GREY-BRUCE – With only three new cases reported as of Aug. 2, the local health unit reports Grey-Bruce is no longer a provincially-designated COVID-19 hot spot.
There are presently 71 active cases with 123 high-risk contacts, down from over 30 new cases in one day, with close to 200 active cases and hundreds of high-risk contacts only three weeks ago.
Because of the high numbers, Grey-Bruce has not been in a full step three of the recovery process, but rather remained in a modified step three. People were asked to continue to take step two precautions on a voluntary basis – distancing, masks and limiting gatherings – although businesses could open.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit states that numbers for the recent Delta-variant-driven outbreak were brought down through “robust case and contact management.” Because the majority of transmission during the recent surge was among people who were not fully vaccinated, “an aggressive rollout of vaccine is indispensable to ensure it does not return.”
The health unit confirmed the recent outbreak was driven mainly by private gatherings and parties, among a population that is characterized by crowded housing, low economic status and transient members, with large numbers of high-risk contacts. There was no risk of transmission in the workplace or regulated settings.
In the past four weeks, the health unit worked with partners and volunteers to vaccinate 70,000 people – half the eligible population of Grey-Bruce. Dr. Ian Arra, medical officer of health, has said, “Vaccination is the only way to prevent a fourth wave and is our way out of this pandemic.”
Because the dominant strain of COVID-19 is now the highly transmissible Delta variant, 90 per cent vaccine coverage is needed. Everyone is urged to encourage those who have not been vaccinated to get protected at one of the many drop-in clinics being held every day in Grey-Bruce.
Check the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s website for clinic locations, times and other information.
Across Ontario, fears of a fourth wave are growing as numbers increase. Earlier this week, the province reported over 200 new cases.
