COVID-19

Changes to City Services during the Stay-at-Home Order

City Hall Municipal Offices

• City Hall will continue to serve residents by appointment only. In-person appointments will be scheduled for essential and time sensitive services. Where possible, services will be provided through remote means.
• To access City services, please call our customer service team at 905-835-2900

Vale Health & Wellness Centre

• Closed to the public 
• YMCA programs closed to the public 

The Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum

• Closed to the public. Individuals interested in booking a service for once the lockdown is over, may call the Museum at 905-834-7604 and provide their name and number.

The Port Colborne Public Library

• Curbside pickup only, available Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• No in-person services available. The book drop is available 24 hours a day.
• Take & Make Carts, Print and Reference services available through curbside pickup
• Digital library 24/7 with e-books, digital audiobooks, magazines, courses, and programming

Engineering and Operations

• Essential City services, including but not limited to, road maintenance, snow removal and water and wastewater operations will continue

Community restrictions during Emergency Brake 

Gatherings

• Only permitted indoors with one’s household
• Outdoor gatherings: 5 people maximum, with 2 metres distance from each other
• Religious/funeral/wedding services: 15% of the capacity of the room.

Restaurants/Bars

• Take-out only
• No indoor or outdoor dining permitted

Sports/Recreational Facilities

• Outdoor activities only are permitted

Retail stores

• Groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores may operate at 50% capacity
• All other retail including big box stores at 25%

Meeting/Event Venues: Closed

Personal Care (including hair cuts): Closed

Casinos/Bingo/Gaming: Closed

Cinemas: Closed

Performing Arts: Closed

State of Emergency 

On January 12, 2021 the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a second provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). 

What is a declaration of emergency?

Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act the Mayor, or their designate, has the authority to declare an emergency in response to a situation, or impending situation, that presents a major danger that could result in serious harm to residents or substantial damage to property.

Why are we declaring an emergency?

We want to highlight how serious the COVID-19 situation is, and the importance of efforts to slow the spread of the virus. The actions the City, and residents, take over the coming weeks will be critical if a rapid increase in cases is to be prevented. Rapid local transmission could overwhelm the health care system and have dramatic impacts on the health of residents and City staff, possibly impacting the delivery of services.

The declaration underscores the continued importance of efforts to flatten the transmission curve, reminding residents that even as faith-based holidays approach and the weather improves they must continue to do their part by following the advice of public health officials, and orders put in place by the Province, to:

• Self isolate and stay home whenever possible
• Maintain physical separation of two meters
• Avoid gatherings of over five people
• Wash their hands regularly
• Routinely disinfect surfaces
• Observe mandatory closures of non-essential businesses and outdoor recreational amenities
• Follow mandatory 14-day quarantines when returning from travel outside of the province

Declaring an emergency allows us to not only draw attention to how important public cooperation is and how serious the COVID-19 situation could become, but also allows the City to act more quickly in its decision making in response to the virus.

City Hall Services by Appointment 

We are scheduling appointments at the City’s municipal offices Mondays - Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents requiring access to City services. Departments accepting appointments at City Hall include:

Mandatory Masks By-Law 

How can you limit the spread? 

• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if hand washing is not possible
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
• Social distancing: stay home and only leave for food and other essentials, preferably only once per week
• Covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing with a tissue or arms and sleeves 
• Avoid touching of the face, eyes, mouth and eyes
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Staying home if sick
• Avoid all non-essential international travel, as recommended by Provincial and Federal health authorities 
• Avoiding sharing of personal items
• Wear a mask when physical distancing is difficult or not an option

Self Isolation 

• Not go to work, child care, or other public areas for 14 days
• If you develop symptoms within 14 days of your self-isolation period, you must remain in self-isolation for an additional 14 days from the day your symptoms started OR 24 hours after your symptoms have stopped, whichever is longer
• Separate themselves from others from others
• Sleep in a separate room
• Have a bathroom in your home dedicated to only you (if possible)
• Maintain a distance of two metres from other people
• Not have guests or visitors over
• Clean hands often
• Not use public transportation, ride sharing companies or taxis
• Cancel non-urgent appointments until the end of the monitoring period
• Avoid close contact with others, including those in their home as much as possible
• Make alternate arrangements to support children and other dependents
• Ask a friend or family member to help get a supply of groceries and other necessities, the isolating individual(s) should not under any circumstances go themselves

Individuals in self-isolation who need to go out for any reason, call the Public Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Info Line at 905-688-8248 ext. 7019 or 1-888-505-6074, and a nurse will provide you with detailed instructions to follow.

Additional Resources and Information 

Please visit the following links for further information related to COVID-19, including testing, case tracking and affected areas:

Niagara Region Public Health

Province of Ontario

Government of Canada

Vaccinations 

Planning for mass immunization campaigns in pandemic situations is a key responsibility of Public Health. Public Health last updated its mass immunization plan in September 2019, only 6 months before the pandemic began. This provided Public Health a starting point for the upcoming mass immunization campaign.

Niagara Region Public Health in Port Colborne today for COVID-19 vaccination clinic

Niagara to begin vaccinating frontline child care and education workers over April Break

Niagara Region Public Health COVID-19 vaccination clinics to continue during shutdown

Niagara shows coordinated vaccination progress on one-year anniversary of COVID-19 pandemic

Preparation for COVID-19 Immunizations for Residents 80+

Niagara Region Mass Immunization Planning 

Niagara Region COVID-19 Vaccination Plan 

For up-to-date information including Niagara region COVID-19 stats, please visit their website.