NWHU extends enhanced COVID-19 prevention recommendations based on local statistics

Tim Brody - Editor

Citing continued high COVID-19 and hospitalization rates across the region, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) announced last week on March 2 that it has extended its recommendations issued on February 17, which are more stringent than what the provincial government currently has in place. 
Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health at NWHU is asking local businesses, organizations, and residents to follow enhanced measures while case numbers and hospitalizations 
remain high.
“We are not in the same situation as most of the province. Our region continues to have the highest case rate per 100,000 in Ontario (398.1 per 100,000), and we are seeing an increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19 in our area,” Young Hoon said.
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.
“Until we see a decreasing trend in local case and hospitalization data, these enhanced prevention measures can help protect our most vulnerable residents and our health care system. We will continue to monitor data and once again revisit the recommendations in a few week’s time,” Young Hoon concluded.
Information on our region’s COVID-19 data, can be found at www.nwhu.on.ca/covid19.