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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 22 ,2 02 1 | 8 As the burden of CO- VID-19 on hospitals begins to ease, 300 health-care workers at Halton Health- care will participate in a COVID-19 related research study. In total, more than 3,000 health-care workers across the GTA will be involved in the study to get a better un- derstanding of the natural history of COVID-19 -- namely the antibody re- sponse. "This study was origi- nally designed in the early stages of the pandemic, be- fore the vaccine, to study the antibody levels amongst health-care work- ers who have been in con- tact with the COVID-19 vi- rus," said Dr. Laurence Chau, principal investiga- tor of the COVID-19 Anti- body Research Study at Halton Healthcare. "It was going to examine how often health-care workers are in- fected, the levels of anti- bodies naturally produced in response to the virus and how long these anti- bodies would provide these health-care workers with immunity." Halton Healthcare is one of many GTA hospitals participating in the Sero- prevalence of anti-SARS- CoV-2 antibodies -- CO- VID-19 Antibodies in Healthcare Workers study headed by the Hospital for Sick Children. "The development of the COVID-19 vaccine was a re- al game changer because the vaccine triggers the body to produce antibod- ies," Chau said. "Therefore, the study's protocols had to be changed with the rollout of the vaccine to measure both the levels of the anti- bodies produced naturally by the body to the CO- VID-19 virus as well as anti- bodies produced in re- sponse to the vaccine. The study will examine the po- tential benefits of antibody testing as a useful tool to guide health-care worker management and inform on targeted testing strate- gies." Participating health- care workers include phy- sicians, nurses, and allied health-care workers as well as clerks, screeners, and environmental and food-services staff. Each participant will have blood drawn at three different stages through- out the duration of the study. "I volunteered for the study mainly because I was curious as to whether I had antibodies," said Sara Ken- nedy, a registered practical nurse at Halton Health- care. "I think that it is im- portant that as a hospital we participate in these re- search studies so we can learn more about the spread of this virus and im- munity among health-care workers." The study outcomes could result in a better un- derstanding of the level of herd immunity in health- care workers, which may be useful at a provincial level to help guide public health decisions. "This study is just one of many research projects currently being conducted under the recently revital- ized Clinic Research Pro- gram at Halton Health- care," Dr. Micheal Heffer- nan, director of the clinical research program, said. "We have participated in several COVID-19 trials and have a number of other exciting clinical research studies currently under- way." HEALTH-CARE WORKERS TAKE PART IN COVID-19 ANTIBODY STUDY Three hundred Halton Healthcare workers will participate in a study to understand the effects of COVID-19 antibodies. Graham Paine/Metroland BRYAN MYERS bmyers@metroland.com NEWS oakville.ca Notice of Passing of Amending Heritage Designation By-Law On July 5, 2021 Oakville Town Council resolved to pass By-law 2021-072 to amend Heritage Designation By- law 1991-219, "A by-law to designate 78 Allan Street Notice of Passing of Amending Heritage Designation By-Law On July 5, 2021 Oakville Town Council resolved to pass By-law 2021-073 to amend Heritage Designation By-law 2018-104, "A by-law to designate the Glassco as a property of historical significance", under Section 30.1 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18. The amendment of By-law 1991-219, "A by-law to designate 78 Allan Street as a property of historical significance", was to clarify the statement explaining the property's cultural heritage value or interest and the description of the property's heritage attributes and to revise the language of the by-law to make House at 338 Spruce Street as a property of cultural heritage value or interest", under Section 30.1 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18. The amendment of By-law 2018-104, "A by-law to designate the Glassco House at 338 Spruce Street as a property of cultural heritage value or interest", was to correct the property's legal description. it consistent with the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act. Further information regarding this designation is available from the Town of Oakville. Any inquiries may be directed to Carolyn Van Sligtenhorst, heritage planner at 905-845-6601, ext. 3875 (TTY 905-338-4200), or by email at carolyn.van@oakville.ca. Further information regarding this designation is available from the Town of Oakville. Any inquiries may be directed to Carolyn Van Sligtenhorst, heritage planner at 905-845-6601, ext. 3875 (TTY 905-338-4200), or by email at carolyn.van@oakville.ca.