The local health unit’s three offices are closing to the public following Ontario’s declaration of a State of Emergency.
All Health Unit services will continue, including the operation of mass immunization vaccination clinics, case investigation and follow-up, and outbreak management.
Staff will also continue supporting harm reduction programs, some environmental health programs, and some family and children programs.
While the region is not seeing the same volume of cases as some parts of the province, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking says there has been a troubling increase in the number of local cases.
“We are hearing stories of people gathering, not quarantining if they have been identified as a high-risk contact, and travelling for non-essential reasons,” Dr. Brocking says.
She said these actions, coupled with the variants of concern that are now circulating, are leading to increased cases in our area.
Dr. Bocking’s hope is that vaccinations, coupled with the newly imposed Stay-at-Home order will help turn the tide against COVID-19.
She finished by saying “I know we are all tired and experiencing pandemic fatigue, but we need to work together just a little while longer in the hope that we can get this virus under control and start to see some normalcy in our lives.”