In his Friday update, the District’s Medical Officer of Health agreed fully and recommended extending the shutdown in Northern Ontario.
Dr. Jim Chirico said the province is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of cases, deaths, hospitalizations, critical care admissions, as well as patients on ventilators due to COVID-19 infections.
He said in the last two weeks the District saw 41 new cases of the virus and that we are just starting to see the negative impact of the holiday season.
Asked about the sudden increase in cases, he said it seems most of the cases are related to close contact and those living in the same household.
Social gatherings and meetings between households have also contributed to that spread.
Dr. Chirico said Southern Ontario ICUs at maximum capacity may also be moving COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases to ICUs further north.
At this point, he says cases will only be sent as far north as Barrie, but that limit could be revised if the number of patients requiring ICU beds continues to grow
As a result, he urged the public to do their part to help reduce the burden on any hospital by following Public Health measures and staying home except for essential reasons.
Ending with a message to people not following the rules or looking for loopholes that if we continue to see an increase in the number of individuals testing positive in the region he will have to look at all available options to slow the spread of COVID-19 locally.
As for schools returning Monday, Dr. Chirico said he believes schools are essential for children’s mental, physical, and social well-being.
He added that for some students school is a safe place from their home or the place where they receive meals that they would not have at home.
In regards to testing for school-age students, the health unit will recommend testing in schools where it is required
At this time the health unit has not seen transmission of COVID-19 in elementary or secondary schools.
There have been no related outbreaks and the school environment has not contributed to any community spread of the virus
He says increases in the number of school-aged children testing positive within the district have been as a result of spread among family members.
This was considered, and the health unit determined that the benefits of in-person learning out-weighed the risks of COVID-19 at this time.
However, Dr. Chirico urged the need to be flexible, saying “If we see a trend of transmission happening within the school, I will take appropriate action.’
And in terms of vaccinations, Dr, Chirico said as per the provincial rollout, LTC and retirement homes are at the top of the list.
However, he says at this time the vaccine is not available for the district as there are limited supplies that are going to areas with the greatest need.
Dr. Chirico advised to be patient, and that once the health unit knows when the vaccine will be available locally, the public will be advised and vaccinations will begin immediately.
