While Niagara was one of few regions not allowed to progress to Stage 2 of the re-opening of the province, Public Health medical officer Mustafa Hirji says he is optimistic the decision will come in the next weeks ahead.
“It was disappointing, but the conditions that lead to that were more short-term ones.”
He quotes the outbreak at Pioneer Flower Farms, that revealed more than 60 previously unknown cases of COVID-19 as well as too many new infections in the surrounding areas like Norfolk and Hamilton as two contributing factors to businesses yet not being able to open up.
However the province-wide lightening of restrictions around gatherings of ten people or more as well as places of worship being allowed to operate at reduced capacity are still being implemented in Niagara.
Mustafa Hirji said while that is positive, he still stresses the need for social distancing.
“We still need to do our part, and keep up with the physical distancing and hand washing.”
He says there is no way of predicting how, or if a big second wave of the virus could come, following outdoor patios opening up as the weather reaches peak summer.
“You can’t predict how it will be. I don’t think we will see so much a big uptick, but more a slow increase thanks to the measured approach that the province is taking. It might take a few weeks to see what the impact of that is.”
On Tuesday, two new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Niagara, which is the same number as on Monday.
Out of the total 719 cases of COVID-19 in Niagara, 572 have resolved.
61 people have died after contracting the virus.
