COVID-19 Information

The Ontario government will be moving the province into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021.

The Ontario government has announced a second extension of the province’s current COVID-19 lockdown to June 2, 2021.

Older Adults and COVID-19 and how to reduce risk.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines that are available.

An explanation of the colour codes used in Ontario.

COVID-19 vaccine information.

• Booking an appointment
• Availability & distribution
• Current priority groups
• Clinic locations
• Eligibility and more

COVID-19 General Information.

As of December 26, 2020, the province of Ontario has entered a State of Emergency. Emergency Lockdown Measures have been reenacted.  Here is a breakdown of the new rules and regulations in ASL. 

ONTARIO HAS BEEN DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY

In a news conference at Queen’s Park, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, announces new public-health measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) in the province. 

The premier announces that the province has declared a state of emergency effective immediately for at least 28 days and that a stay-at-home order will take effect at 12:01am Thursday, January 14, 2021. 

Under the order, only essential trips outside the home will be permitted. The premier also announces that there will be no in-person learning at schools in Windsor-Essex, Peel, Toronto, York, and Hamilton, until February 10, 2021. 

In addition, the province is further limiting the size of outdoor gatherings, mandating mandatory mask use inside open businesses, limiting the opening hours of non-essential retail stores, and introducing further restrictions on non-essential construction. (January 12, 2021)

COVID-19 Supports in the Durham Region – Updated as of August 12, 2020

Please click this link for the full list:

The Durham Region has announced that starting on Friday, July 10, 2020, wearing masks in indoor public settings is now mandatory.

Some areas, where masks will be mandatory, include retail stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, places of worship, businesses providing personal care services, libraries, museums, indoor event spaces, and recreational facilities, etc.

The Federal government has announced that all seniors in Canada, who receive the Old Age Security Pension, will be receiving $300.

The Government has warned that there is also a scam going around where people are trying to email or phone you and saying you have to fill out a registration form. This is a scam – filling out a form or giving personal info is not necessary. Everything is being done automatically by the Government and seniors will receive this benefit.

There is a new text message scam that is happening during this pandemic.

Please click the button for more information:

Durham Deaf Services office will remain closed until May 31, 2020. This decision is based on expert advice from public health officials and DDS does not want to put anyone at risk of becoming infected. DDS is planning on opening the office when it is safe to do so.

We want to remind you that you can still contact DDS by phone, Skype, email, etc. You can find additional contact information and resources on our website: www.durhamdeaf.org as well as on our Facebook page. All of our staff continue to work from home and are available if you have any questions.  

Some people have asked about cleaning products and disinfectants since President Trump made a statement.

This is dangerous and not true.

COVID-19 Supports in the Durham Region

Please click the button for the full list:

Hello, my name is Behishta. I am a literacy instructor at Durham Deaf Services. Yesterday, Premier Ford announced that Ontario will extend the State of Emergency another 28 days due to COVID-19.

Did you know that people are not aware of the scams/frauds being used to prey on vulnerable seniors during COVID-19? I am giving you a list of 10 [click the button below].

Hello, my name is Behishta. I am a literacy instructor at DDS. Today I am giving you an update about Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) regarding Video Remote Interpreting (VRI).

What is VRI? Video Remote Interpreting enables communication for Deaf and hard of hearing people through video.

For safety reasons, Interpreters are not meeting with Deaf individuals in person. Interpreters will stay home and will connect with Deaf clients via video.

You can connect to VRI using phones, IPAD, computers, or tablets.  When can you use VRI? When you are going to the family doctor’s office, dentist, hospital, or police station.

How does it work? Deaf clients have to ask their Doctor to give them their email for VRI to send the Doctor the link. The Doctor can open it for deaf clients to see the interpreter. The Doctor will communicate with you and the interpreter. It is very confidential.

CHS only hires professional interpreters who have past skills-based screening. They keep all information confidential and WILL NOT share it with anyone else. They want to provide you services in the safest possible way.

You can also contact CHS VRI for mental health, contacting the police about an emergency, and much more. The CHS website (www.chs.ca) will have up to date information.

For requesting interpreting services: you can contact vri@chs.ca for any appointments.

For emergency interpreting services: you can contact urgent@chs.ca.

Thank you, and a reminder that if you have any questions feel free to contact either me at bmushtaq@durhamdeaf.org or Stefanie Gibbons at sgibbons@durhamdeaf.org. 

Durham Deaf Services will not open on Monday, April 6

The instructors in the literacy program have contacted all of the students in the program. Students in the literacy program are encouraged to contact Stefanie or Behishta if you have questions, need support, or to clarify information that you don’t understand.

If there are any individuals in the community who are deaf and need assistance with any forms or understanding regarding COVID-19, please contact Stefanie Gibbons at sgibbons@durhamdeaf.org.

We ask you to keep checking our Facebook page for updates as well as our DDS website. Our staff is available to members of the deaf community in the Durham Region. If you wish to contact us, you can send an email to info@durhamdeaf.org or if you check our Facebook page you will see other ways to contact us, for example, Glide or Skype.

Premier Doug Ford is posting announcements with ASL interpretation. These announcements will keep you up-to-date as to the government’s position on physical distancing/social distancing. It is still important for everyone to stay home. Please make sure that you wash your hands on a regular basis and do not touch your face, etc. If you have to go out please maintain a 6 foot or 2-metre distance between you and the next person. The only way that we will contain the spread of this virus is if we stay home. More information and updates of stats can be found on the government’s website for COVID-19. 

The Premier of Ontario Doug Ford has announced a state of emergency where only essential services are to remain open. The state of emergency is in effect until Monday, April 13.