Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce; Letter to Health Unit requesting reasoning for extended measures

Parry Sound Area business owners are asking the local health unit for an explanation as to why the area is still in lockdown.

In a letter sent to Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Chirico, Parry Sound Area’s Chamber of Commerce says the extended reopening date has been met with severe disappointment, and the economic impact of a continued shutdown is proving to be devastating.

This comes in light of the Parry Sound District not joining the 27 Public Health regions transitioning into the colour-coded framework Tuesday. 

The PSCOC is basing its objection on the area’s COVID case count arguing that the districts’ cases are quite low per capita. 

As per the health unit’s latest data, of the over 90,000 tests performed, 234 tested positive and only 87 were in the Parry Sound district, 78 of which are resolved.

The chamber is arguing that this data makes it clear that Parry Sound businesses are capable of opening with protocols in place.

The letter states that local businesses rely on having their doors open and that given the red tape, convoluted application processes and denials for financial assistance, business owners are not receiving the financial compensation required for extended closures. 

The Chamber says they agree that the outbreak in North Bay is very concerning, and should not be taken lightly, but say it has been identified and is being well monitored and managed.

They add that even though there are higher identified cases of the variants in the North Bay region in the last few weeks, and two preliminary positives in Parry Sound, the new case count is still in the range of 20-25 new cases per 100,000 residents which would qualify the region to be designated in the Yellow Zone according to Ontario’s COVID-19 framework.

As a result of the above-stated historical data, the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce is calling for Parry Sound to be transitioned out of lockdown immediately.

The Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce represents over 175 businesses in the region. Many of which are smaller operators that already have protocols based on the recommendations of the local health unit in place.

In summary, business owners in the Parry Sound area are asking for just cause for the extended closure impacting them, as they have been lumped in with an area displaying a much higher case count and population.