As the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, the Medical Officer of Health for Renfrew County is expressing optimism.
Dr. Robert Cushman says that across the board, health indicators are improving and the Omicron-led wave of COVID-19 seems to be passing. However, a number of factors, like the amount of COVID-19 in wastewater, the number of outbreaks and the lagging number of vaccinations of those under 11 years of age still is cause for concern.
Cushman is urging people to continue to protect themselves as public health measures are set to be dropped across Ontario. Masking, distancing and hand hygiene still remain the top ways of keeping healthy. Cushman says it is still too early to do away with masks, as they can reduce transmission of the virus by up to 80 percent.
He urges all residents of the County to be cautious in the next few weeks as the province reopens, and to keep up the good work to reap the rewards of following health guidelines.