COVID-19: Lambton stands alone in green zone in Southwestern Ontario

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As of Monday, Sarnia-Lambton is Southwestern Ontario’s last remaining COVID-19 green zone, but the area’s top doctor says that’s just a “fortunate coincidence” and warns against residents becoming complacent with public health measures.

With cases spiking, all other health units in the region have moved into either the yellow-protect or orange-restrict levels in the province’s COVID-19 restriction framework — with Lambton the lone green speck in Ontario west of Kawartha.

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“I don’t see us as being fundamentally different than our neighbours,” said Sudit Ranade, medical officer of health for Lambton Public Health. “We’re seeing lots of cases around us; I think it would be reasonable to expect that our cases would go up as well.”

Ranade held off on pinpointing a reason as to why Lambton has staved off a harsh second wave so far, saying the area isn’t in the clear yet.

“I know many people in our community take this issue seriously, I know that we’ve been doing our best to identify and track and isolate cases . . . (but) I think that is similar across the province,” he said. “Tomorrow, we know how this works, we could get an influx (of cases) . . . and then we would shortly be in the same boat.”

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COVID-19 cases are “creeping up” in Sarnia-Lambton, adding recent confirmed cases are a reflection of transmissions that happened two weeks ago and don’t paint a full picture of the spread of the virus today, Ranade said.

Monday, as the province marked a record high in COVID-19 cases with 1,589, Lambton Public Health reported no new cases.

There have been 401 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in the Lambton region that includes Sarnia, Lambton Shores and Petrolia. Seventeen cases are currently active.

There are no declared outbreaks in schools, long-term care facilities or workplaces.

Since the pandemic began, Lambton has recorded 25 COVID-19 deaths.

Its green status is an about-face for the region that was an early flashpoint in the COVID-19 crisis in Southwestern Ontario.

Cases were so bad in Lambton during the first wave that the region was held back in the province’s summer reopening plan, with businesses and restaurants opening weeks behind most of Ontario.

But since the summer and into the fall, cases have remained relatively low. In October, Lambton logged 29 COVID-19 cases. So far in November, 57 cases have been confirmed — the early signs of an uptick.

Ranade said he doesn’t want residents to let their guard down because of the green label, urging them to remain vigilant in limiting unnecessary social interactions and following public health guidelines.

“The thing that has the potential to mislead people in the green is that because things are open . . . you can do whatever you want to do,” he said. “That’s not true, and I hope people don’t think that.”

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Lambton County Warden Bill Weber echoed Ranade’s sentiments, acknowledging the situation can “change quickly” if residents become complacent or fatigued with restrictions.

“It’s been remarkable what the people of Lambton County have done to keep us safe here and keep their neighbours safe, but we can’t stop,” Weber said. “Only on a traffic light does green mean go. With this, we need to look both ways first.”

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO PUBLIC HEALTH REGION LEVELS

Green-Prevent: Lambton

Restrictions include: Limits on social gatherings set at 10 people indoors, 25 people outdoors; most businesses open, including restaurants, retail, cinemas and casinos.

Yellow-Protect: Chatham-Kent, Grey-Bruce, Haldimand-Norfolk, Middlesex-London

Restrictions include:Restaurants limited to six people per table and must close at midnight; sport and fitness classes capped at 10 people indoors.

Orange-Restrict: Huron-Perth, Southwestern (Oxford and Elgin), Windsor-Essex

Restrictions include:Restaurants capped at 50 people indoors, with tables capped at four people and must close at 10 p.m.; spectators not allowed at organized sports; gym equipment must be spaced three metres apart.

Red-Control: Waterloo Region

Restrictions include:Social gatherings capped at five people indoors, 25 people outdoors; only 10 patrons can dine at restaurants at once; gyms capped at 10 people per room; meeting spaces and casinos capped at 10 people; cinemas and performing arts venues closed

maxmartin@postmedia.com

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