The Middlesex-London Health Unit sent out a word of recommendation Thursday regarding the holiday season and daily COVID numbers rising. Increasing case numbers and the arrival of the Omicron variant have prompted area Medical Officers of Health to issue a letter outlining recommendations for how residents can protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19 during the holidays. Area Medical Officers of Health issued the joint statement not adding restrictions or gathering limits for businesses, restaurants or other establishments to those already put in place by the Provincial Government. However, it did advise individuals of the steps they can take to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 at a critical time, when the number of cases is on the rise and holiday gathering and travel plans are being made.
The joint letter from the Medical Officers of Health recommends the following:
• Everyone should limit indoor social gatherings in private dwellings to no more than 10
people. All attendees 12 years of age and older should be vaccinated.
• All unvaccinated individuals 12 years of age and older should avoid any non-essential indoor contact with individuals who are not part of their household.
• Where possible, individuals should work remotely.
The recommendations come into effect immediately and will be reassessed in four weeks. In addition to limiting close contact with others, the best way to prevent COVID-19 spread and severe illness from the virus, is to get fully vaccinated. The recommendation for unvaccinated individuals 12 years of age and older is included as the risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection is much higher in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals compared to vaccinated individuals.
While breakthrough cases may occur in vaccinated people, they tend to be milder with a much lower risk of hospitalization, ICU admission and death.
“We know people are tired, but we hope they’ll understand why we’re asking them to take extra steps to prevent further spread, especially as we approach the holidays,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Acting Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We know that this means adjusting plans, which is a big ask, but the number of new cases and the arrival of the Omicron variant have shown we can’t let our guard down.”
In recent weeks, the three health units have seen higher transmission of the virus and COVID19 outbreaks in multiple settings, including schools, childcare centres, long-term care and retirement homes. The recommendations are intended to lower the number of close contacts
between individuals, which previous experience and Science Table modelling have shown can lead to a decrease in case counts.
For more information about COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and your family and friends from the virus, please visit:
Middlesex-London Health Unit: www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus
