Community News

HEALTH UNIT ANTICIPATES RISE IN COVID-19 CASES

PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO 'PLAY IT SAFE' TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ON HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM THIS FALL AND WINTER

CATHERINE WHITNALL cwhitnall@mykawartha.com

The local health unit continues to emphasize the importance of being proactive when it comes to COVID-19.

"What we've seen with the most recent wave ... is the numbers have not come back down to baseline levels as quickly as we've seen with other waves," said Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit medical officer of health and CEO Dr. Natalie Bocking during a recent media briefing on the impact of COVID-19 in the region.

She noted with the majority of students back in school and the cooler weather moving people indoors — where there are fewer opportunities to physical distance — it's unlikely this will change.

Data collected by the health unit supports this as, while water surveillance in Cobourg and Lindsay are currently recording low viral signatures there has been a sustained increase in numbers gathered from the Minden site.

The health unit is also presently addressing nine outbreaks, five of which have been declared in the last 10 days, and, as of Wednesday, Sept. 21, 11 people had been admitted to hospital.

Moving into fall, Dr. Bocking said the health unit has developed an overall respiratory illness approach instead of the previous focus on COVID and influenza separately. She explained this 'blanket' approach will aid in addressing the impact all seasonal and respiratory viruses can have, especially in light of limited access to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing.

When it comes to improving the odds of preventing serious illness this fall and winter, Dr. Bocking shared these five key messages: • Stay home if sick and at least 24 hours after fever lifts

• Wear a mask for 10 days after onset of any respiratory illness

• Be aware of what's happing in the community by visiting the health unit's COVID-19 dashboard (www.hkpr.on.ca/covid-19)

• Know eligibility requirements for COVID treatments such as Paxlovid which must be administered immediately after symptoms arise

• Stay up to date with vaccinations — COVID-19 doses, including the bivalent booster, as well as influenza immunization currently offered to those at highest risk and the general population in November.

There are many opportunities for those aged six months and older to receive COVID-19 vaccination including health unit led clinics and GO-VAXX mobile visits — appointments can be booked via covid-19.ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling 1-833943-3900 — primary care providers and participating pharmacies.

NEWS

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2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281694028657675

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