As Grey Bruce enters phase two of the COVID reopening strategy, the region's medical officer of health is reminding residents to remain cautious.
“People say that they are tired of the disease, but the disease is not tired,” said Dr. Arra, medical officer of health for Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) during a public question and answer Facebook Live event held last night.
“We need to continue successful reopening and maintaining the control over this disease, while opening as fast as we can in a safe way,” he continued.
He explained there is a need to strike a balance between the impacts of COVID, and the impacts that the isolation and closures can also have on residents.
“When you enter the reopening stages of a pandemic, the goal changes from mitigation. In the reopening process, the goal becomes minimizing two variables – death and disease from COVID and death and disease from measures against COVID,” he said.
He added after a certain period of time the effects of isolation, such as mental health, depression, domestic violence, and heatwaves or heat stroke, can have a greater impact than the disease itself
“When people are locked up for a long time their chances for depression or suicide are much higher,” he said.
GBHU has reported no deaths in the region due to COVID. Since the onset of the pandemic the region has seen three cases hospitalized, all of which have since recovered.
Arra was joined on the Facebook Live Stream by MP Alex Ruff, MPP Lisa Thompson, MPP Bill Walker and Grey County Warden, Paul McQueen.
The event also saw a number of questions raised from the public regarding face masks and the 10-person bubble, as well as community concerns regarding different sections of the population.
“Many people talked about 'us vs. them' or 'locals vs. cottagers,' and the epidemiology at this point reflects that both groups have been acting as one,” said Arra, also addressing concerns surrounding farm workers in the area.
“We had one cluster of two cases with about six other people exposed. They were able to contain the two cases until they recovered and all who were exposed successfully came out of the isolation period,” he said.
Moving forward through the reopening process, Arra recommends that everyone should move through their days as if they have COVID in order to help protect the community’s most vulnerable.
“Having that awareness that anyone could be infecting others will allow us to be the most compassionate to those around us,” he said.
