The Town of Cobourg would like to provide citizens with a list of available support and resources while we all continue to navigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with Northumberland County this list of resources will be updated regularly.
Child Care |
For updated information in our county, visit Northumberland County's COVID-19 Service Updates and Facility Closures webpage.
|
Community Agencies at Large |
|
Domestic Violence Support |
Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre
Learn more about Cornerstone services. Thrive Northumberland Coalition to End Violence |
Financial Aid |
Emergency Assistance may be available via Ontario Works Complete an application online or call Northumberland County Community & Social Services to learn more: 1-800-354-7051 ext. 2468 Financial aid, payment deferrals and other supports For an up-to-date listing of provincial and federal government supports and other assistance for which you may be eligible, including supports for seniors, families, students, businesses, and vulnerable community members, please visit covidsupports.ca |
Food Assistance |
Meals on Wheels is available through Community Care Northumberland. This program is currently delivering frozen meals only: 1-866-514-5774. Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank, Cobourg 700 D'Arcy Street, Building #19, Cobourg Salvation Army Community Drop-in and Food Cupboard Salvation Army Emergency Food Assistance Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Emergency food Community Outreach |
Mental Health and Wellbeing |
Health Concerns
If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use the Ministry of Health's self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care. Everyone in your household must stay home if anyone has COVID-19 symptoms or is waiting for test results after experiencing symptoms. Stay home while the symptomatic household member is isolating. If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911. Provincial ResourcesYou can find information about COVID-19 in multiple languages from the Ontario government website.
Access to a physicianVirtual doctor appointments for those with and without a family physician: Northumberland Care - a new website - has launched in Northumberland County to ensure our community knows the best way to get in touch with their family doctor, and for those without a family doctor to get the care they need. Mental health and addiction supports
Other Wellness SupportsContact Community Care Northumberland (1-866-514-5774) for more about the following services:
|
Prescription Medication |
In light of the social distancing measures during COVID-19, ConnexHealth Inc. has partnered with Pharmalinx Medical Centre to provide an online service that allows our clients to request and confirm medical prescriptions online. The prescriptions will be filled by the team of professional pharmacists at Pharmalinx delivered by dedicated team of drivers for free to your doorstep. Place your order at www.connexmatch.ca/medication-delivery or call 1-833-545-7211 for assistance. In order to access the pharmacy services, you will be routed to the pharmacy website. Once the intake form has been completed, it will be processed by the pharmacy team and delivered. Note, that all orders must be placed before 1pm for the same day delivery. In case of emergencies, pharmacy may allow exceptions. This information will need to be discussed directly with the pharmacy team member. Medications will be delivered from Monday to Saturday, note pharmacy is closed on Sundays. Services are currently being provided within the Greater Toronto Area, Bowmanville, Cobourg, Peel, Halton and Niagara Regions. Learn more: Read the press release |
Small-to-Medium Sized Business Rapid Antigen Tests |
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce located at 278 George Street in Cobourg will act as a distribution center for Rapid Antigen Screening kits to be used for self-screening in the workplace under the guidance of proper Health and Safety Guidelines provided. This is for organizations with 150 or fewer employees. Appointments for initial training and subsequent reorders can be made on Tuesdays and Thursdays of every week. Find the latest update here: |
Local MPP David Piccini has compiled a user-friendly website for individuals and businesses to help navigate all the provincial and federal supports available during these unprecedented times. Visit covidsupports.ca for more details.
