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Travelling paramedics would provide medical care for eligible seniors under a special program approved by Leeds and Grenville municipalities this week.
Paramedics chief Jeff Carss told the United Counties’ Joint Services Committee that the Community Paramedicine Program is designed to allow seniors to stay in their homes longer and reduce 911 calls and visits to hospitals and medical clinics.
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The committee’s approval of the program, which could cost $1 million a year, came just as the provincial government announced Thursday that it was committing $3.2 million toward the program. Carss said the Ministry of Long-Term Care had asked the counties to apply for the money, so government approval was expected.
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Mayors and chambers of commerce across the region are asking the province to lift the lockdown in Leeds and Grenville, on the strength of low infection numbers and in light of the pain that lockdown is inflicting on area businesses.
“Given our community’s consistently low COVID numbers, now is the time for the province to allow businesses to open their doors again. They simply cannot wait any longer,” said North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford, echoing remarks she made earlier in the week.
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Local COVID-19 numbers have stabilized with the health unit reporting 24 active cases on Thursday.
That is one fewer case than the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit recorded in the previous day’s tally. Its statistics indicate that there were two fresh cases reported in the region during the 24 hours up until 4 p.m. Wednesday, but three people recovered, leading to the slight decline in active COVID.
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The levelling-off of the active cases comes after a rise in the COVID numbers from the low of 11 cases reported on two days last week.
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Nearly a half million dollars is being provided by the province to help small businesses in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
The province has launched its Digital Main Street Program to help local organizations build and expand their online presence, and help them stay on their feet with government closures still in place.
Since the program was announced, a total of $487,345 has been provided to businesses in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes by Ontario in Digital Service and Business Grants.
“Eastern Ontario’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our community,” MPP Steve Clark said. “The Digital Service Squads are helping our businesses transition online, allowing them to access new customers safely and reliably. By choosing to shop local we are helping our businesses stay viable and improve their competitiveness.”