NWHU advising region not seeing same downward trend as province

Tim Brody - Editor

“What we’re seeing is that percent positivity has been recently increasing over the past few weeks and that case numbers have also recently been increasing. So, it is suggesting that we’re not on a downward trend. Definitely the province is seeing a downward trend, we are not seeing that trend,” Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon shared with regional media on Feb. 1.

Young Hoon also addressed the change in COVID data presented on the health unit’s website, “You have probably noticed that our COVID-19 data reporting has been revised. The new graphs are a better representation of risk in our area, as they show trends and not the day-to-day fluctuations in case numbers and percent positivity.”

Young Hoon also shared, “Our large-scale clinics are slowing down, and we will be shifting some of our focus to smaller clinics and more targeted outreach.”

People can book a COVID-19 vaccination at  https://www2.nwhu.on.ca/covid-19/booking-a-covid-19-vaccine-appointment/.

Young Hoon also clarified, “If someone is exposed to the virus from someone they do not live with, if they are fully vaccinated, they do not need to self-isolate, only self-monitor, unless they develop symptoms. This applies to fully vaccinated children as well. Children who are not fully vaccinated must self-isolate for five days if they are in close contact of a positive case or someone with symptoms and adults who are not fully vaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days. More information can be found on the province’s website (https://bit.ly/35JNAI4).

The NWHU area percent positivity rate, seven-day average, as of Feb. 7, was 21.8 percent.