The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is reporting three new cases of COVID-19.
Shannon Mantha, Executive Director of Clinical Services, provided the update during the Health Unit’s weekly media conference.
“In the last seven days we’ve seen 32 new cases bringing our total case count to 504, with 335 of those cases being in the Nipissing District and 169 within the district of Parry Sound,” she said.
All three of the new cases are in Nipissing, as are all 44 active cases.
There are 13 cases involved with the outbreak at the North Bay Jail, with one acquired in the community.
Meantime, it’s been a week since the province entered stage one of the reopening plan with a loosening of some restrictions.
Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health, is imploring everyone to continue to follow all of the safety protocols.
“I know it’s difficult, people have been at this for a long time and are tired of it, but it’s our reality that we have to face. By following the distancing, the face coverings, as well as many people we can get vaccinated as quickly as possible, that’s all going to benefit everybody in the long run,” he says.
Chirico also says the province should maintain the 21-day intervals between reopenings.
“We’ve said it over and over again that the quickest path to a prolonged, sustained reopening is not to move too quickly and to resist the temptation to reopen quickly,” he says.
Chirico adds that it takes about two to three weeks before the full impact of the loosening of restrictions is known.
“Absolutely stick to the plan, stick to the 21 days,” he says.
Premier Doug Ford reiterated Thursday that he’ll be asking the province’s top doctor if a quicker reopening is possible.
Written by Richard Coffin