were prepared for any type of outbreak response that was needed.

[10:11] In the spring of 2020, a majority of the settings were visited by our environmental health

[10:16] teams, and at that time our checklists for preparedness were completed with each setting.

[10:22] In the fall, when we saw our local cases increase, settings were visited once again,

[10:28] to ensure that they were prepared, and that checklists were reviewed,

[10:33] and of course,

[10:34] we all saw as time went on that the pandemic was evolving. It was evident that those individuals

[10:40] either working or living within congregate settings were at most risk of COVID-19. And within

[10:46] Ontario, we all saw the devastating effects that COVID was having on those individual settings.

[10:52] And when we're talking about congregate living settings, we're talking about those settings

[10:57] where individuals are not related, who live within the same home. And they share common areas

[11:04] or spaces such as washrooms, kitchens, living areas, so long-term care homes, retirement homes,

[11:10] corrections, jails, a lot of the shelters, group homes that we have in our community.

[11:16] So as part of the planning to keep Ontario safe and preparing for future waves,

[11:22] the need was identified at that time for COVID, IPAC preparedness with prevention as a goal

[11:27] within these settings, so hence iPAC hubs were developed.

[11:34] So all hubs within the province of Ontario are based on this hub and spoke model or concept that you see there.

[11:40] And the premise is that through these new province-wide networks, congregate living settings will be able to access iPAC expertise

[11:48] and just in time advice or guidance and direct support on iPAC practices through this collaborative one window approach.

[11:55] So in the north of health units were chose most likely to be the leads in the south hospitals are the leads.

[12:03] So I just put up a diagram of us being the hub of this model were in the middle and then we have all of our partners that we have on the outside as our spokes.

[12:16] So here at the health unit our team was created and we all came together in the beginning of February in 2021.

[12:24] and our team consists of myself, a coordinator,

[12:27] we have a public health inspector, Amanda,

[12:30] on our team as well as a public health nurse,

[12:32] a Courtney, and we're under the direction and guidance

[12:35] of our manager, Diana, that you all know.

[12:39] So the Health Unit's IPAC hub,

[12:41] it was created to support and enhance

[12:43] those IPAC practices within community-based,

[12:46] congregate-living organizations or settings

[12:48] within the city as well as the District of Thunder Bay.

[12:51] and our primary goal is to improve IPAC preparedness with that prevention mind.

[12:56] We want to prevent COVID from entering those settings, but if it were identified within those settings,

[13:01] we want those settings to be able to be prepared to implement IPAC measures that they need

[13:07] to further reduce spread within their setting.

[13:11] Our aim is just to strengthen our partners' IPAC knowledge and abilities

[13:15] and to implement IPAC measures that will decrease the impact of outbreaks within their settings.

[13:20] And this, of course, increases the quality of life for their staff, residents, and families,

[13:26] and ultimately improves overall eye-packed preparedness within these settings, which we know

[13:31] was lacking.

[13:33] So here at the hub, we support long-term care and retirement homes, residential settings,

[13:40] assisted living support of housing, shelters, youth residential settings.

[13:45] So examples of some organizations we've been involved with since the beginning.

[13:50] of our program, or the Shelter House Salvation Army,

[13:53] Liquid on Lodge, Corrections, Options Northwest,

[13:57] Crossroads, John Howard Society, just to name a few.

[14:03] So what we support, or what kind of support we do

[14:06] to provide those organizations, I-PAC education and training.

[14:10] So we support ongoing education and training by increasing

[14:14] and expanding those settings that I-PAC knowledge.

[14:18] We conduct site visits and consult to assist settings

[14:21] and open preparedness so we provide support for completing and reviewing the checklist that

[14:26] is applicable to those homes and we know as the pandemic has evolved those plans as well

[14:32] have evolved and changed so we've been auditing those those checklists that they have in place

[14:38] and plans and we also provide best practice recommendations to strengthen and enhance any

[14:44] curtain practices and policies and procedures that they have in place. Of course when we make

[14:50] those best practice recommendations were able to provide support to ensure that organizations

[14:55] are able to implement them, so we're able to do that.

[14:59] React as a resource.

[15:00] So, we share and direct settings on where to find current best practices, up to gate, regulations,

[15:06] directive, guidance documents, resources, through that one window approach model. And we know

[15:13] that things change all the time. So, we're really trying to ensure that our organizations are up to date. And then the last thing is we're facilitating a community of practice. So, what we've done is we've created and developed a community of practice.

