Back to SearchNovember 18, 2020
Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework
On November 3, 2020 the provincial government announced the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. The Framework categorizes public health unit regions into one of five categories depending on the level of COVID-19 infection in the community. The level of COVID-19 infection in the community is determined by the rate of new cases during a two week period, the percent of positive COVID -19 tests, outbreaks in long-term care, health system capacity, and public health capacity. https://covid-19.ontario.ca/data
Each of the Framework Categories includes the types of measures put in place for businesses and organizations, specific sectors, institutions and other settings (see page 9 in the Framework document).
• Green = Prevent – All public health precautions are in place to prevent COVID-19 transmission, and all activities listed in Stage 3, Reopening Ontario are allowed.
• Yellow = Protect – Green level plus enhanced targeted enforcement and some restrictions to decrease opportunities for transmission to occur.
• Orange = Restrict - Yellow level plus further restrictions.
• Red = Control – Orange level plus broader scale measures and restrictions across multiple sectors.
• Lockdown - Implement wide-scale measures and restrictions, including closures.
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit region has been identified as being in the Green/Prevent level. This means there are no added restrictions to our region because of this announcement. Thank you to everyone who has followed public health precautions and been COVID-SMART to get us to this point.
Going forward, decisions on moving public health unit regions between Framework Categories will be made by the government based on current data and, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, local Medical Officers of Health and other health experts.
Current COVID-19 Situation
• I encourage everyone who has possible symptoms of COVID-19, even mild ones, to stay home, check the Provincial Assessment Tool and follow the instructions, which may include testing. The recommendations for children and adults are slightly different.
• Testing is readily available now at our Assessment Centres in Brockville, Kemptville, Smiths Falls and Almonte. If you can’t get to an Assessment Centre, please call the Health Unit. If necessary, we will arrange for a community paramedic to come to your house to do the testing. Most test results are coming back within one to two days now, and are easily obtained through the provincial lab portal.
• Please continue to be COVID-SMART – practice physical distancing of 2m/6ft, stay home when you are sick, wash/sanitize your hands, do regular cleaning of common hard surfaces, and wear a well-fitting face covering/mask in enclosed indoor spaces and when physical distancing is an issue outdoors.
• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark region has seen between 0 to 5 new COVID-19 infections each day. They tend to be in clusters with one person being infected, usually from outside our region, and then some close household contacts becoming infected. There has been little spread outside of the close contacts, thanks to people adhering to public health guidance.
• A few workplaces have had one person with COVID-19. So far the public health measures in place have prevented further spread in these workplaces.
• Schools have been doing very well with precautions in place. A few schools have had one person who was infectious with COVID-19 without any further spread of the virus. One school had limited viral spread, and was closed for a short period while testing was completed.
• Two long-term care and one retirement home have had at least one person with COVID-19 (outbreak). All did well, and are now out of outbreak after one incubation period without any newly infected staff or residents.
• Everyone is encouraged to find creative, safe ways to celebrate the December holiday season. Gatherings with people outside your household are not recommended.
Cloth Face Covering/Mask Use
• In the summer, the air is humid and droplets pick up water in the air and, with the extra weight, fall to the ground quickly. In the late fall and winter, the air is much drier, so the droplets don’t pick up additional water. This allows them to hang in the air longer providing more opportunity for someone who is close to become infected if the person has COVID-19.
• So at this time, it is critical to maintain the 6 ft. distance from others outside the household, and also to stop as many of the droplets from an infected person as possible from entering the air. Most droplets are stopped by a tightly woven cloth mask with two layers. Most of the droplets that make it through the first layer will get stopped by the second layer. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352431620301802 Three layers will likely trap more droplets, particularly if the middle layer is made of polypropylene, the type of fabric used in a medical mask. So, if you are thinking about buying or making a new mask, consider three layers of tightly woven cloth. Many current masks on the market have room for a filter. A polypropylene filter will work well. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
Radon Action Month
November is Radon Action Month and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU) is encouraging homeowners to test their homes for radon. Radon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soils and rocks. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. When radon enters the house, it can accumulate to high levels and can cause a health risk with long-term exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. Testing is easy to do and measures can be implemented to lower elevated levels effectively. https://healthunit.org/radon/
Paula Stewart MD, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
458 Laurier Blvd. Brockville, ON
K6V 7A3
Tel: 613-345-5685
Email: Paula.Stewart@healthunit.org
Fax: 613-498-1096
