But Dr. Ian Arra said it is still important to remain vigilant and follow the health measures that are in place, including masking and physical distancing.
“We are most definitely ready,” Arra said Tuesday (15) of the further easing of restrictions which took effect the following Thursday. “All the metrics are trending down and they have been for weeks now, and it is directly related to the investment of the public and community partners in Grey-Bruce to ensure the safety of the community.”
On Monday, Feb. 14, Premier Doug Ford announced moves, including lifting capacity limits at restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theatres and some other places where proof of vaccination is required.
Organized events will be permitted indoors for up to 50 people, while there will be no limit on outdoor events. Spectator areas of sports facilities, concert venues and theatres will be capped at 50 per cent.
Arra said all key public health and health system indicators are improving, including the number of new COVID-19 cases in high-risk sectors, hospitalizations, deaths and outbreaks in congregate care settings as well as the complexity of those outbreaks.
Arra said the Omicron wave actually peaked in Grey-Bruce right at the beginning of January and has been going down since then. Hospitalizations and deaths peak after cases in the community peak, he explained.
The health unit reported on Tuesday that there were eight local cases in hospital in Grey-Bruce, an increase of one from Monday, while two more local cases are hospitalized outside the region.
Ontario reported 1,550 people hospitalized with COVID-19, which was up from Monday, but down from 2,254 at the same time a week ago. The Ministry of Health was reporting 54 per cent of those were admitted for COVID-19, while 46 per cent were admitted for other reasons, but tested positive for the virus.
There were 384 people in Ontario intensive care units with the virus, with nearly 80 per cent admitted specifically for the virus.
Ontario reported another 19 deaths from the virus on Tuesday, bringing the provincial death toll to 12,120. Forty local residents have died from the virus.
There are five local long-term care and retirement homes with COVID-19 outbreaks, unchanged from a day earlier. They are Kelso Pines and Central Place in Owen Sound, Maple Court in Walkerton R-Villa in Walkerton and Grey Gables Long-Term Care Home in Markdale.
“The number of long-term care outbreaks was around 10 or 11 three weeks ago and now it is around five and the complexity of these outbreaks is another indicator that is reassuring, that we are heading in the right direction,” Arra said.
Ford also announced on Monday that the province would end its vaccine certificate system on March 1, at which time capacity limits would be lifted.
Arra said the local trend will allow Grey-Bruce to move as fast as possible toward reopening.
“I trust our provincial colleagues who are going to look at the data,” Arra said. “I would say Grey-Bruce trends have been very favourable to do that.”
Locally
Following Provincial guidance, the Municipality of Kincardine Administration Centre, the Davidson Centre and Tiverton Sports Centre reopened to the public on Monday, January 31, 2022. The Municipality further eased restrictions on facilities on February 17, in accordance with Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen.
As of Feb. 17:
All Municipal Facilities:
– Removal of capacity limits
– Meeting room rentals available
– QR code proof of vaccination and screening still required for entry
– Masking requirements remain in place
– Enhanced cleaning measures continue, including sanitizing and disinfecting high touch surfaces and common areas such as washrooms
Recreational Facilities:
– Removal of capacity limits (except for spectators at sporting events, where capacity limit is 50% of usual seating)
– Pre-registration still required for programs (health club, swim programs such as aquafit, lane swims and public swims, landfit, pickleball), including those that have memberships (programs are live on Active Net for pre-registration)
– Walking track open with no pre-registration required
– Seniors’ cards will resume, effective week of February 21
– Seniors’ shuffleboard and table tennis will resume, effective week of February 21
As of March 1:
All Municipal Facilities:
– Proof of vaccination requirements lifted
– Masking requirements remain in place
– Enhanced cleaning measures continue, including sanitizing and disinfecting high touch surfaces and common areas such as washrooms
Recreational Facilities:
– Pre-registration no longer required for programs
– Swim Memberships available for purchase
– Re-starting programs that have been on hold since the beginning of the pandemic (including Kinder Gym and Drop-In Gym) beginning March 19
Please visit the website for details around what you can expect when arriving at Municipal facilities.
For more information about COVID-19 and vaccines visit the Grey-Bruce Health Unit website https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/COVID-19.
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Originally Appeared Here