Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a Heat Warning for Durham Region.
The region health department said due to Covid-19, public facilities in Durham Region that previously offered relief from the heat may remain closed. Please ensure to maintain physical distancing (2 metres/6 feet apart) from others and remember to wear a non-medical mask when finding relief in air conditioned public spaces.
With a declared heat event in effect, Oshawa is offering the following options to stay cool:
- Cooling centres will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on insert date at Delpark Homes Centre (1661 Harmony Road North), City Hall (50 Centre Street South) and South Oshawa Community Centre (1455 Cedar Street). Washrooms and drinking water are available.
- Splash Pads and Camp Samac will extend operation hours until 9:00 p.m. City staff monitor activity and clean and disinfect touchpoints during each visit.
- Lakeview Park Beach (weather permitting) will extend supervision hours until sunset on Tuesday, July 6. Access to the beach will be monitored and controlled between 11:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Community members are reminded to follow safe swimming guidelines, including swimming in designated swimming areas and only while supervised.
- Playground Program locations: Coldstream Park and Mount Joy Park will not be operating in the afternoon due to lack of shade.
Please respect posted signage indicating capacity and physical distancing.
Durham Region Health Department advises of protective actions you can take to beat the heat:
- If you do go outdoors, drink plenty of water, seek shade and wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing, sunglasses and a hat. Don’t forget your sunscreen. Or try to reschedule or plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.
- Maintain physical distancing when checking in with vulnerable neighbours, friends and older family members.
- Never leave people or pets inside a parked car. Outside temperatures of 23°C /73°F can become dangerously hot inside the car with temperatures becoming higher than 50°C/122°F inside the car, which can lead to serious illness and death. Anyone seeing a person or pet unattended in a hot vehicle at any time should call 911 immediately.
- There are ways to keep your home cool even without an air conditioner. Close curtains or blinds during the day, open windows to cool your household in the evening, use a fan.
- If you must work outside or do physical activity outdoors, take extra breaks, drink lots of water and wear less gear, if possible. Remember to ensure to maintain physical distancing and stay 2 metres (6 feet) apart from co-workers and others.
- Durham Region outreach staff actively patrol the city to refer individuals without shelter or in need of services to resources in the community. If you see or know someone in need of immediate emergency shelter call 9-1-1 or visit the Region of Durham’s Emergency Shelters webpage or the City’s Unsheltered webpage at Oshawa.ca/Unsheltered.