Niagara ‘on notice’ to control COVID-19, Hirji says
College, Brock, police, Catholic board all report new cases over weekend
Niagara has essentially been “put on notice” that it could follow Toronto, Peel and Ottawa into modified Stage 2 lockdown if it can’t control the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Mustafa Hirji said Monday.
He said the provincial government hasn’t “been super specific about it” but made clear it is watching other regions that have seen a steady increase in cases.
“I take that as us being put on notice that we are in the eye to potentially be next if things continue to deteriorate here,” said Hirji, acting medical officer of health for Niagara.
Over the weekend, Niagara reported 40 new cases — 16 each Saturday and Monday, and eight Sunday. There are 116 active cases here and eight outbreaks, including five at longterm-care homes.
Niagara College and Niagara Regional Police both reported their first COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started, while Brock University confirmed two new positive tests.
As well, Niagara Catholic District School Board reported a new positive COVID-19 test involving an individual at Holy Cross Secondary School in St. Catharines.
“I’m not too concerned necessarily with these institutions getting cases … eventually if you have lots of cases (in the community), it’s going to catch up to those groups,” Hirji said.
“I’m paying attention to the overall number, and I think that number is, fortunately, holding steady but holding steady at a fairly high number.”
Going into the long Thanksgiving weekend, he warned people to be vigilant in social distancing, staying home if they feel sick and especially avoiding large holiday gatherings.
Otherwise, he said, Niagara could see a sudden growth in positive tests similar to what happened after the Labour Day weekend.
Pointing to recent daily case counts, Hirji said it’s “obviously not good that we remain this high, but also good that we’re not continuing to see the numbers go further up.”
Not surprisingly, he said, most of the people in Niagara who test positive admit they haven’t been following public health guidelines.
“The biggest thing is, of course, we’re finding people have many contacts,” he said, “and particularly many contacts where they have been within two metres of each other, not necessarily wearing face coverings, as opposed to what the advice has been for quite a while.”
Many people, too, admitted going to work or out in public despite feeling mild COVIDlike symptoms, only stopping after they received a positive test result.
“Unfortunately, that means they are going out and potentially spreading infection to others during that time. That’s another example of advice not being followed now.”
Hirji wouldn’t say people have tuned out the medical experts, “but we are definitely seeing there is less adherence to some of the public health advice everywhere.”
He hopes Niagara can avoid what happened to Toronto, Peel and Ottawa.
After their case counts spiked dramatically, the province last week imposed a 28-day ban on indoor dining, closed gyms and theatres, and tightened restrictions on social gatherings.
On its website Monday, Brock University confirmed the two new positive tests.
One involved a person last on campus Oct. 2, while the second person hadn’t been there since Oct. 5. It said the university’s safety protocols are being followed, “and areas of campus where the individuals visited have been cleaned and sanitized.”
Those appear to be the fifth and six cases reported at Brock since September, including one student living off-campus who had not attended the university in-person.
While NRP confirmed Saturday a front-line police officer tested positive, it didn’t reveal the officer’s name, rank or community.
“We are supporting our member, who has self-isolated and (is) recovering at home,” said Chief Bryan MacCulloch, in a statement on Twitter.
Also Saturday, Niagara Catholic District School Board announced “an individual” at Holy Cross tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the board website, positive cases have been reported at eight Niagara Catholic sites since schools reopened in September. The District School Board of Niagara website reported positive cases at seven of its sites in that time.
The French-language board Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir confirmed one case, resolved, at a Niagara school.
On Sunday, Niagara College reported its first positive COVID-19 case, involving someone at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus who had last been there Oct. 5.