[15:27] And what that just means is it's a platform, it's a dedicated time and space that we all meet once a month the partners and our settings as a group.

[15:36] And we just connect and it's an opportunity to learn, share, and support one another within our roles of infection control.

[15:44] And prior to this, no platform existed where we were able to do that.

[15:49] So it's been a fantastic group, it's been growing, and a unique way that we're able to support each other and navigate these unprecedented times.

[15:59] And our eye-packed team will continue certainly to work closely with Health Unit staff and our partners to show that any enhanced eye-pack needs identified,

[16:08] either through routine inspections or other activities, will be supported through the hub.

[16:12] So, ensuring we're not duplicating services that the Health Unit and other partners already have in place,

[16:18] but just support and enhancing what is already there through that collaborative approach.

[16:25] And moving forward, we've developed an email address for our partners, Health Unit staff,

[16:31] and everyone to be able to connect with us.

[16:33] So, any type of needs, requests, consultations, assistance, questions related to congregate living settings

[16:41] come to one email address to all of our members, so we're able to ask

[16:46] to our partners.

[16:52] Thank you.

[17:00] Thank you Miss Allen. We're just getting ourselves

[17:02] back to

[17:07] the screen and

[17:17] I'm going through a little question list. So starting with

[17:22] Miss Bishop, you're first on the list.

[17:28] Yes, thank you very much. I do have a

[17:31] question. Is it your group that or who would it be that makes the signs that

[17:37] that tell people working in these institutions,

[17:41] how to dawn and doth, how to put on a takeoff,

[17:43] contaminated gloves and gowns.

[17:46] Who would be responsible for those little signs?

[17:49] So there's several organizations

[17:52] who create those signs for proper dawning and doffing.

[17:55] Most often the ministry public health Ontario

[17:59] has those signs, but we have developed some as well,

[18:02] specific to congregate settings.

[18:04] A lot of the signage that you do see

[18:06] is long-term care retirement home-directed, so we have created a few as well internally here at the hub.

[18:14] All right. Well, I won't bring this up right now, but I do have a question for you later.

[18:21] Do you want me to ask you now? Okay, I'm going to go ahead. I visit long-term care every second day

[18:28] because I have a family member there, and I did read the instructions and they're not right,

[18:35] They're not correct as far as I know. I just like you to look into it. In any setting of contamination, you should take off

[18:42] Your gown and then remove your gloves and they have it the opposite way around and I've been questioned by staff

[18:50] They're actually so maybe you could let me know about that privately

[18:58] For sure. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Bishop. Next question. This is Miss O'Glorment

[19:04] My question is around the knowledge and training piece and I'm wondering whether it includes

[19:11] information or concerns related to the COVID vaccine that staff may have because yes, so

[19:18] that's my question.

[19:24] Sorry.

[19:25] Sorry, what was that if I didn't get the question, sorry.

[19:29] Okay, I can repeat it.

[19:31] I'm wondering whether in your knowledge and training that you do in the congregate living settings,

[19:39] if it includes information and a chance for discussion with staff around the COVID vaccine.

[19:49] So our habit doesn't necessarily advise on vaccine. So whether it be

[19:55] priority lists or how vaccine is distributed, that would be our vaccine preventable disease program.

[20:03] here at the health unit.

[20:06] Supplemental?

[20:07] Go ahead, Mr. Gromit.

[20:08] Just to clarify, I wanted to know whether you provide information about the vaccine as

[20:15] one of the ways of handling an outbreak.

[20:20] I can answer that question.

[20:22] Yes.

[20:22] If there's any type of an outbreak question, we definitely bring up immunization and we will provide

[20:30] them with additional information on the importance of the immunization as well in over the course

[20:37] of the pandemic when there has been outbreaks we have facilitated getting them access to vaccine

[20:43] quicker. Thank you. Welcome.

[20:49] Thank you, Mr. Gordon, for the questions. I miss Bishop,

[20:52] and to Ms. Allen, I much appreciate the presentation and a final question for you. As you've worked with

[20:59] have there been some key learnings?

[21:03] Absolutely.

