The top public health official in Chatham-Kent is warning the public that the pandemic may not be over in the new year and people shouldn't be planning a parade in April if the province lifts all public health safety measures by then.
The Ontario government says all COVID-19 restrictions could come to an end by the end of March, including vaccine passports and masks if everything goes well.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby says the pandemic is not over and we will be living with the virus beyond March.
Colby says even if the province lifts mandatory mask-wearing and proof of vaccination, the municipality and the health unit can still keep them in place if the local numbers deem it necessary. He reminds the public that the municipality still has a bylaw requiring masks to be worn indoors and it would have to be rescinded along with the provincial rules in order for masking to stop.
He adds there's no guarantee the public safety measures will be lifted in the new year and reminds people to get vaccinated.
"I think a lot of members of the public are getting the idea that this will end and it is contingent on everything settling down," said Colby. "The contingencies are very uncertain. Yes, everyone agrees that this will all end when it's able to be ended."
Colby said Premier Doug Ford floated the idea on Friday afternoon but added there's a constant assessment that needs to be done in order to evaluate the situation correctly. Colby is concerned that people will interpret the provincial announcement on Friday as a "sure trajectory" towards the end of this pandemic early in the new year, adding that he doesn't believe that's likely.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said the municipal mask bylaw will be discussed at the next council meeting.
Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said the local medical officer of health has the power to order more stringent rules than the province. He added the municipality shouldn't be doing anything with any local regulations that in any way jeopardizes community safety.
"Our vaccinations rates are still some of the lowest in the province. So, if we want to get to a point where we're safe to open, we should still be promoting the vaccination. I'd hate to get to a point where the rest of the province is opening up and we're still required to wear a mask and maintain regulations because we still haven't produced the results that the rest of the province has had."
Dr. Colby said we would have herd immunity by now if the Delta variant of COVID-19 didn't derail things.
