The Leeds Grenville Lanark Health Unit has called this a critical time to stop the spread of Covid-19
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paula Stewart says a recent surge in cases is affecting local businesses, workplaces and schools. Dr. Stewart says that the new COVID cases in the area are being spread through workplace transmission. She says it is critical for businesses to screen anyone who comes in, keep people distant with masks, and install plexiglass in public areas. She says with the holidays approaching, it is important for residents to ensure they are doing everything right.
For individuals, Dr. Stewart says to make public health precautions a part of your daily life. She says to see everything through a “COVID Lense” and to think critically about where you go, who you have in your circle, and making sure you always have your mask. Due to the dropping temperatures, Dr. Stewart suggests investing in three layered masks rather than the standard 2-layered. She says that because of colder and dryer weather, coronaviruses like COVID-19 are easier to spread, and masks lose their efficiency due to the lack of moisture.
She says that COVID-19 has stretched LGLDHU resources thinly at times, due to the resources needed to do contact tracing. She says that they have had to call in people from other health units to help. She says for reasons like this, it is important that individuals and businesses keep COVID in check. She says this is standard, as staff from the LGLDHU have helped out regions like Peel when they have seen a surge in cases.
On the vaccine, Dr. Stewart says they are working with Ottawa and Kingston on a rollout. She says that the health unit may get the vaccine later than other areas due to the region being at a green covid restriction level. However, she says that LGLDHU is ready to roll out the vaccine when it arrives, saying that they have experience administering vaccinations from the H1N1 Pandemic as well as the seasonal flu shots.