[21:04] Yes, we've definitely learned a lot with infection prevention and control and with COVID

[21:11] things are rapidly changing so you always have to keep up to date on the information.

[21:15] So we're constantly learning and involving our program to reflect those changes

[21:19] and keeping on top of everything that's evolving.

[21:25] Thank you very much, ma'am. I appreciate it.

[21:27] Thank you.

[21:28] Good luck for having your staff present to us.

[21:31] Thank you.

[21:32] Thank you.

[21:35] Next item on the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, it has been moved by Ms.

[21:40] O'Gorman, seconded by Ms. Ware-Water, that the minutes of the Thunderbury District

[21:43] Board of Health, regular and closed session meeting, held on May 19th, be approved.

[21:49] Discussion comments on the minutes,

[21:56] there being none, are there any objections to the caring

[22:01] of this motion?

[22:05] Ms. Johnson, you have a question.

[22:07] Yeah, it's just that I think it's important to identify it comes up later in the in the meeting that

[22:14] the request that we had made to the have the providing anticipated date for the annual services plan has

[22:23] not been received at least that's what we get later on in the agenda. So I just wanted to make sure

[22:27] that we were aware that that had not occurred. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Oson.

[22:39] Are there any

[22:41] objections to the motion being carried.

[22:48] 39, that motion is carried.

[22:57] 6.2, the Executive Committee,

[23:02] minutes that were just sent out for people's information.

[23:06] If you didn't have a chance to read the email,

[23:09] then the minutes are there.

[23:11] We'll be in your email box.

[23:12] Miss Johnson,

[23:17] you're on mute, ma'am.

[23:20] Everything is off.

[23:21] Okay, I apologize for that.

[23:22] The on page 23 of the February minutes, I'm assuming that the word pre-performs should be pre-formed.

[23:34] It should be pre-performed, like P-E-R. I think that's just a little error, but I know we can't change these minutes because we're not on the executive.

[23:44] But I just think that's the wrong word. So I just want to identify that. Thank you.

[23:49] Yes, the very last word on page 23.

[23:53] Correct.

[23:54] Perform this.

[23:55] Yes.

[23:57] Ms. Stevens, we so note.

[23:59] Yes, sir.

[24:00] Thank you.

[24:10] You exist to items seven.

[24:15] I don't see any matters arising from the minutes.

[24:19] And then we're to go into closed session.

[24:23] So it has been moved by Ms. Bishop,

[24:26] second by Ms. Wearwoda, that the Board of Health was in the closed session to receive information

[24:31] relative to identified individuals and information relative to labor relations or negotiations.

[24:38] Are there any objections to us moving forward? And for the notes Ms. Stevens, I see that Mr. Smith

[24:45] has now joined us.

[24:49] You have an end on

[24:53] 27.

[24:59] Objections, then we can go into closed session Dr. DeMille

[25:04] and Mr. Dill, who do we need to be meaning on the call?

[25:12] Through the share, Dan, her eye check will also be remaining on the call, as well as

[25:17] Tenio and Bradbich at the Director of Health Protection.

[25:20] I went into closed session, it's now a commodity closed session, and where we've received

[25:25] information relative to identify individuals and information related to labor relations

[25:31] or employee negotiations.

[25:33] Those items were covered in our closed session.

[25:36] Decisions of the board, we have a new resolution that came out of closed session.

[25:42] I will read the resolution, then I will need a mover and a seconder.

[25:46] Is that with respect to report number 252021, medical officer health and to CEO, the board

[25:52] health ratifies the changes tentatively agreed to by both parties in May 19, 2021, to the

[25:58] Canadian Union, a public employees members collective agreement, effective January 2021, to December

[26:04] Number 31st, 2022.

[26:06] Can I have a mover and a seconder, please?

[26:10] Mr. McKecran?

[26:15] And seconded, Ms. Bishop.

[26:24] So moved by Mr. McKecran, seconded by Ms. Bishop.

[26:28] Any discussion on the motion?

[26:34] There being none, then, are there any objections

[26:36] to this motion being carried?

[26:41] Motion is then carried.

[26:56] I have to leave this meeting at 3 o'clock.

[26:59] I have another meeting.

[27:00] Would there be anything wrong with that?

[27:03] How about signed any resolutions that would need to be changed?

[27:09] The policy committee to down.

[27:15] If you're gone, thank you for the heads up.

