According to Dr. Jim Chirico, those interested in avoiding additional public health measures can do their part now by reducing their social contacts, thereby reducing the chances of spreading COVID-19.
The Medical Officer of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit observes, while fitness gyms and other indoor physical activity centres are temporarily closed, there are other options.
"What people can do is use really good judgment. You don't want to be in close contact with people. There are plenty of outdoor sports you can partake in to get great exercise and are low-risk activities when you are outdoors and physically distancing."
Last winter, Chirico came under fire from various winter outdoors enthusiasts' groups when he ordered snowmobile trails, outdoor skating rinks, and sliding hills closed in response to increased COVID-19 activity in the district.
See related: Dr. Chirico says it's all about the big picture
Chirico stood by his decision in the weeks that followed — some of which was spent under a provincial stay-at-home order — while maintaining it was not the activity itself that led to the closures but rather the gathering of people associated with the activity.
See also: Will winter activity restrictions continue?
And: Medical officer of health cannot decrease restrictions on local ski hills
"Being outdoors really reduces the risk," says Chirico, a known outdoors enthusiast himself. "It doesn't eliminate it but it certainly really reduces it because, obviously, you're not in an enclosed space where we know the Omicron can significantly spread."
Public Health Physician Dr. Carol Zimbalatti advises avoiding taking part in outdoor physical activity if you are feeling ill, "especially if you are going to be within a few metres of other people."
Zimbalatti adds, "We want people to be able to continue exercising and exercising outdoors is the safest way to do that. We encourage people to take precautions when they do so."
See: Dr. Chirico: 'Urgent action is needed now' as Omicron spreads
"The considerations that have the most impact on decision making are hospital admissions, ICU admissions and whether on not the health care system is coping." If the health care situation is getting more "severe and overwhelmed, then I think we may have to look at further restrictions."
Further restrictions from the province will depend on the hospital and ICU capacities, Chirico says, while reassuring there are contingency plans in place — including surge plans for hospitals — as the situation unfolds.
"It's really trying to find a balance between, certainly economics, health, as well as the mental and physical well-being of not just students in school but the general public. It's been very tough on everybody.
"The decision to impose more restrictions is really being made in a serious and thoughtful way, trying to balance all of those issues. We have to have a really good reason — scientific evidence — to move in that direction."
