County video asks cottagers to stay home

Warden, medical officer of health fear spread of virus as weather warms

Peterborough County has teamed up with Peterborough Public Health to create a public service announcement for cottagers who are contemplating going to their seasonal properties.

County Warden J. Murray Jones and medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra collaborated on the video that was released on Wednesday by Peterborough Public Health. Both Jones and Salvaterra articulate in the video that with warmer weather on its way, cottagers from out-of-town are going to be a challenge.

“The good news is, the physical measures are working, but we must stay the course and stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19 to other communities,” Salvaterra said in the video.

Jones highlighted in the video that local year-round residents are worried about the virus spreading into the county, especially when so many new cases are being reported in major urban areas.

“The GTA has the highest percentage of cases in the province, so we’re hoping people from that area don’t come here and spread the virus. So the locals are very concerned about that,” Jones told The Examiner on Wednesday.

According to Salvaterra, April data shows that 60 per cent of new COVID cases are occurring in the GTA, where there’s a great amount of community spread.

“While smaller communities like ours are seeing a much slower rate of new cases,” she

said in the video.

While there is no blockade stopping cottagers, Jones is asking everyone to stay in their permanent residence.

“There’s no legal power we have to say that they can’t come to their property, it’s simply a request based on the recommendation of federal and provincial health professionals,” he told The Examiner. “We’re just asking everyone to stay where they are so we can get over this.”

With many businesses and services being closed, Jones said there are only so many resources available in the county.

“Whether it be grocery stores or medical assistance, there’s only so much we can do, and the more people up here, the more demand there is on those services,” he said.

While it is possible for cottagers to bring all of their supplies with them and to visit their properties solely with household contacts, Salvaterra said the province is asking that individuals limit all non-essential travel during the current emergency order.

“The request to avoid the cottage is only temporary, and the more cottagers that stay at home now, the quicker we can end these public health measures. We’re not ready to let down our guard and relax our physical distancing measures just yet,” she said in the video.

Funded by the Government of Canada/Financé par le Gouvernement du Canada.