News

Cold Weather Warning for KFL&A Region

Kingston — With Environment Canada’s forecast calling for wind chill temperatures below -30°C tonight and into Tuesday morning, KFL&A Public Health is issuing a Cold Weather Health Warning for the KFL&A region. This is the coldest air so far this season, more northern areas in our region such as Plevna and Sharbot Lake may see wind chill temperatures dip to -35°C.

Cold Weather Health Warnings are issued through the media by KFL&A Public Health when the temperature is forecast to be -25°C or...

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Public Health Updating COVID-19 Case Reporting Process in response to Changes in Provincial Testing Eligibility

Today, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Public Health have updated the information reported on their respective COVID-19 Dashboards, in response to recent changes in COVID-19 testing eligibility. 

As announced in late December, the Ontario government has made significant changes to the eligibility for publicly funded Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, in order to ensure testing is available for individuals who work in or attend highest risk...

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KFL&A Public Health Rescind Letters of Instruction and Class Order as Province Enters Step 2 of its Roadmap to Reopen with Modifications

Today, Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health has rescinded three local Letters of Instruction and one Class Order as province enters Step 2 of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications.

The following three Letters of Instruction pursuant to Section 2 of Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step are rescinded as of January 5, 2022. 

• Letter of Instruction issued November 24, 2021 for businesses and organizations to...

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Get Vaccinated and Reduce Close Contacts to Slow Omicron Variant in the KFL&A Region

Kingston—With record COVID-19 case numbers and worrisome daily case counts that are likely to continue for weeks, KFL&A residents are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated and reduce close contacts.

The new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, has quickly become the most common variant in the KFL&A region. It is more easily spread with close contact than the Delta variant. COVID-19 vaccinations will help to protect limited health care resources—two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine provide some protection...

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Holiday Hours for KFL&A Public Health Programs and Services

Kingston—KFL&A Public Health will continue to provide essential services related to COVID-19 (e.g., vaccine clinics, contact tracing and case management, call centre, infection prevention and control, etc.) throughout the holidays.

Main Office - Kingston

Our Kingston office will be closed to the public on:

• Friday, December 24, 2021
• Monday, December 27, 2021
• Tuesday, December 28, 2021
• Friday, December 31, 2021
• Monday, January 3, 2022

The COVID-19 response work will continue during office closures.

Branch...

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Limited Supply of Pfizer Vaccine

KFL&A Public Health was notified by the Ministry of Health of a shipment delay impacting the delivery of Pfizer vaccine to our community clinics.

In response to this unexpected delay, most clinics in the KFL&A region will move to offer Moderna vaccine with a limited supply of Pfizer vaccine available for individuals who are 12 to 29 years old to receive Pfizer because of the lower risk for pericarditis or myocarditis. There is adequate supply of Moderna vaccine for adults third dose and clinics...

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More Changes to Case and Contact Management Processes in the KFL&A Region

Today, KFL&A Public Health is implementing changes to case and contact management processes to redirect resources to help meet the community’s demand for COVID-19 vaccinations. These changes are consistent with provincial changes. The case and contact management team will focus on the highest risk settings (e.g., congregate care settings) and individuals. With this change, KFL&A Public Health is asking all individuals who test positive to notify their close contacts as positive cases may not...

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KFL&A Region Tops COVID-19 Rates in Province

Today, Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health issued a Letter of Instruction pursuant to Section 2 of Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step, to require businesses and organizations to reinstate capacity limits, and strengthen requirements around masking, physical distancing, and other public health measures.

This Letter of Instruction comes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on December 19, 2021.

“We are seeing a...

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KFL&A Public Health Issues Section 22 Order to Address Increased COVID-19 Cases

Monday, December 13, 2021

Kingston—Today, Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health has issued a Class Order pursuant to Section 22 of the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990, effective at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 13, 2021 and continue through until Monday, December 20, 2021 at 11:59 a.m.

The Order has been issued due to the recent increase in cases due to the highly contagious nature of the new variant of concern, Omicron that has been identified in the...

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COVID-19 Take Home PCR Test Kits Available for Patients of Participating Family Health Care Practices

Monday, December 13, 2021

Tomorrow, with tremendous support from local family physicians, KFL&A Public Health will provide take home COVID-19 PCR test kits for patients of participating family health care practices. If you have symptoms or are a close contact of someone who is positive and are a patient of a participating health care practice, please pick up a kit during normal office hours. Participating offices will have signage indicating pick up and drop off areas for take home tests outside...

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