Agri-Food Sector |
JOB PORTAL Minister Hardeman announced on Saturday, April 4th that the Government of Ontario has launched a new website aimed at connecting people with good quality jobs in the agri-food sector. Ontario.ca/agfoodjobs is a new, one stop site featuring a number of useful online resources and employment openings in the agri-food sector for job seekers. This online portal provides access to information on exciting job opportunities right across Ontario’s food supply chain – from grocery retailers, to bakeries and cheese factories, to opportunities on farms and in transportation, and many more. Learn more at ontario.ca/agfoodjobs OPEN FOR E-BUSINESS Minister Ernie Hardeman announced the Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative will help food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations increase online sales and provide Ontario families with greater access to a wide variety of foods and agriculture products. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), the federal and provincial governments are investing up to $2.5 million to help businesses and organizations quickly expand their marketing channels and grow e-business opportunities. This targeted application intake features two funding streams:
OMAFRA will immediately accept applications and expedite the approval process to help businesses and organizations to develop new online presences or to expand and enhance their current one. Learn more at omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap/ebusiness.htm |
Cannabis Retail |
The Ontario government has passed an Emergency Order allowing authorized cannabis retail stores to provide curbside pick-up and delivery services. This allows cannabis retailers to have the same opportunities as other non-essential businesses that are permitted to operate remotely if they can provide goods for pickup and delivery. Ensuring that cannabis stores can continue to provide people with safe, convenient access to legal cannabis is the best way to help Ontario continue its fight against the illegal market. Retailers will continue to be required to have measures in place to protect the health and safety of Ontarians, including youth, and delivery and curbside pick-up must be done by cannabis store licence holders and/or staff who have taken the CannSell training program. |
Current Measures |
The Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, has now been extended until March 2022. |
Health Workforce Matching Portal |
The Ontario government is taking further action to stop the spread of COVID-19 by actively recruiting health care workers to increase the frontline capacity of hospitals, clinics, and assessment centres. We launched a new online tool that will help match skilled frontline workers with employers. The new Health Workforce Matching Portal will enable health care providers with a range of experience to join the province’s response to COVID-19. Those providers include retired or non-active health care professionals, internationally educated health care professionals, students, and volunteers with health care experience. Whether you’re retired or in training, we can’t afford to have people with professional health care skills who want to help sitting on the sidelines during this crisis. The portal will efficiently match the availability and skillsets of frontline health care workers to the employers in need of assistance to perform a variety of public health functions, such as case and contact management. Employers and interested health care professionals can visit the portal and create a profile. Once registered, professionals can add their availability and employers can enter their request for support. Registrants will receive an email notification if matched. Visit the new Health Workforce Matching Portal or read the press release for more information. |
Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave |
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you are eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period. If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. You may apply for up to a total of 6 weeks between September 27, 2020 and May 7, 2022. Sick Days Due to COVID-19 On April 29, 2021, the Ontario Government amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to require employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID-19. This entitlement is in addition to employees’ rights to unpaid infectious disease emergency leave. Employers are generally required to pay employees the wages they would have earned had they not taken the leave, up to $200 a day for up to three days. Employers and their workers can call a dedicated COVID-19 Sick Days Information Centre hotline at 1-888-999-2248 or visit Ontario.ca/COVIDworkerbenefit to get more information and updates about the proposed Ontario COVID-19 paid leave days. |
Support for Businesses - Enhanced Worker Safety Guidelines |
As we work towards reopening the economy, the health and safety of Ontario's workers continues to be our government's top priority. The Hon. Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, released new safety guidelines to protect workers, customers and the general public from COVID-19 as we prepare for a gradual reopening of the provincial economy. These measures will provide direction to those working in numerous sectors, including manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurant and food service and agriculture. They build on the 60+ guidelines developed by Ontario’s Health and Safety Associations in response to COVID-19 for various sectors such as retail, health care, construction, transportation, police services, firefighters, and transit employees. These guidelines offer practical advice to help businesses operate safely in our new environment. By providing clear guidelines on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and adding new inspectors, we are preparing for a responsible reopening of the province that balances health and safety of the people of Ontario. You can find these documents at: www.ontario.ca/page/resources-prevent-covid-19-workplace More information on Support for Businesses can be found here: www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-support-businesses. |
