W ei Delivery Battle of Oakville firm works the Badges magic with ice S ports B usiness < M e r c e d e s -B e n z Q.E.W. & Dorval Dr. L0»fa»QSOD" 1 I W f 9 » \ S10.I * w w w .oakvillebeaver.com N O R I J ^ | A 'S \ 'o l. 4 0 N o . 3 9 m x m M O S T A W A R D E D C O M M U N I T Y BEAVER N E W S P A P E R r>(» 1 ij4( * s s i .< x > i j >/i is < ;s / / A M o tro la n c i P u b lic a tio n W 'Kl )N E S 1 >.\Y. A P R I L 2 . 2 0 0 3 Halton residents quarantined By Jason Misner SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER More than 20 Halton residents are under voluntary quarantine as local health departments and Ontario's top doctors try to stem the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that has killed four people in the Toronto area, the most recent death Sunday. Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal said he wasn't sure of the age range or how many people are under quarantine locally, but that it exceeded 20. Those under quarantine, a kind of house arrest, are people who were at Toronto hospitals - like Scarborough Grace where SARS was first document ed - in the last two weeks. Dr. Nosal said none of the Halton residents have come from Asia where SARS is suspected to have first started weeks ago. It's a highly contagious illness with symptoms that include high fever of more than 38 C. shortness of breath, sore throat and coughing. The residents were encouraged by the Toronto hospitals they were either discharged from or visiting to contact their local health department. There are currently no SARS cases in Halton, and Dr. Nosal said he and other staff are in constant communica tion with the Ministry of Health about what measures should be taken to fight the illness. Dr. Nosal stressed the patients haven't shown any symptoms of SARS. Symptoms can show up 10 days after close contact with an infected person. (S ee `Region' page A3) 1 lalto n H calthcau J : k v i i i OTMH steps up precautions H o s p it a l f o ll o w in g s t r ic t p r o v in c ia l d ir e c t iv e s By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER S TAFF D espite the siege m entality that permeates Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTM H), staff and the public alike appear to be making the best of rigid new restrictions designed to limit the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). "It's been long days for ing, a police officer also waiteverybody here but we ed in his cruiser out front of haven't heard a lot of grum the hospital. bling," said Halton `T here's a police presence Healthcare Services (HHS) to reinforce the severity of Public Relations Manager the situation," said Carlton. Trish Carlton. "Everyone's Visitors are being limited making the effort to make to the parents of paediatric this work. inpatients and People realize "Everyone's making the those visiting w e're doing people who are effort to make this critically ill. everything to work. People realize keep it (SARS) Almost every we're doing everything one else is out of here." being asked to A c co rd in g to keep it (SARS) out turn around. to HHS of here." President and Those admitted · Trish Carlton CEO John will be greeted HHS Public Oliver, the at the door Relations Manager tough health where they will ministry direc register and tives have been implemented pick up the surgical masks at both OTMH and Milton they must wear. Anyone District Hospital, both of accompanying an ER patient which HHS oversees. must also wear a mask. According to Carlton, "Visitation restrictions and the cancellation of volun patients and their appoint teer services will continue ments for hospital services until further notice." he said. are being reviewed daily on a " Members o f the public case-by-case basis. As of 8 a.m. last Friday a arriving for clinic visits will be required to wear a mask 15-bed isolation ward was while inside the hospital." established on the fifth floor, Registered N urse Sue H anna (above) It should be very clear to while a similar four-bed unit dons a surgical m ask before entering anyone arriving at OTMH was set up in Milton. Last O ak v ille-T rafalg ar M em orial H os that the situation there is any Thursday, Oliver said all vol pital on Tuesday m orning. A mobile thing but business as usual. A unteer duties - such as those sign (left) was posted on Reynolds large, explicit mobile sign at carried out by the Auxiliary S treet to discourage visitors from the Reynolds Street driveway have been canceled. All busi entering. A nother sign (below ) directs sets die tone while security ness meetings and public staff to the screening area they m ust guards in masks, gloves and meetings have also been go through before entering the hospi gowns underscore the seri called oft'. tal. ousness. On Tuesday mom(See 'Physician' page A3) Editorials........ ........A6 Artscene.......... ........B1 Focus............... ........Cl Update............ ........ C5 Classifieds........ ........C6 Business.......... ........C8 Sports............ .........D1 Best Wheels D4 URGENT CLINIC VISITS ONLY FOR MORE INFO CALL 9 0 5 * 8 1 5 * 5 1 2 3 Photos by Nick Perry Special to the Oakville Beaver Witmer to speak at home and school conference By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Despite last month's heat ed reaction among Catholic teachers to Education. Minister Elizabeth Witmer, the politician is putting her self in another conference room this weekend, with about 3 0 0 parents. The parents are delegates from O ntario's Home and School Associations and rep resent about 14,000 mem bers. They are gathering in town for the group's annual general meeting. Witmer is the parent asso ciation's guest speaker at the conference, where members DELIVERY For luane deliverv < S customer service call 1905) 845-9742 Mon. Hies., A Thun. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.. Wed & Fri. 9 a.m. *Hp.m. or Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m For new subscriptions, call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvilleheaver.com Partial Delivery: Beam o f Canada, Home Depot, Mississauga Booster. Holland Park Gallery. Hendry'sShoes, Mark 's Work Warehouse, Forever Young, White Rose, The Bay. Sears, Sears Furniture and Appliance Product AgrMnwn #435201 R A M A D A ® IN N & CONVENTION CENTRE O A K V I L L E Come See The Difference 905*845*7561 Don't forget our Education Minister Elizabeth Witmer are slated to discuss and vote on the always contentious issues surrounding class size and pupil teacher ratios, stu dent testing, school size and trade and apprenticeship pro grams. (See 'Home' page A4) OPEN HOUSE Thursday, April 3, 5-8 p.m. Celebrating our O ^^A n n iv e rsa ry ! · Refreshments · Free Gifts · Entertainment · Lots o f Draws Top B ra n d Names - All Fram es S to re w id e with purchase of your Rx lenses Space Optical invites you to come in and see all the new latest styles of eyeglasses. Visit us for personal and prompt service. Large selection of frames > Doctor's appointment arranged · We accept all vision care programs SPACE OPTICAL Trafalgar Village 125 Cross Ave. M on. 9 · 6 · Tues., W ed., Thurs. & Fri. 9 - 8 pm · Sat. 9:30 - 5 pm 217 L a k c s h o re R d . E ., ( 9 0 5 ) 8 4 4 - 3 5 3 0 w w w .s w is s in te rio r s .c o m Sot/u14 A td . 905-842-2821