Simcoe County and Muskoka are moving back into the Red Zone on Monday, one week earlier than anticipated.
Every two weeks, the province re-evaluates its colour-coded reopening framework, but decided to give the green light for the region to move back from grey-lockdown into the less restrictive “control” level after only one week, following an outcry from local businesses and politicians.
The Ontario Government says all decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health and are based on the latest trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
“Our government is taking a safe and cautious approach to returning to the Framework and due to our progress, all regions of the province will soon be out of the provincewide shutdown,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Despite this positive step forward, a return to the Framework is not a return to normal. As we continue vaccinating more Ontarians, it remains critical for everyone to continue to follow public health measures and stay home as much as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.”
Based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, North Bay Parry Sound District will be returning to the Framework at the Red-Control level. Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health are also making progress, but as their case rates still remain high, they will return to the Framework at the Grey-Lockdown level.
In addition, based on the latest data, the following seven public health regions will also be moving to the following levels in the Framework:
Red-Control
Peterborough Public Health;
Public Health Sudbury and Districts; and
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
Orange-Restrict
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; and
Timiskaming Health Unit.
Yellow-Protect
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit; and
Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
All changes will be effective Monday, March 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Please click here for the full list of public health region classifications.
Based on the latest modelling data, the efforts of Ontarians in following public health measures and advice are working to decrease the number of new cases, deaths and hospitalizations across the province. However, with COVID-19 variants of concern continuing to spread, the actions of everyone over the coming weeks will be critical to maintaining the progress communities have made across the province to date.
“While all regions have returned to the Framework, everyone must remain vigilant to help prevent any further increases in transmission,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The best defense against the virus and all of its variants of concern remains continuing to stay at home, avoiding social gatherings, only travelling outside of your community for essential purposes, and limiting close contacts to your household or those you live with.”
The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to consult with public health and other experts, review data, and provide advice to the government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health of Ontarians.
For more details, please click here.
The @ONgov has announced that effective Monday March 8, 2021 #SimcoeMuskoka will be entering the RED-Control level of the Ontario framework. More information about the RED-CONTROL level can be found here https://t.co/69TmnkXrsG pic.twitter.com/GxXDNA1N7W
— SMDHU (@SMDhealthunit) March 5, 2021