The Grey Bruce Health Unit says the “critical threshold” in Covid cases declared last week has been overcome.
A release from Public Health says “the community responded to Grey Bruce’s top doctor’s critical threshold alarm and maintained complete control over the pandemic locally.”
The Health Unit says the community-wide response was vital in containing any further surge in Grey Bruce.
“Acknowledging the severe nature of the situation, the community responding by embracing public health’s direction to stay-at-home,” a statement from Public Health says. “Many organizations and businesses went further by voluntarily shutting their doors for the critical 48-hour period.”
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra warned on April 14 the region was at a critical threshold with Covid cases, after more than 70 new cases were confirmed over a 36-hour period.
Public Health says a lingering number of cases from the earlier outbreak may still emerge due to the incubation period of the virus, but they are identified and under health unit case and contact management.
“As such, the risk to the community is mitigated,” a statement from the Health Unit explains.
The Health Unit says over the past five days, efforts to redeploy staff and revise case management strategies effectively increased its capacity to manage current case and contact volumes.
Public Health says the redistribution of staff triggered the need to activate its “vaccination contingency plan.” One large clinic planned for April 17 of over 1,000 doses — that had no appointments booked — was deferred. Doses were redistributed to congregate settings (shelters and community living) across Grey Bruce. Dedicated mobile teams provided the vaccine to 42 sites by April 20.
“Public Health did what we had to do. The community did what they had to do. And together, we were able to contain this potentially dangerous surge in COVID-19 cases,” Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Arra says in a statement. “It is crucial for all of us to stay the course with the 3Ws, wash your hands, watch your distance and wear a mask over the coming weeks until the vaccine rollout is complete this summer.”
The Grey Bruce Health Unit Helpline will re-open shortly, but Public Health asks people to visit the website first when possible for Covid-19 information.