As people take part in anti-racism marches locally, Porcupine Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton says there are ways to safely take part.
Yesterday, about 100 people took part in a Black Lives Matter protest in Timmins, walking from Participark to city hall. More events are planned for later this week.
“At this point in time...there has not been any guidance to prohibit any of these demonstrations and we’ve seen them occurring throughout the province, throughout the world. It’s such an important and critical time in our history and to do be doing this during a pandemic is obviously exceedingly challenging, but I think there’s ways that we can all support one another in this as we move forward and to do so safely," said Catton in today's mayor's health table update for COVID-19.
She said there are many ways to reduce potential exposures.
"One is that being outside is always a better opportunity when individuals are outside with respect to infection and prevention,” she said.
Physical distancing from people you don't live with, and wearing a non-medical mask, non-winter scarf or other type of face covering are other ways to reduced the risk of potential exposure.
“It’s just such an incredibly important time. At the same time if individuals are sick or unwell, then the recommendation still stands to not be out in public and exposing others,” she said.
Timmins Mayor George Pirie took part in the first march, and said it was very respectful.
“I thought that in fact it demonstrated both the type of support that the citizens of Timmins feel for these larger issues of course that include our community but are global in perspective, as well reflected their respect for each other in relation to the time that we’re in,” he said.
In the Porcupine Health Unit region, there have been 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those, 57 are resolved and seven people have died. The health unit is monitoring one known active case of the virus locally. The last positive test was reported May 10.
As the economy gradually reopens and people enjoy the nice weather, Catton urges people to remain committed to the steps to prevent further cases and potential tragic outcomes.
For people heading out to camps or cottages, she reminds them to maintain the six-foot space with people you don't live with, and to bring food or supplies from home or home community.
She said they continue to promote testing across the area, and reminded people what a negative test result means.
“A negative test is simply a snapshot in time. It tells us that on the day the individual was swabbed that they do not have the infection. It does not tell us about any previous infections, nor does it tell us about the possibility of incubating or having the infection even by the time you get the test results back,” she said.
At the City of Timmins, Pirie said they are evaluating the current position they're in regarding the city's state of emergency.
Next week, he said they are getting ready to open Service Timmins.
There are COVID-19 Assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst and Hornepayne.
The PHU COVID-19 hotline is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