[27:18] Then I will ask for another person.

[27:20] All right.

[27:21] Thank you very much.

[27:23] 9.2 user fee Ms. Rabichuk for yours again.

[27:29] Thank you, Ms. McPherson.

[27:31] As stated in the issue report, we are discussing that the Board of Health approved the user fees for next run on,

[27:39] which is the former birth control recently approved by Health Canada.

[27:42] And this product will be used in our sexual health clinic as well as on our street outreach program.

[27:47] and the Ontario Public Health Standards Act helped us provide a mechanism for

[27:53] the public at cost and rates of growth.

[27:57] So, I think we need to have a small audience.

[27:59] So, I think that's how that failed.

[28:00] Perhaps we need to be for Roger, who is the manager of the electrical health program,

[28:05] here to answer any questions in the public.

[28:10] Thank you, Mr. Rabbitchuk.

[28:16] I'm not seeing any questions.

[28:18] So, I'll go to the resolution, which is sponsored by Ms. Johnson's Secretary,

[28:22] by Mr. Smith. We'll use your fee next plan on that with respect to report number 2421,

[28:29] sexual health, we recommend that the addition of next plan on to the user fee schedule be approved

[28:34] and that the director of corporate services and manager of finance be authorized to complete

[28:38] any administrative matters relative to implementing these changes. Are there any objections to

[28:45] this motion being carried?

[28:50] Seeing none, the motion is carried. Thank you very much, Ms. Robert

[28:54] Next

[29:01] item is the Board of Health Policy Committee.

[29:06] Before the shutdown, we're moving along very well.

[29:09] We're working on our by-law policies.

[29:11] We've had about a year and a half gap.

[29:13] And during that time, we have lost one of our members

[29:15] to coming off of the board.

[29:19] So we're looking for someone to join us for the Board of Health

[29:23] ad hoc policy committee.

[29:25] Our goal is that late summer, we may be able to get back to work.

[29:29] So is there someone who has an interest if so put up your hand in joining us?

[29:40] Ms. Johnson,

[29:45] seeing no other hands, can I put your name down as the new rep to our committee?

[29:56] I would be pleased to do that. I enter our policies, so yes.

[30:00] Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. So therefore, moved by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Bishop, that the following member, we appointed to the Board of Health, ad hoc policy committee, and that's Ms. Johnson. Thank you. Are there any objections to the motion being carried?

[30:20] Seeing none, it is carried. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Welcome to our group. I'm looking forward to your input, because we identified we have opportunities for improvement.

[30:31] Okay, I'm happy to do that. I really enjoyed doing policies, so thank you.

[30:38] Now, communications for information. The park that I believe everybody wants to hear Dr.

[30:44] Demille speak about. The floor is yours now.

[30:49] Well, then I guess it's a thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess it's a good thing that I have overall pretty good news.

[30:55] Thank you. Thank you. It's been a tough run for all of us, yes.

[30:59] Yeah, so I will share my screen.

[31:24] So, I'm going to provide an update on both COVID-19 and a vaccine for the Thunder Ravens

[31:30] like County and Atlanta.

[31:32] So I have this collective screen shots from our website, actually, which show you how

[31:39] we're doing right now with COVID-19 and the top part, I think you could see, I don't know.

[31:49] The first, the curve with episode dates goes back to the fall and up until June 15th and

[31:56] it shows just the number of cases by episode date.

[31:59] It's not the reported date, but so you can see the large search that we had back in February

[32:05] in March and then the lower numbers that we did in the training and a little cluster, unfortunately,

[32:13] of some cases that seem to be falling down now though.

[32:18] And that's the status of this morning,

[32:20] so 35 active cases.

[32:22] Unfortunately, there are a number of individuals

[32:25] in hospital, including an ICU.

[32:28] So that just reflects the significance of COVID-19

[32:31] and the impact that it can have on residents

[32:34] in the top-fendered registered health unit area.

[32:36] The other curve is the incident rate over time.

[32:39] So it is the seven-day incident rate.

[32:41] the number of new cases per 100,000 of the population over time.

[32:46] This used to be one of the measures used by the government to go through the color-coded

[32:51] framework, and we are fairly low at this time, which is a good sign in terms of recovery.

[33:01] In terms of COVID-19, we continue to have some risks for the population.

