Northern Ontarians are being urged to "do your part" to stop the surge this Spring Break.
A joint release from Northern Ontario's health units - including Algoma Public Health and Public Health Sudbury and Districts - warns that we must "work together to prevent another surge in COVID-19", noting infection rates in many parts of the North have "been at some of the highest levels since the pandemic began" while COVID-19 activity's rising across the province, with the rapid spread of variants of concern leading to "aggressive outbreaks" and more severe illness, even in younger people.
They acknowledge that "everyone has made tremendous sacrifices for over a year" and "there is ongoing hope, as more vaccine becomes available, week by week", but "at this very moment in time...the vast majority of our community members are not yet immunized", meaning "risky activities like gatherings and travel must still be avoided by all", even with Easter and Spring Break approaching.
Emphasizing steps must be taken to "protect the most vulnerable in our communities and to stop the surge from overwhelming our local hospitals and frontline health care workers", the health units are urging everyone stay at least two metres from anyone you don't live with - particularly indoor places, which they warn are "risky" - to avoid "non-essential" travel or receiving visitors - particularly between places in different zones of the province's tiered restrictions framework - and to get tested "straight away" if you have symptoms - even mild - isolating from everyone until you have results, and everyone you live with should also isolate, not going to work or school.
Currently, Algoma Public Health - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, and White River - is in the "Yellow-Protect" category of Ontario's tiered restrictions framework, while Public Health Sudbury and Districts - including Chapleau - is in the "Grey-Lockdown" category.