With the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the community this past week, Mayor Bill Mauro is strongly urging residents to continue to follow all public health guidelines and prevention measures.

“As I’ve stated before, we know the measures we must take to save lives – particularly the lives of the most vulnerable citizens such as our parents and grandparents, people with compromised immune systems and respiratory ailments,” said Mayor Mauro.

“It is natural to feel concerned for our health, for our economy and for our most vulnerable citizens. We anticipated that we would have to be more vigilant as we saw increased travel, schools reopening and the cooler weather bringing people indoors. This week’s spike in cases has confirmed what we thought, and clearly illustrated how easily this virus is spread.”

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit recently confirmed that 17 cases of COVID-19 are connected to an outbreak associated with an organization in the City. The Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janet DeMille, reassured community leaders on a Municipal Emergency Control Group Call today that the bulk of the situation was under control within a day, and they took quick action and are confident that it is contained.

At the beginning of the Pandemic, Mayor Mauro wrote to regional Mayors asking them to continue to keep top of mind regional capacity, as they work with their Health Unit, Health Care Professionals and their local hospitals to ensure that the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is not overwhelmed and has the ability to care for critically ill patients in Northwestern Ontario.

He said he will be reaching out to regional mayors again today to ask again that they build their local capacities as best they are able.

“I also want to again thank our health workers and so many others who deliver the essential services we need - I don’t know how we can thank them enough,” added Mayor Mauro. We most certainly owe it to them, and to everyone in the community to do our part to limit the spread so that we don’t get to the point where our services and businesses are required to shut down again.”

“If we want the economy to stay open and avoid a provincially mandated shutdown again, we must keep our infection rates low.”

He added that the economy and the pandemic are inextricably linked, and that local businesses are the lifeblood of the community. As well, they are critical to the quality of life in Thunder Bay. The potential of a second shut down would be devastating to so many in the business sector.

“We simply must do everything we can to protect and support them.”

The Health Unit will also be releasing new travel recommendations/restrictions soon. The current recommendation is to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Northern Ontario. Anyone with travel plans should decide if travel is necessary at this time, and consider rescheduling and/or alternatives to attending in person.

If travel is necessary, residents should be aware of the COVID-19 situation in the area they plan to visit, and take extra care to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 while away by following all public health recommendations. 

For the most up-to-date public health information, visit:

  • www.ontario.ca/coronavirus - the Ontario Ministry of Health reports on the status of cases in Ontario each morning at 10:30 am.
  • www.TBDHU.COM/coronavirus - the Health Unit’s website contains information for both the public and local health care providers.

 

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Contact:       Stacey Levanen, Supervisor – Corporate Communications, 625-3650

                     Jeff Howie, Policy Assistant – Office of the Mayor, 632-9233