[33:06] There can be clusters and outbreaks, and these might be related, for example, to a workplace.

[33:13] Often we see spread in the household. There could be a cluster related to a gathering, for example.

[33:20] And, you know, unfortunately, especially with the variance of concern, that we could end up experiencing spread.

[33:28] And what we often see as we have since the beginning of the pandemic is there there's that ongoing transmission so there's one

[33:35] setting where the virus has spread and then it may go to households of individuals that

[33:42] the virus spread to in that setting and

[33:46] Then other members of the household may may take the virus into their workplaces or other other situations that they're at so

[33:53] That's the kind of thing we've seen

[33:55] in since the beginning of this pandemic,

[33:58] and unfortunately, that's something that we could still see.

[34:02] And it is happening in other health units,

[34:04] even though that the number of cases is overall

[34:08] going down provincially, we do see still some

[34:11] significant situations happening,

[34:13] including into the health unit

[34:15] in the east of us,

[34:17] porcupine health unit, continues to move

[34:19] the food and vibrate of COVID-19.

[34:23] The other risk is related to the variance of concern.

[34:26] All of our cases right now are variants of concern.

[34:29] That's really not surprising.

[34:31] They're just variants of coronavirus,

[34:33] and they happen to be here.

[34:35] But a particular concern is the Delta variant,

[34:38] which is a variant initially described in India

[34:43] that does seem to be more infectious overall than the other

[34:47] and likely results in greater hospitalization,

[34:50] or greater risk of social exclusion.

[34:54] It's a good news about the, and it is the one,

[34:56] we do following that one closely

[35:00] because it is the one that is slowly taking over

[35:03] in terms of the cases.

[35:06] We do have the benefit of our understanding

[35:10] of that around the Delta variant is still evolving.

[35:12] We do have the benefit that other jurisdictions

[35:14] are sort of ahead of us.

[35:17] Notably the United Kingdom where the Delta variant has taken over really as the main circulating

[35:23] strain of COVID-19 in that country.

[35:26] On the good news side though is that the vaccines work against the Delta variant as per as like

[35:33] other variants and although two doses work much better than one dose so it does have a lower

[35:41] effectiveness against the Delta variant with only one dose and two doses work

[35:48] though very well. And I said should note and I'll get on to talking about the

[35:54] vaccine but there's still possibility of getting breakthrough cases in other

[36:00] words COVID-19 even in somebody who's fully immunized. It does tend to be fairly

[36:06] It makes my even asymptomatic and still less likely to result in hospitalization or death.

[36:16] My message is the same as it's always been COVID-19 is still here and it can be anywhere.

[36:22] It can seemingly appear out of the blue people are quite ordered or surprised and it can spread

[36:28] quickly and it's very good that our numbers are as low as they are.

[36:33] It does help protect us.

[36:35] I'll tell you the other thing that helps protect us when the residents of the Thunder Bay

[36:42] District are certainly stepping up to really help this cause.

[36:47] So this just represents the numbers that we measure and monitor and again this is comparing

[36:55] last week to this week, well we consider the week Sunday to Saturday and so ending Saturday

[37:02] So four days ago, you could see the numbers of doses that have been administered in our area

[37:08] and the number of people who have received at least one dose. So that's about 63.5% of the population

[37:18] and that's 74% in how we calculated of those who are 18 plus in the Thunder Raid District Health Unit area.

[37:27] Of course, the two doses required for full immunization were now at 16.5 percent of the

[37:33] population or 19.6 for those who are adult, 18 and over.

[37:42] And I'll note, you'll see the difference in the doses administered went up by about 15,000.

[37:49] Really, the doses administered last week was, and over those seven days was just shy of

[37:56] 13,000 doses. We had actually done 13 more, we would have been at 13,000, but the rest

[38:03] of the 15,000 is that the numbers for operation remote immunity, round one, which happened

[38:11] back in February and March, are now being included for those communities in the Thunder

[38:18] Bay District Health Unit area are now being included. But they're not in, yeah, I know.

[38:23] So that did help, wow, that's the reason why that was so big, but mind you, the 13,000

[38:28] is still very good.

[38:32] I will note that the ministry calculates their numbers a bit differently than we do.

[38:41] And on Saturday June 12th, the ministry had us at a population level of 80.8% having had

[38:51] and Windows, and 21.2% having had two doses.

