The Southwestern Public Health region will be staying in the red zone for at least two weeks, despite an encouraging downward trend in local COVID-19 numbers.
OXFORD COUNTY - Southwestern Public Health region will stay in the red zone for at least two weeks.
Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Joyce Lock provided that update during her weekly press briefing on Wednesday. Currently we have 65 active cases of COVID-19. When the decision was made last week, our local numbers were hovering between the orange and red tier. This week the numbers have dropped significantly. Dr. Lock says we will have another update in a couple of weeks.
"The Government will then closely look at our local data to determine if the region should stay where we are in red or move to a different level."
Dr. Lock says the recent numbers are encouraging but it doesn't mean the danger isn't still present in our community.
We continue to see an encouraging downward trend, however the best advice I can give to everyone is to stay at home as much as possible, wear a face covering when you go out, wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with anyone you do not live with. It is important for all of us to keep this up, so we can continue with this encouraging downward trend."
Dr. Lock is also asking everyone to get tested, even if you only have minor symptoms.
"Testing numbers are down in our region, we have seen a steady decline, since the beginning of January. We have gone from completing over 6,000 tests the first week of January, to around 4,000 tests last week."
She adds they can't make decisions about local COVID-19 risks, unless they know what those risks are.
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