The Health Unit says public health measures and getting the vaccine are the best ways to protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19.
As of June 29, our area has 76 active cases; the highest for any month our district has seen since the start of the pandemic. The Health unit is reminding folks to use caution when enjoying summer activities.
“With our move to Step 2 of reopening, we will start seeing more gatherings and more people enjoying time with people they love,” says Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “However, COVID-19 and its variants are still very present in our district, and we are still seeing community transmission, meaning people do not know where they caught the virus. I continue to encourage people to use their good judgement in all their activities, and to follow public health measures and get fully vaccinated to ensure we make the most recent shutdown our last.”
Public health measures include:
- Practicing physical distancing – staying two (2) metres from others who do not reside in your home;
- Wearing a face covering indoors and outdoors as required and whenever physical distancing is difficult;
- Washing or sanitizing your hands often;
- Coughing and sneezing into your sleeve;
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth;
- Cleaning high-touch objects and surfaces often.
The Health Unit says it also has made more booking available to meet the demand now that the province has opened up second dose vaccination for all adults.
You can book your first or second dose appointment at Ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or by calling the provincial booking line at 1-833-943-3900. The angency says youth aged 12 to 17 should also seek their first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible in order to receive their second dose in mid-August, ensuring they are fully immunized before their return to school in September.