With the Peterborough region now placed in the “Yellow-Protect” level of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework, it’s more important than ever that residents adhere to the public health measures that have been in place since the pandemic began.
That was the central message from medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra during a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Tuesday (February 16).
“We can expect to stay at yellow for a period of at least two weeks before we might able to move down (to the Green-Prevent level),” said Dr. Salvaterra, noting that’s how long the province will wait before it re-evaluates local case counts and other factors used as a measuring stick.
“Moving up (to a level with more restrictions) can be quicker, especially now that the chief medical officer of health has been given an emergency brake to be applied,” Dr. Salvaterra added. “We can quickly move up, but we won’t be moving down very quickly.”
“I’m reminding all residents not to travel out of our area or have family or friends (come from other areas to) visit, as that will help to hasten the arrival of the variants. I am recommending to all municipalities that facility bookings be limited to area residents only. We must still wear our masks and keep at least two metres distant from anyone outside of our household group.”
As for restaurant or retail business owners refusing to serve people from outside the Peterborough region, Dr. Salvaterra says that is their right, adding “We are in conversations now with our legal counsel to see whether or not we can introduce some measures to assist businesses so they’re not doing that on their own.”
A full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the “Yellow-Protect” level is available at ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open.
Along with the 22 current active COVID cases in the Peterborough region — that’s a jump of six active cases since last Friday (February 12) — the health unit is also following closely the progress of 205 identified high-risk contacts of positive cases — a huge increase of 145 from last week.
Explaining the increase, Dr. Salvaterra said “a lower threshold” is now being used locally for classifying contacts as high risk. Also adding greatly to that number is the large number of students at Havelock-Belmont Public School who were sent home after two students recently tested positive.
As the two student cases are not linked and because the students were infected outside the school setting, Dr. Salvaterra said an outbreak has not been declared. However, every student sent home will be tested twice before being allowed to return to school.
While Peterborough Public Health identifies the number of high-risk contacts being monitored at any given time, unlike the neighbouring Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, it does not report on how many of those contacts go on to develop a positive case of COVID-19.
That information may soon be reported, according to Dr. Salvaterra. “We’ve raised it with our team of epidemiologists supporting our case and contact team and they’re looking into it.”
Regarding the local vaccination program, Dr. Salvaterra confirmed a shipment of some 6,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine is expected next week and will be administered to staff and essential caregivers at the region’s eight long-term care home, and possibly at some retirement home and congregate setting residents.
However, there’s been no word on the arrival of more Moderna vaccine to provide a second dose to long-term care residents who have already received their first dose. So far, 976 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered in the Peterborough region.
“We need to do that (give second doses) starting next week,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “We’re hoping this week to learn more about whether we’ll be getting Moderna and how many doses.”
As for the volunteers stepping forward to administer vaccines, Dr. Salvaterra says that number now exceeds 600. An application to volunteer with Peterborough Public Health is available online at s-ca.chkmkt.com/?e=221388&h=69FEB45916AAA78. For an overview of the local vaccine rollout plan, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
On the outbreak front, there is currently just one ongoing at Peterborough Retirement Residence.
Since the pandemic began, there have been a total of 579 local positive cases, of which 548 have been resolved. The number of COVID-related deaths remains unchanged at nine.
Also commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, and Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell.
