NO COVID-19 CASE SPIKE REPORTED AFTER THANKSGIVING

PEEL PUBLIC HEALTH SAW DECLINE OF CASES FROM OCT. 4 TO 17

The Thanksgiving long weekend occurred nearly a month ago and Peel Public Health has confirmed they didn't see a "significant increase" in overall case incidence.

This is good news, meaning indoor, public gatherings did not contribute to any increases or case spikes, which was not the scenario for last year's celebrations.

In the weeks following Thanksgiving 2020, Ontario saw a surge in COVID-19 cases, with more than 1,000 new cases reported Oct. 25.

In York Region, 16 people, including infants, with confirmed positive cases were believed to have contracted the virus following Thanksgiving celebrations.

This year, with the increased vaccine coverage across Ontario and the country, no large spreading events have been reported in Peel.

The most recent COVID-19 projections from Ontario's Science Table found cases were declining "in most" public health units while hospitalizations and ICU occupancy are listed as "stable."

14-day increase for the weeks of Oct. 4 and 17 were noted in Grey Bruce, Renfrew, Timiskaming, Hastings & Prince Edward Country, Simcoe-muskoka, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington, Sudbury and Southwestern public health units.

Peel Public Health and 26 other public health units, including Toronto, Brant and Algoma, all saw decreases for the same period.

"The combination of vaccination and continuing public health measures is controlling this pandemic wave," read the key findings portion of the projections documents.

However, Peel Public Health is cautioning that now is not the time to stop practicing COVID-19 safety precautions.

As the weather grows colder and more activities and gatherings will shift to indoor spaces, public health says, "it's important that we preserve our progress" by getting vaccinated if you haven't already, complying with proof of vaccination programs and masking indoors and in crowds "as much as possible."

Speaking at last week's COVID-19 presser for the city of Brampton, the region's medical officer of health, Dr. Lawrence Loh, emphasized the importance of staying home if you are unwell.

"Please do not meet in person if you are sick. If you are sick get tested and selfisolated," said Loh.