Coronavirus

Updated as of November 10, 2021

***Public health information is located at the bottom of this page.

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:

Service

and Facility

Impact

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

The Simcoe County Museum is open with some restrictions.

Effective Saturday, November 6, 2021: All visitors aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination must be provided to enter the Museum.

Acceptable proof of vaccination includes an Ontario Enhanced Vaccine Certificate, or paper copy of proof of vaccination status, and official government issued identification.

Visitors will no longer be required to book a time to visit in advance, and capacity limits in the galleries will be lifted. Physical distancing and indoor mask use is still required.

For information on virtual programs, visit museum.simcoe.ca

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

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

Continued Essential/Critical Services:

Waste Facilities/Landfills Open

Open.

The County’s waste facilities/landfills will continue to operate on the modified pandemic-related schedule (see below chart below) during the lockdown.
For safety precautions debit and credit transactions are preferred

Operating Hours:

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

*Materials from residents of Barrie and Orillia will not be accepted.

Site	Sun.	Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.	Sat.
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.

$10.00 minimum garbage rate in effect to reduce employee contact with customers and discourage small, non-urgent/critical loads (mattresses and CFC appliances charged separately).
When physical distancing is challenging, wear a mask and always keep 2 meters from anyone else while visiting a facility.

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.

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.

Emergency Child Care Support

The County's Emergency Child Care for health-care and frontline workers came 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

Social and Affordable Housing

Appointments will be done by phone only. For general inquiries email iah@simcoe.ca

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