This Week In Durham Region

This Week In Durham Region Local News graphic

📋 It's Environmental Public Health Week 📋

Stay in the know with this latest edition of This Week in Durham Region.

Durham Region to introduce mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees

Elaine Baxter-Trahair, Chief Administrative Officer for the Regional Municipality of Durham, released a public statement on implementing a mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for all employees, including students and volunteers.

All staff will be required to disclose their vaccination status by October 20, 2021; with proof of full vaccination status by December 20, 2021.

Read the full statement for more information.

Federal election candidates in Durham Region can recycle election signs

The Regional Municipality of Durham’s Sign Recycling Program provides election candidates the opportunity to recycle dedicated loads of corrugated plastic signs, free of charge following the election. Signs may be dropped off at Durham’s three waste management facilities.

Wooden stakes, wire mounts, nylon zip ties, metal rings and staples must be removed from signs before delivering to the waste management facility. Candidates who are considering future campaigns are encouraged to keep their signs for reuse. For more information on the Sign Recycling program visit durham.ca/WMF.

A message from Dr. Kyle on Environmental Public Health Week from September 19 to 26

During Environmental Public Health Week, September 19-26, thank our environmental public health professionals for their dedication and ongoing efforts in working to protect the health of our community. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the work of public health inspectors, specialists, and tobacco enforcement officers who work every day to keep the public safe.

Our Health Protection division is staffed by a diverse group of public health experts who inspect local businesses, food premises, recreational water facilities, childcare settings, personal services settings, sewage systems and drinking water systems, and investigate health hazards and infectious diseases.

Throughout the pandemic, public health inspectors and tobacco enforcement officers have been instrumental in managing COVID-19 outbreaks and providing expertise in infection control to area institutions, congregate living settings, workplaces, migrant farms, and childcare settings. Health Protection managers and staff continue to be out in the community working tirelessly as the pandemic continues. Despite the challenges they sometimes encounter, they remain committed to doing what is required to protect residents from risks of illness. Read Dr. Kyle’s full statement for more information.

Residents invited to provide input on the 2021-2040 Long-term Waste Management Plan

From September 21 until October 25, Durham Region residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft 2021-2040 Long-term Waste Management Plan (Waste Plan) by visiting the virtual public engagement website at DurhamWasteOpenHouse.ca.

The Waste Plan is a roadmap that describes the Region’s vision and objectives for waste management over the next 20 years.

To learn more about Durham’s Waste Plan, visit durham.ca/WastePlan, or check out the engagement website to provide feedback at DurhamWasteOpenHouse.ca.

Area residents living near nuclear generating stations to have KI tablets available

All residents living within 10 kilometres of the Pickering or Darlington nuclear generating stations are encouraged to have a supply of potassium iodide (KI) tablets in their households. The KI tablets are both safe and most effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and parents of infants, children and adolescents.

A video developed to educate the public about the purpose of KI tablets and increase awareness of the availability of the pills can be viewed on the Health Department’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/DurhamHealth.

For more information, or to obtain a supply of KI tablets, visit preparetobesafe.ca, or call the Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.

Nuclear public alerting system test on October 18 and 19

Durham Region will conduct its fall test of the nuclear public alerting system on October 18 and 19, during daytime hours. The system warns people—in the unlikely event of an emergency at the nuclear generating stations in Clarington or Pickering.

For more information, visit durham.ca/NuclearPreparedness, or call the nuclear alerting information line at 1-866-551-5373.

If you require this newsletter in an accessible format, please contact Newsletters@durham.ca