With some provincial COVID-19 restrictions getting loosened today, the Northwestern Health Unit strongly urging caution.
Local businesses, organizations and residents are encouraged to follow enhanced measures set out by the health unit as case numbers and hospitalizations remain high.
Health officials note most of the spread in the region is through informal social gatherings and residents.
“Our region’s COVID-19 percent positivity rates and hospitalizations are not decreasing like most of the province,” says Medical Officer Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon. “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. 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.”
The test positivity rate is four times the provincial rate and there has been an increasing number of people hospitalized.
Dr. Young Hoon strongly recommends the following:
- Keep social gatherings limited to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
- 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%;
- 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
- Getting a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as it significantly reduces the chance of infection from the Omicron variant.
Residents are urged to limit the number of guests and to gather outdoors if possible.