[38:55] So it is higher than what we report

[38:57] just the way we calculate things.

[38:59] I suspect the true amount is somewhere

[39:01] between those two numbers.

[39:03] So again, and by the way,

[39:06] we are on the Ministries dashboard,

[39:10] second highest in the province,

[39:12] among 34 health units.

[39:14] So thanks to all the work going on all over the place.

[39:21] here's the breakdown by age and by first dose and second doses are fully

[39:26] immunized in at least one so we monitor this every week and of course if you

[39:33] do want to do those at greatest risk being fully immunized at this time and

[39:38] even increasing the number that have even one dose so looking at the 80 plus years

[39:45] That's a really important indicator, and both those having received at least one dose

[39:50] went up and that more substantially those who have now received two doses is going up

[39:58] and we do expect that number to increase because we are focusing on the 70, 70 years and

[40:04] older right now primarily.

[40:07] So all of these, all of the age ranges do go up as well as those who have received second

[40:12] doses.

[40:12] and of course youth 12 to 17 now have access to the immunization and this

[40:18] represented the biggest job since last week. We were at 30.3% last week and 43.7%

[40:25] this week. So all everything going in the right direction.

[40:30] This is just a number of weekly doses administered by week, Sunday through

[40:38] Saturday and of course this is the entire Thunder Bay District health unit area and it includes

[40:44] pharmacies which are now contributing significantly to the number and this goes back right to the end

[40:52] of December when we first received vaccines. So you could certainly, you could see that sort of

[40:57] 13,000, almost 13,000 administered last week and the ORI number is the Operation Remote Immunity

[41:05] or assigned to the week that they actually occurred.

[41:09] Of course, as you can see by this graph,

[41:11] it's also mostly Pfizer that we're delivering,

[41:13] but we are expecting more Moderna coming very shortly.

[41:19] This just reflects, sort of,

[41:21] we monitor for first and second doses.

[41:23] We, you know, at 80% according to the Ministry number

[41:27] where we're currently at,

[41:28] we do want to make sure we're still offering immunization

[41:32] to people for their first dose

[41:35] while at the same time wanting to see more fully,

[41:38] individuals fully immunized as reflected

[41:41] by the purple bar on that graph.

[41:43] So we will see that gradually, first doses.

[41:47] So it's very good to see still first doses being accessed

[41:51] as well as increasing numbers of second doses.

[41:55] So both going forward, and this is more broadly about COVID,

[42:00] there's a number of things that are happening

[42:02] or that have happened.

[42:03] So, as you know, we are following the roadmap to reopen and supporting the community and

[42:08] organizations in reopening.

[42:13] And we have updated our travel recommendations recently to be more permissive of travel

[42:20] and especially as numbers drop across the country and in Ontario.

[42:26] We are also actively planning around future sustainability, basically managing, you know,

[42:35] ongoing COVID-19 related issues over the summer and even preparing for what we might

[42:40] expect with like the reopening of schools in the fall or even as we enter respiratory

[42:47] virus season again in the fall, sort of actively planning what we need to have in place to

[42:53] be sustainable and managing COVID going forward.

[42:57] Related to our overall recovery,

[43:00] and I put all the, I called them the R's.

[43:03] I recover, restore, renew.

[43:07] Some people put response into that.

[43:09] It's really recovering from the pandemic

[43:13] and looking at our programming across the organization,

[43:18] looking at the other impacts of the pandemic,

[43:20] and the prioritizing the public health issues that we need to address and the resources being able to address them.

[43:29] As well, it's even recovering as an organization and as a workforce in terms of the response.

[43:35] So particularly these last five months have been very, very difficult.

[43:42] But really the last 15 have been quite difficult for us as a public health organization.

[43:46] So, we've been just making sure our staff and management team have opportunity to have summer holidays, for example, and recover and restore themselves as well.

[43:58] And at the same time, looking at programming, looking at how we might restart some programming, how we might prioritize about those, and what, if any, do we have to look at differently just because of other impacts of the pandemic.

[44:15] So that's an ongoing process that we will have and of course as we talk to have more

[44:22] engagement, provincially about public health and public health capacity, contributing

[44:28] to any changes and any recovery provincially.

