Dr. Jim Chirico believes an extended lockdown for Northern Ontario is a good idea.
The chief medical officer with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit addressed the media Friday afternoon during a recorded online media conference.
"I wish to thank the provincial government for their decision to extend the provincial shutdown in northern Ontario," said Chirico.
"I fully agree and I recommended it. Ontario is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of cases, deaths, hospitalizations, critical care admissions and patients on ventilators due to COVID-19 infections."
Chirico says the trend is not going in the right direction in this district with 41 individuals testing positive (including one new case Friday) in the past 14 days.
"We currently have 23 active cases and we are just starting to see the negative impact of the holiday season," noted Chirico.
"Our hospitals have very little surge capacity and limited resources which we need to and must protect everyone's health and safety."
Chirico noted the region is at a disadvantage being the only northern district bordering with the south.
"Our Health Unit district is unique as it is the only Health Unit in the district to border southern Ontario," he said.
"Past experience has shown that people in areas with more restrictive measures in place will travel to areas with less restrictive measures which increases the risk of spreading the virus. Having the same restrictions in all of Ontario will help reduce travel and that risk."
Chirico urges the community to pay attention to the shutdown rules as he does not want to have another press conference to announce another lockdown.
"The shutdown extension is a strong reminder that we all need to step up, act now and slow the spread of COVID-19 as we successfully did during the first wave," said Chirico.
"Think hard about the decisions you are making by acting now, staying home and following the shutdown rules we can help save lives."
