As our daily COVID-19 update suggests, Southwestern Public Health has recorded its highest single day increase in the region to-date with 71 new cases announced today, exceeding the previous record of 47 cases on December 23.
SWPH also reports that new modelling being used by them projects 100 daily cases or more in early January and represents a critical point in the pandemic.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock communicated the following- “Once we start to see daily increases approaching 100 per day, it becomes very difficult to conduct contact tracing within 24 hours to contain the virus.” “Our team is working at maximum capacity, our local health care system is strained, and we are urgently asking for your support to modify behaviours to stop the spread.”
“We need to prioritize contact tracing to ensure we contain the spread in high-risk settings, such as workplaces, long-term care homes, and in schools. It may take us longer than 24 hours to notify positive cases elsewhere,” added Dr. Lock.
The latest data indicates the percent positivity in the Southwestern Public Health region is 3.5%, which exceeds a critical threshold of 3% that health authorities have used to determine if a region is at-risk of being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.
Additional actions that can help stop the spread include…
• Avoid visiting friends, family, and any other people you do not live with
• Stay at least 6 feet away from people you do not live with
• Wear a face covering in public spaces, even when outdoors
• Maintain distance from coworkers – such as eating alone during lunch breaks
• Stay home if you are sick, even if your symptoms are mild
