Lifting of some provincial restrictions started yesterday, a few days ahead of schedule, however, the NWHU Medical Officer of Health says our region's numbers remain high.
In a press release, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) explained that despite the provincial COVID-19 numbers decreasing, our region's percent positivity rates remain high as well as the number of hospitalizations.
The NWHU is recommending that local businesses, organizations, and residents follow enhanced measures while case numbers and hospitalizations remain high.
“Our region’s COVID-19 percent positivity rates and hospitalizations are not decreasing like most of the province. We have the highest case rate per 100,000 in Ontario, nearly four times higher than the provincial rate, and are seeing increases in the trending data,” says Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health at NWHU.
“In addition, recently we have seen a sudden increase in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in our area, and we must do more to protect ourselves and those around us,” says Dr. Young Hoon.
Dr. Young Hoon recommends the following measures:
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Keep social gatherings limited to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
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All indoor public settings are limited to the number of people who are able to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person to a maximum capacity of 50%;
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Be vigilant in continuing to practice all prevention measures, including physical distancing, daily screening, staying home when feeling unwell, and wearing a mask properly when in indoor public settings and when physical distancing is challenging; and
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Getting a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as it significantly reduces the chance of infection from the Omicron variant.
Currently, the region’s 7-day positive case rate is 436.8 per 100,000 while Ontario as a whole sits at 117.1 per 100,000.
NWHU’s 7-day average percent positivity rate is significantly higher than the province, which has been steady at 22% vs the province’s continually declining rate, currently sitting at 11%.
The NWHU noted that COVID-19 spread has occurred in the region through informal social gatherings.
Dr. Young Hoon continued, “The above recommendations have been issued to keep our region’s most vulnerable residents protected. Older adults, unvaccinated people, and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at a higher risk of severe outcomes from a COVID-19 infection.
“I am hopeful that these enhanced prevention practices will allow our local COVID-19 rates to decrease. We will continue to monitor data and revisit the recommendations in two weeks,” concluded Dr. Young Hoon.
Following announcements from other provinces, the Ontario government announced on February 14, that they decided to move up the dates for lifting some of the COVID-19 restrictions.
As of February 17, the provincial government has increased both indoor and outdoor social gathering capacity limits. Measures such as capacity limits for indoor settings and proof-of-vaccination requirements are expected to be lifted on March 1, 2022.