The local medical officer of health is applauding the region as the number of local cases of COVID-19 continues to decline but with a case of the UK variant recently confirmed in the KFL&A region, he’s reminding all residents that the province’s Stay at Home Order remains in effect.
As of Friday there were only five active cases of COVID-19 in Hastings and Prince Edward, but Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza says continued vigilance is critical to slow the spread of COVID-19 and avoid unknowingly bringing variants of the virus to our area.
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“It’s a result of a tremendous effort on everyone’s part in this community. Maintaining the precautions, preventing the spread and that results in that decrease in cases. So that’s why it’s really important now to remain vigilant and truly avoiding any non-essential outings, travel.”
Dr. Oglaza urges people to avoid any unnecessary travel outside of the region as early modelling suggests that the UK variant may be up to 70% more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19.
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“By staying in in our region, by really thinking carefully about whether any of the outings or interactions are truly essential and can be postponed, we are reducing the risk of coming into contact with others. And if these other individuals are potentially infected with the new variant, we then are reducing that risk of becoming infected ourselves.”
Evidence also suggests that close contacts of someone who is positive with the UK variant are significantly more likely to become infected, than close contacts of the original strain.
Fifty-one cases of the UK variant of the novel coronavirus have been identified in Ontario so far.
The current Stay at Home order is in effect until at least February 9.
