With the local COVID-19 situation showing marked improvement, and a number of pandemic-related restrictions now lifted, Peterborough’s medical officer of health says while “we’re in a very good position now,” the virus is still present and remains a threat.
“It’s on all of us to continue to make individual level risk assessments”, said Dr. Thomas Piggott at a Peterborough Public Health virtual media briefing Thursday (February 17).
“We need to continue to take precautions, in particular those who are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 (infection),” he added, listing those who have not been vaccinated, those with a medical condition, those with a weakened immune system, and the elderly as still being at risk.
“We are not through the pandemic yet. It’s very important to remember that. We’ve experienced significant new variants and waves on multiple occasions. We need to keep that in mind as we move on to the next stage.”
As of Thursday, the provincial government has eased or lifted a number of pandemic-related restrictions. These include: 100 per cent capacity allowed in food and drink establishments; 100 per cent capacity allowed in indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities; 50 per cent seating capacity in arenas, concert venues and theatres; 25 per cent capacity in nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, bathhouses and sex clubs; and expanded capacity for indoor weddings, funerals and religious services where two-metre social distancing can be maintained.
In addition, the social gathering limit has been increased to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, and to 50 people indoors for organized public events with no limit outdoors.
Also, with no workplace outbreaks reported locally, Dr. Piggott has repealed his earlier formal recommendation requesting that employees be permitted to work from home wherever possible.
These new guidelines come into effect as the local COVID-19 picture brightens considerably. As of late Wednesday afternoon, there were 195 confirmed active cases in the Peterborough region — a decrease of 55 since the last media briefing on February 3. To date this week, 49 new cases are being reported, a third of the 155 new cases reported all of last week.
Also showing major improvement is the decreasing number of active outbreaks, dropping to six from 14 reported two weeks ago. And the situation is also improving at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, with no outbreaks reported and just eight COVID-related in-patients receiving care. Still, five more deaths have occurred in the region, bringing the local pandemic death toll to 55.
With the province planning to lift the requirement for vaccine certificates to be shown to gain entry to public spaces on March 1, Dr. Piggott addressed the hesitancy that may be felt in congregating without that safeguard in place.
“I can understand that some people will feel more anxious and concerned than others, either because of their own perspectives or beliefs, or because of their own circumstances,” said Dr. Piggott.
“Our board of health wrote to the province last week requesting consideration that a third dose be incorporated (into proof of vaccination). As it stands now, with two doses, the proof of vaccination is helpful for individual precautions, but it’s not helpful in being reassured that those around you won’t spread omicron. A third dose is really needed to know the risk of spreading the virus is lower.”
“As it stands now, with a two-dose requirement, I don’t think the vaccine passport is as helpful as it has been during previous parts of the pandemic. I can understand where the province is coming from with the movement on that front. However, I anticipate that many (businesses) will continue to utilize that tool.”
This all said, with the vaccine certificate mandate soon to lifted, Dr. Piggott acknowledged the local board of health’s request for a third-dose vaccine certificate requirement is now a moot point.
On the local vaccination front, there has been steady if unspectacular uptake. To date, 83.1 per cent of residents aged five and up have received two doses, while 53.3 per cent have received three doses. In the age five to 11 category, 54.4 per cent have received one dose while 29.6 per cent have received two doses.
“(Vaccination) rates continue to increase slowly,” said Dr. Piggott, noting 4,000 doses have gone into local arms over the past two weeks.
As for the possibility of a vaccination drop-off as a result of the improving COVID-19 picture and hence a heightened sense of safety, Dr. Piggott said there has already been an “expected slowdown.”
“I don’t think people realize just how important a third dose is,” he explained. “Even now, with where we are and with increasing protection against future waves and variants, the booster is helpful. What our team is working on is finding ways to communicate and help people with their questions and their hesitancies around vaccines, and make it as easy as possible for them (to get vaccinated).”
Meanwhile, among those on the briefing call was Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri — her first appearance at a Peterborough Public Health media briefing since she was elected last fall.
Ferrieri delivered prepared remarks, saying the need for wider and easier access to rapid test kits “should have been addressed long before now.” Later, she noted that while she has no desire to be “political” concerning pandemic issues, she said “It was a lack of leadership that got us to this point” — a not-so-subtle shot at the ruling Liberal government’s response to the Ottawa protest and encampment.
“We’ve had protests for years in this country. Crisis management is going out and listening to people, defusing the situation and moving on. I put a lot of blame on our prime minister. It didn’t need to get to this point.”
Inspector John Lyons of the Peterborough Police Service addressed the “slow roll” vehicle convoy being planned for this Saturday (February 19) in Peterborough, departing Fleming College’s Dobbin Road parking lot at 11 a.m. and making its way to downtown Peterborough.
“We are definitely prepared for what may happen,” Lyons said. “We’ll take whatever actions are necessary to ensure the safety of those involved.”
“If we had the ability to thwart it from happening, we would certainly try to do that,” he added. “But we also understand that people do have the right to come out and take part in peaceful protest.”
Also on the briefing all were Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, and Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
