No images? Click here COVID-19 Update #31
Update on Niagara’s reopening On Monday, the Premier announced the province’s plan for Stage 2 of reopening businesses and services, taking a regional approach. It was announced 24 of 34 local areas will be permitted to proceed into Stage 2 beginning Friday, June 12. As each region has experienced the outbreak differently, this approach allows for each region to advance at a pace suitable to its community. In consideration of whether a region can reopen, the province is trying to balance two competing considerations. On the one hand, some areas have well-controlled levels of infection and are needlessly suffering economic harm. On the other hand, if areas with low transmission open, persons from areas with high transmission may flood those areas, bringing COVID-19 with them. The province is addressing this by looking at both the case growth within the region, as well as the case growth in neighbouring regions. At this time Niagara, as well as the rest of the Golden Horseshoe will not be permitted to proceed into Stage 2 – a decision that will be re-evaluated by the province weekly. This decision is likely based on the large increase in cases within the region related to an outbreak at a local farm, significant case growth in surrounding regions (Hamilton, Haldimand-Norfolk, and GTA), and Niagara’s proximity to the US border (with cases in New York state still much greater than Niagara). As this decision will be re-evaluated weekly, if local outbreaks remain controlled and neighbouring regions return to limited case growth, Niagara will likely be able to move into Stage 2 in the near future. Entering Stage 2 will permit the opening of many local businesses and facilities – these organizations should begin planning for potential reopening in the near future in accordance with the province’s guidance of measures to prevent infection. In addition, the province announced the easing of some restrictions province-wide effective this Friday:
As we head towards our hopeful movement into Stage 2, we need to keep COVID-19 transmission low in Niagara. It is more important than ever that we all practice physical distancing, wash our hands frequently, and wear face coverings when we can’t keep distance. Our fight against COVID-19 is not over. We all must play our part to keep our community safe, and to ensure the conditions for that allow our region to reopen. Virtual town hall Following the Premier’s announcement on Monday and with new information on COVID-19 shared daily, many of you may have questions. Ron Tripp and Dr. Hirji are back with another town hall to provide an update and answer your COVID-19 questions. Submit your questions to phcommunications@niagararegion.ca by Wednesday, June 17 at noon. The recording will be available on Vine, on Monday, June 22. |