News

Remember to drive with caution and pay extra attention to sidewalks and crosswalks, trick or treaters are out and about!

Trick or Treating:

• Don't go trick-or-treating if feeling ill, even if symptoms are minor
• Choose costumes that allow a non-medical mask to be worn underneath - make sure you can see and breathe comfortably
• Minimize contact with others: trick-or-treat with your family or cohort, remain within your community, and stay 2 metres apart
• Avoid touching doorbells or railings: call "trick or treat" from 2 metres away, knock instead of using doorbells, use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces
• Wash hands and disinfect packages before eating candy
• Wear glow sticks or reflective clothing so drivers can easily see you

Handing out candy:

• Don't hand out candy if feeling ill or isolating
• Wear a non-medical mask that fully covers your nose and mouth
• Ask trick-or-treaters to knock or call out instead of ringing the doorbell
• Use tongs to hand out pre-packaged candy to avoid handling treats
• Find creative ways to maintain distance from trick-or-treaters:
• Hand out treats from your driveway or front lawn, if weather permits
• Set up a table or desk to help keep yourself distanced
• Make candy bags and space them out on a table or blanket; don't leave out self-serve bowls of bulk candy
• Build a candy slide, candy catapult or other fun, non-touch delivery methods
• In a window or front door hang up the Open for Halloween poster if you are handing out candy and the Sorry, no candy poster if you are not handing out candy.

Is your organization looking for grant funding opportunities from the County? Check out this sorting quiz to see which County grant program you may be eligible for.

Learning in the 2020-2021 school year will be different, that's for sure. Unsure of the measures put in place, education options or how to prepare your children for school? Check out the resources below:

• Government of Alberta's Parent Guide for Returning to School Info Sheet
• Returning to School Safely Video (Elementary)
• Returning to School Safely Video (Junior and Senior High)
• Government of Alberta Education Options

Are you feeling a bit stressed and that things are a little chaotic? It's ok to ask for help.

Helplines, chats and more at:
http://bit.ly/stressedAB

Tips for financial stress at:
https://bit.ly/stressedwithfinances

The County of Northern Lights Annual Photo Contest is underway! We're looking for some amazing photos taken in the County to be featured in our 2021 promotional calendar. Your selected photos can win you up to $200. The deadline for photo submissions is Friday, October 2nd, 2020.

Contest Rules and details are available here.

Photo Entry Form (must accompany each photo you enter, there is a limit of 10 photos)

Contest Waiver Form (only need to sign and submit once with all your photo entries)

General Authorization and Release (to be filled out by identifiable people and businesses in your photos)

Submit your entries via email: [email protected] or online here.

Questions about the contest? Contact Trinidy Schmidt, Community Services Coordinator at 780.836.3348 ext. 238 or email at [email protected]

With schools closed tweens and teens are spending more time online. Check out the 'Parenting Tweens and Teens in the Digital World' guide. This guide is to help parents educate, and to use as a guide to start conversations with their teens and tweens; so that they know how to be safe online.

If you are sick or are unsure of your symptoms, please stay home and call Health Link at 8-1-1, or use Alberta Health Services online assessment tool. Do not go to your Family doctor, ER, or walk-in clinic.

To help protect you and your family against all respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19, you should:

• Wash your hands often and well
• Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands
• Practice Physical Distancing (learn more here)

Looking for more AHS information related to COVID-19? Visit the AHS website.

Up to Date Info and Statistics

The most up to date information regarding COVID cases and statistics are available through the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services websites. This info is updated roughly every 24 hours. AHS will conduct contract tracing with individuals who test positive and contact individuals who have been in direct contact with said individual. Patient information, such as who and where they live, will not be released by AHS or any other agency, as this is confidential patient information.

Government of Alberta website: https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-alberta-data.aspx

AHS website: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx

Free Masks for Albertans

Under the Province’s “Masks for Albertans” program, the County has free non-medical face masks available for County residents. You can pick up your free masks at the Dixonville Post Office, Manning Post Office, and the County of Northern Lights office in Manning.

Support Information for Residents

Individuals and families

• Temporary salary top-up for low-income essential workers
• Increasing the Canada Child Benefit
• Special Goods and Services Tax credit payment
• Extra time to file income tax returns
• Mortgage support
• Utility Payment Deferral

People facing the loss of income

• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Indigenous peoples

• Addressing immediate needs in Indigenous communities
• Supporting Indigenous communities public health needs and preparedness
• Making personal hygiene products and nutritious food more affordable
• In addition to the measures above, Indigenous peoples can also access benefits listed under Support for individuals and Support for businesses.

People who need it most

• Improving access to essential food support
• Supporting people experiencing homelessness
• Supporting women and children fleeing violence
• Providing youth with mental health support
• Delivering essential services to those in need

Seniors

• Reduced minimum withdrawals for Registered Retirement Income Funds
• Supporting the delivery of items and personal outreach
• Providing immediate and essential services to seniors

Students and recent graduates

• Suspending repayment and interest on student and apprentice loans
• Temporary changes to Canada Summer Jobs program
• Student loans payment deferral

Benefit and Supports Finder

Answer a few questions in the Government of Canada website and be matched with current programs and services.

County of Northern Lights Penalty Deferrals

• The Council of the County of Northern Lights has agreed to defer penalties charged on unpaid Utility and Accounts Receivable Invoices between the period of April 1^st and June 30^th, 2020. Service disconnections will not occur during this period on utility accounts where the owners maintain a balance of less than $1,000.
• Property Taxes will be distributed as normal, in May. The County of Northern Lights is asking those residents with the ability to pay to do so before June 30^th In recognition of the current economic impacts of these trying times, Council has moved to waive the July 1^st penalty on current property tax levy’s. The County Tax AutoPay Program will continue without change.

Alberta's Relaunch Strategy

Premier Jason Kenney has released the Government of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy. Click here to see it.

Important Phone Numbers

• Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322
• Kids Helpline: 1-800-668-6868
• Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
• Toll-Free Crisis Hotline: 1-800-482-4357
• Alberta Supports: 1-877-644-9992
• Family Violence: 310-1818, or chat online, 8 am - 8 pm MST: alberta.ca/family-violence-find-supports.aspx

Help During Tough Times

At some point in our lives we all have stressful times. We can be impacted by such things as financial pressures, unexpected difficulties, unemployment, or stressful situations such as the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Alberta Health Services has resources and services available to help you or someone you know. Remember, if you are struggling you are not alone. There are supports in place to help you. Find them here.

Text4Hope Line

Alberta Health Services has launched a free daily text message system to provide a once-daily text with or without a related weblink, to provide support and build coping skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. To sign up, text COVID19HOPE to 393-939

I've been tested for COVID-19, now what?

If you have had a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab to test for COVID-19, while you are awaiting your results you are required to remain in self-isolation, at home. While at home, please also continue to follow good respiratory etiquette, and good hand hygiene practices. Learn more here.

I have received notice of a positive test result for COVID-19, what do I do?

You will be contacted by AHS Public Health to advise on your self-isolation period. Please remain in self-isolation. Learn more here.

Community COVID-19 Resource Guides

• Peace River FCSS Social Resource Guide
• Manning & District Social Resource Guide

Info for those caring for a COVID-19 patient at home: visit the AHS website here.

All national updates can be found at: www.Canada.ca/coronavirus

Updates from Alberta Health Services can be found at: www.ahs.ca/covid

Updated August 10th, 2020