Leadership within the Northwestern Health Unit has said they will be monitoring the future trends and statistics of COVID-19 following the province lifting additional restrictions.
On Tuesday (March 1, 2022), capacity limits were lifted in the remaining indoor public settings.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health for the NWHU said this reopening phase may have an impact on the region but will continue to monitor the situation.
“We are a geography of lower population density, even before COVID-19 we’re not an urban centre so there is the capability of people to maintain physical distance,” said Young Hoon. “We’ll be monitoring statistics closely to see what this means for our region.”
Though these restrictions were lifted Young Hoon does want residents to continue to be cautious as COVID-19 is still at large in the region.
As of February 28, 2022, the Northwestern Health Unit is reporting a seven-day per cent positivity rate of 26.1, which is higher than the provincial average of 9.6 per cent.
“They need to make that effort to physical distance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To protect themselves, to protect their loved ones.”
Along with lifting capacity limits, proof of vaccination needed to enter into many indoor public settings has been removed as well.
Young Hoon said that the proof of vaccination policy, which is for those that have received two doses of the vaccine isn’t as useful anymore.
“The proof of vaccination policy definitely had a protective effect in the sense that it had hopefully encouraged more people to consider getting vaccinated, and hopefully more people chose to get vaccinated.”
“It would have of course reduced the spread cause there are more people within a setting fully vaccinated.”
Though the majority of the region is fully vaccinated meaning they have two doses, Young Hoon mentioned the booster dose is the key shot to get.
“That third dose provides extremely good protection against hospitalization and severe illness.”
She is encouraging those that haven’t gotten their third dose to get it or at least have that conversation with their health care provider.
In the NWHU 48.3 per cent of the eligible population have received their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Young Hoon is advising residents to consider the recommendations she released on February 17, 2022, which are:
- Keep social gatherings limited to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
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All indoor public settings 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.