Support for Essential Workers |
Premier Ford and Minister Bethlenfalvy announced Pandemic Pay in the Broader Public Sector. This is a payment increase that would provide four dollars per hour worked on top of existing hourly wages, regardless of the qualified employees’ hourly wage. In addition, employees working over 100 hours per month would receive lump sum payments of $250 per month. Both of these payments would be in effect for 16 weeks. Those eligible to receive the payment would be frontline staff working in long-term care homes, retirement homes, social services congregate care settings, corrections institutions and youth justice facilities, those providing home and community care and some staff in hospitals. This temporary pandemic premium pay will provide additional support and relief, encouraging staff to continue working and attracting prospective employees to help maintain safe staffing levels and the operation of critical frontline services. These workers are delivering critical services that support all Ontarians, including the most vulnerable members of our communities. This will ensure essential workers on the frontlines are being compensated adequately, while safeguarding the sustainability and viability of the health and social services sectors. |
Support for Families |
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you are eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each one-week period. If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. Each household may apply for up to a total of 44 weeks between September 27, 2020 and May 7, 2022. Find more information at Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) - Canada.ca. |
Support for Small Businesses |
The Government of Ontario has announced a new program to help support businesses amidst the latest (Omicron) wave of COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know about the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program:
To learn more about eligibility or the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program visit: Ontario Launches New Supports for Businesses.
For more information, view the Small Business Rent Relief Q&A or visit news.ontario.ca.
The Ontario Small Business Relief Grant is an additional support for businesses amidst the newest omicron COVID-19 wave. Eligible small businesses could receive a $10,000 grant with payments being issued to recipients in February 2022. An application portal will be opening within the coming weeks for the Ontario Small Business Relief Grant. The Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program will launch on January 18, 2022.
An electricity-rate relief for eligible small businesses, workers, and families will commence on January 18, 2022, at 12:01 a.m. for 21 days.
To learn more about Ontario’s new relief programs and grants or determine your eligibility, see: Ontario Providing Supports for Small Businesses, Workers and Families.
|
Support for Property Owners/Landlords |
Small-business-property landlords and tenants can use the province's Canada Emergency Rent Assistance (CECRA) calculator to find out how much rent support they could get through the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses. All commercial landlords in Ontario can now apply for rental assistance to help their small business tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative will keep more small businesses in operation and more people employed as the province gradually and safely restarts the economy. The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, has launched the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. The province is committing $241 million to the program, which will provide more than $900 million in support for small businesses across Ontario during this difficult time. To find out how much rent support you may be eligible for, visit Ontario.ca/rentassistance. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Province recognizes that many residents and businesses are facing challenges in making their scheduled property tax payments. To support unincorporated area residents and businesses, the government is extending the amount of time that taxpayers have to pay their property taxes without interest or penalties. Each of the four property tax installments due in 2020 will be deferred 90 days for those taxpayers that need more time. For example, taxpayers who would be required to pay the April 7 property tax installment now have until July 6 to pay this installment without interest or penalties. This deferral of unincorporated area property tax payments applies to all of the levies that are collected through the consolidated Provincial Land Tax (PLT) bill. This includes PLT, education property tax, and any Local Road Board and Local Service Board levies that are paid through the PLT bill. |
Support for Seniors and People with Disabilities |
The Ontario government is delivering much-needed support to Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens, including seniors and persons with disabilities, during the outbreak of COVID-19. The province is investing $11 million to help deliver meals, medicines and other essentials to those in need. The province is working with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) to launch a new Ontario Community Support Program to expand existing Meals on Wheels services to reach low-income seniors and people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions across Ontario. The program will also develop the capacity of community organizations and others to help deliver medication and other essentials. To identify a Meals on Wheels provider in your local community and request service, visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca. Those without Internet access or who require service in a language other than English or French, can dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available by calling 1-888-340-1001. Also, volunteer organizations can now visit www.sparkontario.ca to post volunteer opportunities available in their communities. Ontarians interested in volunteering are also encouraged to check the website for opportunities to make a difference where they live. |