The determination of the risk level is based upon epidemiological data in the 4 following categories:
1. virus spread and containment;
2. health system capacity;
3. public health capacity; and
4. incidence tracking capacity
The risk level will be updated on a weekly basis unless a change in data requires an immediate change in our risk level. The pandemic risk level is posted on the health unit’s website. https://www.wechu.org/
On November 3rd, the Ontario government established the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. Premier Ford explained that “This framework, developed in consultation with our health experts, will serve as an early warning system allowing us to scale up and scale back public health restrictions on a regional or community basis in response to surges and waves of COVID-19. By introducing public health measures sooner, we can keep this deadly virus at bay, bend the curve and reclaim a little more of our normal lives."
The Framework uses the following five levels to describe the risk:
1. Green-Prevent,
2. Yellow-Protect,
3. Orange-Restrict,
4. Red-Control,
5. Lockdown being a measure of last and urgent resort.
In this system, our region is a categorized as level Green.
Though we are at a higher risk level locally, this is allowed by the Ontario government in acknowledgement that local medical officers of health understand their region’s situation in regard to the COVID-19 virus.
Interested in learning more about COVID-19 and preventative measures or looking for resources to help friends and family stay safe? There is a wealth of practical information and tools, including plain language documents, located in the REAL Xchange COVID-19 resource library, accessible using this link.