If local public health trends continue in the right direction, Porcupine Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton is hopeful some, if not all, restrictions will be lifted next week.
When the province moved to the first stage of the Roadmap to Reopen on June 11, the Porcupine Health Unit region remained under the emergency brake restrictions. The restrictions that limit things such as gathering sizes, in-person shopping and dining at restaurants are in place until at least June 24.
Today, Catton provided an update on what it will take to loosen restrictions.
To date, there have been 1,938 confirmed cases of the virus in the region.
From May 1 to June 17, there have been 1,301 cases.
The trends for the average number of cases and infection rate are dropping.
In early May, there was an average of 16.6 cases per day. So far in June, the average is 9.1 cases per day.
The numbers aren't improving everywhere, though, and Catton noted the cases on the James Bay coast, especially in Kashechewan.
The overall infection rate is also starting to decrease.
Its highest, according to Catton, was 353 cases per 100,000 people on May 25. As of June 17 it was 196 cases per 100,000.
“This decline makes us very hopeful that we’re heading in the right direction,” she said.
There have been no new outbreaks since June 7, but there are still three active outbreaks.
“What we know now is that the delta variant has likely been a significant driver of the cases that we’ve seen, the tremendous spread in workplaces, businesses, families and communities and that it’s also going to be a key part of how we can move forward,” she said.
There have now been 24 confirmed cases of the highly contagious delta variant, which is an increase of 12 from Wednesday when the last cases were reported. For the confirmed cases, 23 are in Timmins and one is in Iroquois Falls.
“At this point, it may only account for 1.8 per cent of the total cases reported since May 1, but we can share with you that these cases had many other cases linked to them. Some of them were linked to significant outbreaks and we know that there are many, many more that will end up coming back as delta variant positive for the region,” said Catton.
In the region, 70.9 per cent of people over the age of 18 have received their first dose of a vaccine and 23.8 per cent has received both doses.
“If trends continue the way they are, we are very hopeful that some of the restrictions, if not all, listed in the letter of instructions that was provided last Friday will be lifted next Friday,” she said.
The trends being monitored, she said, are a sustained decrease in the number of new cases, a decrease in new and active outbreaks, a decrease in hospitalization rates, and an increase in the number of people getting their first and second dose. They are also looking at ways to work together to enhance the focus on measures needed to make sure opening up doesn't lead to a spike in cases.
For the three-stage provincial Roadmap to Reopen, each stage lasts at least 21 days. Moving on to the next phase is dependent on provincial vaccination rates and key public health markers.
When restrictions loosen in the Porcupine Health Unit, Catton said the first plan would be to at least enter the first step of the provincial plan, with enhanced diligence of public health measures such as masking and distancing.
“And then we’re going to have to see, we’re looking right now at what that next step looks like,” she said.
As the health unit is going through information on what will happen next week, she said they're simultaneously looking at the next step.
“We know the challenge is just being really cautious about how quickly we move forward, but at the same time looking at how we can fit ourselves back into the framework as safely as possible and reducing the risks for everyone,” she said.
