Updated as of August 18, 2021
***Public health information is located at the bottom of this page.
Ontario Moving to Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen on July 16
The Ontario Government announced that, based on key public health and health care indicators continuing to improve and the provincewide vaccination rate surpassing the targets outlined in the province’s Roadmap to Reopen, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health the Ontario government is moving the province into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021. The full release can be found here.
Service Updates
More than 1,800 of the County's 1,950 employees work in healthcare and essential front-line service roles or directly support these critical services. Throughout the pandemic, the County has utilized every resource it has to continue to maintain essential services, support our communities and care for vulnerable residents.
As many of the County of Simcoe's public facing services have maintained extensive COVID-19 safety measures throughout the pandemic, this new Provincial Emergency Declaration does not have any further impacts on County's essential programs or services. The County's Emergency declaration, originally issued on March 18, 2020, remains in effect.
If you or someone you know needs transportation to and from your vaccination appointment, please visit CT Link Simcoe County's website.
See below for service, facility and program updates:
Reopening to the Public |
Service Simcoe Contact Centre
| Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the Service Simcoe Contact Centre has remained open for all phone and email inquiries/requests and performed all normal transactions virtually
As of July 5, 2021, the Service Simcoe Contact Centre will resume in-person service at the Administration Centre, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to support the public requiring in-person transactions. Virtual assistance (through phone and e-mail) is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public access will be restricted to the Atrium area via the Administration Centre's front entrance. Safety measures remain in place to ensure the safety of both staff and the public. These measures include:
- Cohorting of staff
- Plexiglass barriers
- Floor social distancing markers
- Designated visitor washrooms
- Touchless POS
- Roped barriers
- Directional signage
Guests are reminded to adhere to safety precautions when visiting the Administration Centre, including wearing a face covering at all times when in common areas inside the building and exercising proper hand sanitization. Additional sanitization stations have been set up to accommodate this.
|
Simcoe County Museum
| Open by appointment only. Appointments can be booked online at museum.simcoe.ca In-person camps have resumed as of August 9, 2021 and will run for the remaining three weeks of summer For information on virtual programs, visit museum.simcoe.ca
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Closed to the Public
|
County Administration Centre | With the exception of the front Atrium area to access the Contact Centre, the rest of the Administration Centre remains closed to the public (excluding the Midhurst Ontario Works office which has a separate entrance and remains open). Staff will continue to serve residents, clients and partners virtually by appointment only
The Cravings @ Work Cafeteria remains closed
|
|
Simcoe County Archives | Closed to the public.
- Building access remains closed to the public during the pandemic
- Staff will continue to provide remote/virtual services to the public and clients.
Click here for information
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Simcoe County Libraries
| Many public libraries in the County will work to reopen on July 5. The Library Co-operative staff will continue to support member libraries based on their needs
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Continued Essential/Critical Services: |
Waste Facilities/Landfills Open
| Open.
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Materials from residents of Barrie and Orillia will not be accepted.
|
Collingwood | | X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X | |
West Gwillimbury | | X
| X
| X |
X |
X |
X | |
North Simcoe |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X | X
| |
Nottawasaga | |
X |
X |
X | X | X |
X
|
Oro | |
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
| Mara
| |
|
| |
X
|
X
|
X |
Tosorontio
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
| X
|
X
|
Matchedash
|
X
|
X
|
| | | |
| | |
X = Open (8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.) The following enhanced health and safety restrictions are in effect at all County Waste Facilities: - Debit and credit transactions preferred
- To ensure physical distancing is maintained at the sites, the number of customers may be limited onsite, resulting in longer than normal wait times.
- If you are sick, self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms, or have recently returned (within 14 days) from travel, do not visit a County waste facility.
For more information, click here. |
Curbside Waste Collection Continues
| Open. Curbside waste collection services will continue during the lockdown. Please bag all organics.
Information on collection impacts for your specific location and updates on returns can be found through the Simcoe County Collects app, which is free to download on the App Store or GooglePlay. Notices are also posted on
simcoe.ca. |
LINX Transit Continues
| Open. LINX Transit will continue to operate all routes with safety precautions in place during the lockdown To find out when your next bus is arriving, go to
www.linx.simcoe.ca/ or use Transit app, available at https://transitapp.com/ or download on your device free of charge.
LINX will also be following Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Public Transit Safety Guidelines to ensure passengers and employees are kept safe as more people go back to work during COVID-19.
In keeping with these MTO guidelines, the County is requesting that ALL customers follow protocols, including:
- Passengers and drivers to wear non-medical masks or face coverings. While masks or face coverings will be highly recommended, we understand there are circumstance for children and people with disabilities, or other medical conditions, that prevent them from wearing a mask.
- Maintaining physical distance between people whenever possible;
- Removing all personal belongings and waste upon departure; and
- Sneezing into their elbow, using hand sanitizer and washing hands properly
|
| Ontario Works Open (with modified public access) | Open. Due to the essential nature of the service, Ontario Works Offices remain open to provide limited and modified client support (including the Midhurst Office) - Clients are encouraged to utilize virtual assistance options to further reduce foot traffic
- Clients are strongly encouraged to register for Direct Bank Deposit. To do so, please contact your Caseworker by telephone at 705-722-3132.
For clients not registered for Direct Bank Deposit, cheque pick-up is available at Ontario Works offices in Barrie, Bradford, Orillia, Collingwood, Alliston and Midland. Visit https://www.simcoe.ca/dpt/ow to learn more.
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| Emergency Child Care Support | The County's Emergency Child Care for health-care and frontline workers comes to an end on June 30 Child care settings will continue to adhere to stringent health and safety measures so that they remain safe places for children and staff
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Social and Affordable Housing
| Appointments will be done by phone only. For general inquiries email
iah@simcoe.ca
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General Services providing safe and efficient assistance
| The County will also maintain safe operations in Long-Term Care and Seniors Services facilities, Paramedic Services, Economic Development and Tourism, Library Co-operative, Planning, Simcoe County Forests, Transportation and Engineering, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, Social Housing, Local Immigration Services, Children and Community Services, Legislative and Government Services and administrative/support departments. Staff will continue to work remotely where possible and public/client assistance will be by appointment for relevant services
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