A drastic difference between the number of cases across the Simcoe-Muskoka region can be attributed to the proximity to the GTA, said Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health.
While Simcoe County has logged 1,519 cases of COVID-19, as of presstime, Muskoka has only 83.
“There’s certainly a connection with these cases and travel to the GTA for work purposes or socializing purposes, becoming cases and then affecting the rest of the household,” said Gardner.
Because the region cannot be broken up into two distinct zones, the whole region is in the yellow on both the local dashboard and the province’s.
Simcoe Muskoka’s weekly incidence rate is now 27 per 100,000 population but it has been as high as 50 per 100,000. The region would move into the orange zone if the incidence rate gets to 40, and into the red if it reaches 100 per 100,000. Lockdown is imposed if trends continue to worsen after measures from the control levels are implemented.
The strengthened measures limit the number of people that may be seated together at a restaurant to six, and limits the volume of music so that people don’t have to raise their voices.
“I would urge, as a recommendation, that you stick to household members or, if you live alone, the adopted household you choose,” said Gardner. “Because you are closer than two metres with masks off, for eating.”
Recreational programs are limited to 10 people per room indoors and 25 outdoors, and the separation distance increases to three metres.
Establishments are also required to collect contact information for all seated patrons at restaurants and bars, fitness program participants, personal care services and many other businesses for contact tracing purposes.
Gardner said the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will be proactively communicating with municipalities as they gain a better understanding of the new measures released last weekend.
He said the onus is on public health to augment the control measures put in place by the province if necessary, as has been demonstrated by some regions in the GTA.
“I believe, that when you get to high levels we need more controls and that kind of action, if the framework isn’t changed, will end up being required of local medical officers of health to look at what controls are needed,” said Gardner.
The high number of local cases, said Gardner are driven by workplace outbreaks, family clusters, and social contacts. Therefore, his key messages for flattening the second wave is to work remotely whenever possible, not to let one’s guard down in the workplace when it comes to the lunchroom or travelling in a vehicle with co-workers, screen for symptoms before going to work or school, be vigilant with hand hygiene and wear masks, or other PPE. Gardner said the advice coming from Canada’s medical officer of health is to wear a triple layer mask.