Sarnia-Lambton's MPP says it's unlikely the province will change its decision and include this area in Friday's stage two reopening.
Bob Bailey told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) Wednesday that provincial health officials including Ontario's Chief Medical Officer looked at a number of criteria, including regional caseloads and deaths.
He suggested the outbreak at Sarnia's Vision Nursing Home was a factor.
"I think probably prior to two weeks ago we were on a good track to probably maybe move to phase two," said Bailey. "Then we had the recent outbreak, when one of the local long-term care homes had unfortunately an outbreak and some deaths, and led to people being hospitalized. We're just starting to come out of that now."
Bailey said the numbers will be reviewed Monday so there's unlikely to be any change in Sarnia-Lambton's status before then.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said long-term care outbreaks are only part of the picture.
"There are lots of other places that are moving forward into Stage 2 that also have nursing home outbreaks, so that can't really be the only thing they looked at," said Dr. Ranade.
Dr. Ranade said they've learned the border was also a factor even though traffic here is dramatically reduced and there have been no cases related to traffic between Sarnia and Port Huron.
Sarnia-Lambton and Windsor-Essex are not moving to Stage 2 Friday while neighbouring Chatham-Kent, London-Middlesex and Huron-Perth are.
