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23 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M arch 17,2022 insidehalton.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT metrolandparcelservices.ca IS YOUR BUSINESS GROWING? Growing your ecommerce business might seem overwhelming at first. And the last thing you want to worry about is getting your product into the hands of new customers. Metroland Parcel Services can help with timely, reliable shipping at competitive rates. Visit our website to learn more about how MPS can ease your growing pains. SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION Cut out paying more Your only destination for more coupons, more flyers, more savings. #SavingWithSave Save $1.00 On One (1) Green Giant* Veggie Fries or Veggie Rings 340 g save.ca/couponsScan to get coupons © 2022 B&G Foods Canada, ULC. All Rights Reserved. *T.M. of B&G Foods North America, Inc., used under license. Some say pandemic, others say endemic. In the age of the corona- virus pandemic, it isn't rare to hear either classifi- cation thrown around, but it turns out there is a differ- ence. According to Anna Maddison, senior media re- lations for Health Canada, a pandemic is a disease out- break that has spread across multiple countries and continents, typically impacting several people. The current pandemic, for example, was declared in March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). And endemic means the pandemic has stuck around. "A disease is considered endemic when it has a con- stant presence in a geo- graphic area," Maddison said. "In an endemic state, the spread of the disease and rates of infection be- come more predictable and control measures are usu- ally available to help to keep the disease rates at an acceptable, manageable level. Endemic diseases may follow a seasonal pat- tern (e.g., seasonal influen- za) or can be characterized by a low steady rate with periodic outbreaks." Examples of endemic diseases in Canada are sea- sonal influenza and colds. Maddison also said that public health will continue to provide general guid- ance and recommenda- tions but there is less ur- gency or even need for pop- ulation-based disease con- trol measures once a disease is endemic. Asked to outline the cri- teria an infectious disease, specifically COVID-19, must meet to be classed in the endemic phase at a committee meeting in front of the House of Commons on January 18, Dr. Theresa Tam said it basically means the virus will con- tinue to circulate in the hu- man population and is not eradicated. However, she too said there are no hard and fast thresholds, and there may be seasonality to the virus. As well, there could be epidemics and outbreaks in the years to come that will factor in. "A lot of the experts are anticipating that the virus will hang around and cause ongoing impacts on the human population," she said. As to who would ulti- mately make the determi- nation COVID-19 is endem- ic, she believed "it would be done not just nationally but at the global level be- cause this virus has to be considered international- ly." WHAT DOES ENDEMIC MEAN? MATTHEW STRADER A disease is considered endemic when "it has a constant presence in a geographic area," according to Health Canada's Anna Maddison, senior media relations. Catherine O'Hara screenshot NEWS EXPERTS ANTICIPATE COVID-19 TO STICK AROUND, CONTINUE IMPACTING HUMAN HEALTH: DR. TAM In Canada, citizens have the right to request infor- mation from public sector organizations, or correct information about them- selves, under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. The process typically in- volves mailing in a paper letter to the organization of concern. However, Halton Regional Police Service is breaking with tradition and launching an online platform for making FOI requests "in an effort to harness technology, en- hance efficiency and better serve members of the pub- lic," police say in a press re- lease. Residents can now go to haltonpolice.ca/foi to make their FOI request on- line. Police hope that this will streamline the process and make creating a re- quest available 24/7. Fees can now be paid on- line instead of through a cheque. "Upon completing their online application, the requestor will get an electronic confirmation that the request has been received and that it will be reviewed shortly," Const. Steve Elms said "The online application process is an intake pro- cess. Intake, via online or paper, will continue to be processed in the order re- ceived," he added. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE Freedom of Information requests can now be made online with the Halton Regional Police Service. Shutterstock photo