in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
February 15, 2022
With Omicron’s peak in the rearview mirror and local public health indicators continuing to improve, Grey-Bruce’s top doctor says the area is in a favourable position as it looks ahead to the Ontario government’s plan to accelerate its reopening Thursday.
Grey-Bruce medical officer of health Dr. Ian Arra says all key public health and health system indicators are improving, including the number of new COVID-19 cases in high-risk sectors, hospitalizations, deaths and outbreaks in congregate care settings as well as the complexity of outbreaks.
“We are in a good position to join the rest of the province in further easing public health measures in Grey-Bruce,” Arra says.
“All indicators suggest that Omicron peaked in Grey-Bruce just over a month ago — ahead of the province. This is great news and directly related to the tremendous efforts invested by all in Grey Bruce. We know that everyone is excited to get back to normal. However, I would caution everyone to remain vigilant and continue following the public health measures and guidelines that are still in place. Only then will we be able to truly put this emergency behind us.”
The Ontario government announced Monday that in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, it has decided to cautiously and gradually, ease public health measures sooner, with the next phase of measures being eased Thursday at 12:01 am.
Social gathering limits will rise to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, while capacity limits will be lifted for indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, such as restaurants, bars, gyms and cinemas.
More details on the province’s announcement can be found here.
Also Monday, the Ontario government announced it is expanding booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17, beginning at 8 a.m. Friday.
Booster appointments will be booked for about six months (168 days) after a second dose. Appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, as well as at select pharmacies administering the Pfizer vaccine.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may be offered to adolescents aged 12 to 17 with an underlying medical condition at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19; who are residents of congregate living settings; or who belong to racialized and/or marginalized communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Other highlights of the Ontario government’s announcement included the province’s plan to: take additional steps March 1 to further ease public health measures, including lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings, if health system and public health indicators continue to improve; and lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at that time.
Masking requirements are to remain in place, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.
To coincide with the easing of restrictions, the Grey Bruce Health Unit will be modifying its Situation Report starting Thursday.
Dr. Arra says communicating the positive trends at this stage of transitioning from pandemic to endemic phase is an important part of managing risk perception to appropriately guide the community to recovery.
For the week of February 14 – February 20, the Grey Bruce Health Unit will hold vaccine clinics at the following locations and times:
Tuesday, February 15
Durham Community Centre, 451 Saddler St. Durham 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday, February 17
Keady Community Centre, 116931 Grey Road 3, Keady 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Walkerton Community Centre, 290 Durham St. W., Walkerton, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
It is recommended that you book your appointment to prevent wait-times; however, walk-ins are welcome at all clinics. Individuals 18 and over are eligible to schedule their booster dose appointment through the Ontario booking portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre and through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics and participating pharmacies and primary care settings.
Appointments will be booked three months (84 days) after a second dose. For those aged 5-11, the COVID-19 vaccines should be booked at least 14 days before or after other vaccines. Second doses for this age group MUST BE at least eight weeks after the first dose. Second dose appointments ARE NOT automatically booked when booking your first dose.
Do not call the Health Unit to try to book an appointment. They are not able to book for you.
In addition, participating primary care providers and pharmacies may offer the COVID-19 for children and youth.
For detailed information about the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s vaccination process, and booking your vaccine, please review the Health Unit and Provincial website at:
For a current list of all clinics, please visit our weekly Clinic Schedule. Clinics are subject to cancellation due to weather.
At South Grey News, we endeavour to bring you truthful and factual, up-to-date local community news in a quick and easy-to-digest format that’s free of political bias. We believe this service is more important today than ever before, as social media has given rise to misinformation, largely unchecked by big corporations who put profits ahead of their responsibilities.
South Grey News does not have the resources of a big corporation. We are a small, locally owned-and-operated organization. Research, analysis and physical attendance at public meetings and community events requires considerable effort. But contributions from readers and advertisers, however big or small, go a long way to helping us deliver positive, open and honest journalism for this community.
Please consider supporting South Grey News with a donation in lieu of a subscription fee and let us know that our efforts are appreciated. Thank you.
.jpg?updated=1625080483)
