The Peterborough area will move to a “yellow— protect” COVID-19 category after Ontario’s stay-at-home order is lifted on Tuesday.
Peterborough Public Health will be one of 27 public health regions to be moved out of the shutdown and into a revised COVID-19 response framework effective 12:01 a.m. Feb. 16.
The health unit will be moved to “Yellow — protect” along with the Algoma Public Health, Grey Bruce Health Unit and Northwestern Health Unit.
Medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra notes the number of active cases (14 as of Friday) only dropped low enough to reach green level this week. The time period would to extend longer in green to reach the official green level designation.
“I know many Peterboroughians see this as a matter of civic pride because it does take so much sacrifice and I think we should be proud that as of this week, we are trending in green,” she said.
However, she advises caution and protocols still need to be followed.
“As we head into Family Day Weekend, I would like to remind residents that the stay-at-home orders remain in effect. That means no visiting with family outside your household group.”
Get weekly health news
Under the “Yellow — Protect” designation, the province says it will mean enhanced targeted enforcement, fines and enhanced education to limit further transmission and public health measures will be applied in high-risk settings.
As of Friday at 4:30 p.m., the health unit reported 14 active cases of COVID-19 and two outbreaks (Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence) in its jurisdiction of Peterborough, Peterborough County, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation. There were no new cases reported on Friday and two more resolved cases. Of the 565 cases, 542 are now resolved — approximately 96 per cent.
As of Friday, PRHC reports three inpatients with COVID-19 — unchanged since Thursday. There are also 17 patients as a result of transfers from other areas — also unchanged in the last 24 hours.
There are now 54 close contacts, down from 64 reported on Thursday, the health unit notes.
There have been nine deaths since the pandemic was declared — three associated with an outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care in November 2020.
The health unit’s region will remain at yellow for at least two weeks. An assessment of the impact on public health and workplace safety measures will then determine if the region will remain at that level or be moved to a different one.
— More to come
Comments