After a spike in cases, the Northwestern Health Unit is considering additional COVID-19 restrictions for the Kenora Area.
“Case and contact management is ongoing, in partnership with other agencies and we’re monitoring the situation very closely,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon. “We are also looking closely at whether additional restrictions are going to be required for the Kenora Area. That will have to be considered through conversation also with the province, they have powers at the provincial level with respect to broader restrictions.”
There are 68 active COVID-19 cases in the Kenora region, with a bulk of them reported this past weekend. (At time of article written)
As of Tuesday, Lake of the Woods District Hospital has three people hospitalized for COVID-19 with one patient in the Intensive Care Unit and two in medical beds.
The weekly Health Hub report from February 16 can be viewed here.
As of Wednesday morning, there are 85 active cases in the Kenora area.
Many of the new cases are affecting White Dog First Nation northwest of Kenora, but there are also two cases on the Northwest Angle #33 First Nation.
Young Hoon adds she’ll likely be in talks with the province this week about our region’s COVID-19 situation, how that may impact the response framework and the colour we’re designated to.
“What is clear, is that the situation is primarily affecting the Kenora area and not the rest of the catchment area of the Northwestern Health Unit. So, that makes it a bit more challenging to think about a blanket restriction level for the entire catchment area, we’re exploring options on ways to apply restrictions that’s effective and useful.”
There’s also an Order in place now that will allow the health unit to enforce COVID-19 self isolation.
“In general I think its really just important for the Kenora area, but actually for the entire catchment area to follow public health measures. This is one situation that is fairly localized, but we know there are other things going on across the entire province. There’s been an increase in cases in the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. We know the variants of concern are being seen in northern Ontario, that will always be a potential issue. I think now is a very good time, even though were moving into yellow, to be following public health measures in a very strict way.”
At this time gatherings are allowed indoors and outdoors, within the Yellow response level, but the health unit is encouraging outdoor gatherings in order to maintain that two meters of distance from those not in your household.
The health unit says there are no COVID-19 variants of concern in the catchment area at this time.
On the vaccine front, there is no official word on when the health unit will receive more doses.
However, Young Hoon says the health unit is expecting another rollout from the province in the next few weeks.
“The priority population continues to be long term care homes, so for our catchment area we’ve done long-term care residents but we still need to do staff and essential care givers so that will be our top priority once we see more vaccines come to our area.”
(With Files from Tim Davidson/Kenora)
