Peterborough’s medical officer of health is urging area residents to reduce close contacts and reconsider social gatherings, with the health unit reporting a surge of 33 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday (December 18).
“This abrupt rise in cases is a clear indication that the omicron variant is circulating in our community,” says Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release issued by Peterborough Public Health early Saturday evening. “I am strongly recommending that residents reduce their close contacts and reconsider holiday plans to keep themselves safe and reduce the high transmission we are seeing.”
There are now 78 active cases of COVID-19 in the Peterborough area. Provincially, 3,301 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday, the largest single-day increase since May 6, following 3,124 new cases reported on Friday and 2,421 new cases reported on Thursday.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, the provincial government is imposing new public health restrictions, including a 50 per cent capacity limit on most indoor public settings (including all retail), a limit of 10 people per table at restaurants, and a limit of 10 people at indoor social gatherings and 25 people at outdoor social gatherings.
“Even with the new provincial capacity limits, we anticipate there will be a significant increase in cases in the coming days,” Dr. Piggott says. “We layer up to go outdoors in the winter to protect us from the cold and we need to layer up our prevention to protect us from COVID-19.”
Dr. Piggott is recommending five tips for preventing the spread of the virus during the holiday season:
- Check local and provincial public health guidance before going to any gathering.
- Get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to you. Three doses ensure the best protection. Reduce your risk by only gathering with others outside your household if they are also vaccinated.
- Stay home if you are feeling unwell and seek a COVID-19 PCR test to confirm a COVID-19 infection. If you have access to rapid antigen testing, use it to ensure you are negative before attending any gathering and consider reporting the result whether positive or negative to Peterborough Public Health.
- Gather outdoors if possible. If not, remember to open windows to allow for proper air flow in small spaces.
- If you gather with people from outside your household ensure the room is well ventilated by opening windows or doors (even a crack), and wear a tightly fitted medical mask or N95 respirator mask.
