General News

Health Unit moves COVID-19 risk level to high

December 15, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has moved its COVID-19 Community Risk Level to “high” as the virus continues to circulate within the region.

The move to the high-risk level was made on Thursday, Dec. 8.

“We are seeing a higher level of COVID-19 transmission in Simcoe Muskoka, which means there is a greater risk of getting sick with potential for severe illness,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, SMDHU’s medical officer of health. “We note this in the context of ongoing elevated transmission of influenza as well as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Given this, we continue to encourage individuals to use more layers of protection, such as increasing frequency of mask use and maintaining physical distance in indoor public settings. Getting your bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster and your influenza vaccination is also strongly recommended and available across Simcoe Muskoka.”

The COVID-19 Community Risk Level, available on SMDHU’s website, is based on five indicators. These include local per cent positivity of PCR tests, confirmed cases, hospitalizations, institutional outbreaks, and wastewater signals, which are monitored weekly.

Together, these indicators make up the current overall COVID-19 risk level in the community. The results will indicate a low, moderate, high, or very high risk, of contracting the virus.

The more precautions a person takes, the better the protection for themselves and others.

These precautions include staying up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, staying home when sick with any COVID-19 symptoms, and wearing a face mask in public, based on your personal situation.


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