[44:33] As it relates to the vaccine rollout, we are implementing the accelerated second dose strategy

[44:39] which is really to get as many people as possible, fully immunized against COVID-19 receiving their second dose.

[44:48] We are expecting some ongoing supply to our area, and therefore,

[44:53] or effectively managing that and getting it out to all corners of the Thunder Meekestrick as well.

[45:00] Well, we know that pharmacies and primary care and such are also receiving that same. And of course, we do want to, I mean, the goal is 100%. We could be aspirational, but even trying to get those who haven't received a first dose and getting out to them. And although we have been very successful with our mass immunization clinic, as you get to higher and higher rates of immunization,

[45:28] and you have to kind of look at alternative ways of getting out there to people and first

[45:35] of strategies. So a couple of initiatives that we're undertaking actually this week and going

[45:40] forward. We have some neighborhood focused clinics here in the city of Thunder Bay and our first

[45:48] one which was on Monday was very successful. We're doing another one today as well. We do have a

[45:55] clinic, for example, for the rural municipalities to the west of us, centered out of the northwest

[46:06] arena in Stanley, which I'm working with Oliver to finish on that. So that will be tomorrow.

[46:12] And one of the reasons why we did that actually was because I didn't show you the data, but

[46:18] every week we do monitor coverage rates in different areas of the health unit, and just

[46:27] making sure everybody's moving forward. And one of the reasons why we have in that clinic

[46:34] is because those rural areas were falling a bit behind. So, again, it's targeted just a

[46:42] different approach to first dose strategy. So that is my update for you today.

[46:49] Happy to take any questions.

[46:53] Thank you, Dr. DeMille. I see on the question

[46:55] this will start with Mr. Smith.

[47:02] Thank you. Just a quick question with the reopening, the

[47:06] surgery opening this week, the modified reopening and whatever they're calling it. Are you

[47:12] anticipating any kind of increase in cases or contingency plan or any sort is in fact

[47:20] there are any issues in that respect because you know it's a whole new world for a lot

[47:28] of people here and out going out to outdoor like I've gotten in the garden outside of this

[47:35] moment.

[47:36] I just curious to see what your thoughts are on that.

[47:38] Well thank you for the question and through the chair. I mean it is a risk with the reopening

[47:48] as people gather together or numbers are low that people might be less compliant with public

[47:54] health measures and at the same time I think our numbers are low and we're seeing a drop across

[48:01] the province that our vaccination rate is high and I'm actually I am fairly comfortable with the

[48:06] road map for reopening that has been laid out by the province. Of course we will be

[48:13] still encouraging people and we do so every day through social media for example to still

[48:19] follow all public health measures to get vaccinated. And you know a big one is if they have any

[48:25] symptoms to please stay home and isolate and arrange to get tested because that's what that's what's

[48:31] and help us identify and quickly work to contain any COVID-19 that is in our area.

[48:42] Thank you, Dr. DeMille.

[48:45] Very positive report has been a long time since we can look and smile and see some of

[48:49] that success, and that is huge.

[48:53] And certainly a message in my part of the world, we are certainly talking to people about

[48:58] keeping their distance, public health measures, trying to minimize our gatherings because we

[49:05] of opportunities for improvement.

[49:09] Item 10.2, the last item on the agenda is the Alpha

[49:14] AGM in conference. I took the liberty of sending a summary out to everybody. Are there

[49:19] other thoughts from people who went or questions tied to that note? And one of the biggest

[49:27] things they kept talking about was partnerships, relationships, and we heard that earlier

[49:33] you're on in our information session with the IPA Cubs that this pandemic has caused

[49:39] us to have to actually have to talk to people even though it was remotely. So that was

[49:44] one of the biggest learnings from it.

[49:54] So that being the last item on the agenda, it has

[50:00] been moved by Mr. Mullins and seconded by Ms. Johnson that the regular board of health

[50:05] meeting held on the 16th of June 2021 be adjourned at 259 p.m. Are there any objections to carrying

[50:14] this resolution?

[50:17] Before everybody leaves, please from Sarah complete the meeting evaluation.

[50:23] I want to get a feel of how I did today and how I can continually improve on the chairing of the

[50:29] meeting. So thank you very much everyone and take care. Everybody stay safe. Thank you.

[50:36] Thank you.

[50:37] Thank you.

Board of Health Meeting

Agenda

Transcript