Simcoe-Muskoka Looking stressing COVID-19 precautions in Letter

By: Brian Lockhart, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, New Tecumseth Times

In response to increasing community transmission of COVID-19, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health,  Dr. Charles Gardner, has issued an open letter  to businesses, organizations, and residents, to  continue to practice all public health measures  to help reverse the increasing spread of COVID-19 in the area.

“We continue to see dramatic increases  in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout Simcoe Muskoka and  these letters are a reminder that everyone in  the community is required to protect each  other from COVID-19, and to maintain and  support our scarce health and public health  resources,” said Dr. Gardner in a statement.  “I recognize the hardships and fatigue you  have all faced during this lengthy pandemic, and I sincerely appreciate the ongoing efforts of the residents, businesses,  and organizations in Simcoe and Muskoka  in protecting our communities. Together,  we can reverse our increasing community  transmission of COVID-19 and help usher  in a safer holiday season ahead for our communities.”

“The collective efforts of the Simcoe and  Muskoka community are required to protect  each other from COVID-19, and to maintain and support our scarce health and public  health resources,” the Health Unit continued.  “This is particularly important during the holiday season and in the winter months, which is  often a time of indoor gatherings and activities.”

Recommended protective measures include: Getting vaccinated; wearing a mask or  face covering that covers your mouth, nose,  and chin when in an indoor area; keeping  gatherings to a small number of people outside of their household.

It is also recommended that business hosting holiday gatherings should keep the number of people to a minimum while maintaining social distancing.

If the transmission rate of the virus in Simcoe Muskoka does not stabilize or reverse, the  Health Unit is considering reinstating capacity  limits that were lifted by the province.