Point Edward, ON – Recent reports of several businesses operating in contravention to the Provincial regulations (O. Reg. 82/20) for Grey-Lockdown under the Ontario Framework can present a significant health-risk to the community. Lambton Public Health is working with local municipalities on all related COVID-19 enforcement calls under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 17.

The Ontario government recently transitioned public health regions into a revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open. This move supports strengthened measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Strong adherence to public health and workplace safety measures, including continued and limited closures in some settings, is necessary given the emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern that are currently circulating in various communities across Ontario, including Lambton County.

“It’s always a very difficult decision to move forward with a Lockdown but the immediate health risks imposed with increased COVID-19 transmission are still a priority,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade, Medical Officer of Health for Lambton County. “The most alarming issue is confirmation of a significant number of Variants of Concern (VOC) that are now circulating in our community. These variants spread more quickly and it has the potential to impact our health system if we don’t limit transmission in the community right now.”

Community rates of transmission are an early indicator to health system capacity challenges. The emergency brake within the Framework helps a region quickly reset and reduce the spread by limiting contacts for individuals.

Ranade adds, “We need to work together as a community to combat this virus. Workplace and public health safety measures provide guidance at the various levels of risk under the Framework. At this time, the risk is quite high and it has the potential to impact our community significantly.”

We understand the challenges and we appreciate your support – together we can beat the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the Provincial Framework and local COVID-19 response visit LambtonPublicHealth.ca.

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Please contact:
LPH-media-inquiries@county-lambton.on.ca