Niagara COVID-19 count rises by three
Dr. Hirji keeping watch of region’s neighbours
Although Niagara didn’t report any new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and Saturday, the region’s top doctor warned people not to become complacent.
Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Niagara’s acting medical officer of health, said the downward trend in confirmed cases is promising, but admitted he had “mixed feelings” about the latest figures.
“The one concern I have is that I don’t want people to take that number and think that COVID-19 is gone and it becomes a source of complacency,” he said Saturday.
On Sunday, those concerns were realized when the region reported three new cases of the virus.
Two cases are related to close contact with a previously known case while the source of the third case remains under investigation.
“The numbers are bouncing up and down,” Hirji said. “We’re still seeing cases every week at least.
“We really need to continue to be vigilant and keep social distancing from others, washing hands frequently, wearing faces coverings if we can’t keep a distance from others, and, if we get any symptoms, make sure we get tested.”
Meanwhile, Hirji will be keeping a close eye on not only Niagara, but elsewhere in the province as the government enters Stage 2 of its pandemic recovery plan.
Certain areas of the province, such as Brant County and Simcoe-Muskoka regions, are now able to reopen a number of non-essential businesses. Niagara remains in Stage 1.
“We will absolutely be keeping an eye on what happens in the province,” he said.
Niagara’s historic total of confirmed coronavirus cases stands at 722, with 60 of those active. The total number of resolved cases is 601, and 61 people have died. Several COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared over at a number of health-care facilities and long-term-care residences in the region. Outbreaks continue at Garden City Manor in St. Catharines and Albright Manor in Lincoln.
As of Saturday, Niagara Health had tested a total of 17,4154 patients for the virus. It said 126 patients have been admitted to hospital to date, with six currently being treated.
Across the province, there have been 31,992 confirmed cases and 2,507 deaths.
Niagara Health case results may differ from public health due to the timing of collection of the data.