Porcupine Health Unit extends lockdown for another two weeks
With the high COVID-19 caseload in the Timmins area -- more than 50 new cases were announced Thursday -- the medical officer of health for the Porcupine Health Unit is extending the current pandemic lockdown until June 25.
"I don’t expect we’re able to make any movement on this before then and I’m quite hopeful that we’ll get there by then," said Dr. Lianne Catton, the medical officer of health for the Porcupine Health Unit.
"While the overall COVID-19 situation in the province of Ontario is improving, the situation in the Porcupine Health Unit area remains dire," Catton said in a news release Friday morning. "Our region is not in a position to safely remove all restrictions as per Step 1 of the Road Map to Reopen with the rest of the province."
Sue Perras, the board of health chair and also the Mayor of Smooth Rock Falls agrees.
"Dr. Catton has the full support of the Board of Health in taking this very critical step to protect our communities. We must continue to work together across the region to support the measures and each other during this difficult time. Each of our communities is at risk for the rapid increase in cases we continue to see across the region," Perras said.
Catton said this is not the decision she wanted to make, but she has the support from provincial health authorities to continue with the lockdown.
"We’re going to be working with some provincial partners to work through what some of that modelling may look like ... and we’ll be sharing that as soon as we can,” she said.
The COVID-19 Delta variant is another reason for keeping public safety measures in place. Catton said it's present in the area and it's 50 per cent more transmissible than other variants.
While she is pleased that around 70 per cent of the population has had at least one dose of a vaccine, and 13 per cent of people have had their second doses, she said more vaccines in arms are needed.
Anyone 16 years and older who received a first dose of Moderna or Pfizer at least 28 days ago can now make an appointment at a Pfizer clinic to receive Pfizer for a second dose.
“We know the Delta variant needs two doses for proper effectiveness," said Catton.
"The vaccines are effective against the Delta variant, but with one dose we’re only looking in the 30-50 per cent range of effectiveness against preventing the Delta variant. With two doses, we’re looking at 88-90 per cent. It’s a much bigger gap between first and second dose than what we see with any other variant.”
Catton said people who want a second dose of Moderna will have to be patient until the province sends more of that brand in mid June.
The following restrictions will remain in place in the Cochrane District and town of Hornepayne until at least June 25:
- Restricting indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with the people you live with. Limited outdoor gatherings to 5 people and maintain physical distancing.
- Restrictions against in-person shopping in most retail settings. Curbside pickup and delivery can continue.
- Supermarkets, grocery stores and similar stores that primarily sell food, and pharmacies will continue to operate at 25 per cent capacity for in-store shopping.
- Restrictions against indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants. Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments can continue to operate take out, drive-through and delivery only.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.