The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) has developed a new way to communicate the current level of risk of COVID-19 in our communities and how individuals can best protect themselves and others from transmission and severe illness due to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Community Risk Level, available on SMDHU’s website, is based on five indicators (percent positivity of PCR tests, local cases, hospitalizations, institutional outbreaks, and wastewater surveillance) that are monitored weekly. Together, these indicators make up the current overall COVID-19 risk level in our community as one of the following levels: lower, moderate, high, or very high. Each risk level is explained, and guidance is provided about assessing personal and situational risks and what actions individuals can take to protect themselves and others from spreading and getting severely ill from COVID-19.
“As the virus continues to spread in our communities, we encourage everyone to be aware of the community risk level and to assess their own personal circumstances that could put them at higher risk, and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others against COVID-19,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, SMDHU’s medical officer of health. “The more layers of protection you take against COVID-19, the more your personal risk can decrease.”
Layers of protection include simple, yet crucial actions, individuals can take to help stop the spread of COVID-19, such as staying home if you have symptoms, wearing a face mask based on your assessment of risk or when required, and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations. Individuals are encouraged to add more protective actions as personal, situational and community risk increases. Additional protections can include adjusting if and how you participate in activities that have more risk.
“Individuals may choose to wear a mask, physically distance, socialize outdoors, and limit social contacts based on factors such as their own health status, whether they have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and the health and vaccine status of close contacts,” said Dr. Gardner.
As of Sept. 22, the current overall risk for Simcoe Muskoka is moderate and is similar to the past week.
The COVID-19 community risk level will be updated each Tuesday by 2 p.m. Residents are reminded to visit smdhu.org/ to learn more about local COVID-19 transmission and ways to be COVID-safe.
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Brenda Begg says
Thank you for this. Wear an N95 mask or NIOSH (higher filtration and ensure that the fit is snug) in appropriate settings (cloth masks have been proven to be less effective or ineffective ), limit social contacts, practice physical distancing, stay up to date with Covid 19 vaccinations. As much as we want to proceed with business as usual – we aren’t there yet. Limiting social contacts seems to be a real challenge for some people who are social butterflies; but it’s still necessary. We cannot assume that because we think we ‘know’ and trust our friends/relatives we’re safe; that’s not always the case. There are some people who are simply carriers of Covid and they are unaware of this. That is another topic. Layers of protection still seems to be the way to go.
LONG COVID IS REAL. IT’S STILL HAPPENING – TO MANY PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT COVID – AT A HIGH RATE! It’s debilitating and long lasting (can last up to 18 months and for some, it’s permanent). It can happen to anyone.
Erin Jones says
Earlier this month, in an interview with CNN, Paul Offit, M.D., a top vaccine expert and advisor to the American FDA said that there is “insufficient evidence to recommend the new booster injection for young healthy adults”. There were no human trials–the booster was only tested on eight mice. Dr. Offit said further that it is “unfair to make them take a risk”. All vaccines carry some risk–some more than others.
Brian Tapley says
Great!
The first article says that “all Covid rules are now off”, go and have fun, mask or not, immunization or not.
The next one tells us where the current vaccination clinics are to be found.
The third one tells us to be careful about where we go and what we do and with whom and well, we don’t ask you to actually wear a mask but do so at your discretion.
A bit like in a boat you have to have a life-jacket, but you can keep it anywhere on the boat, accessible or not. You can wear it at your discretion.
So if your boat is sinking you should probably know this and get that life-jacket out of it’s locker and wear it.
Similarly if you see a Covid virus floating in the air and heading your way, you need to grab for the N95 and bolt it to your nose quickly.
Both about as effective.
Trouble is I’m not quite sure either. Is this humor or should this be serious? We never covered Covid in grade 11 health back in the 60’s.