The City of Orillia is taking extra sanitary steps as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise globally, but the mayor says there is no need to panic.
“It is real and it is spreading, but even though there’s one case so far (in the region), by all account, the risk is still low,” Mayor Steve Clarke said, referring to Thursday’s announcement by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit that a man returning from Spain tested positive for the disease at Barrie’s hospital. “There isn’t reason for alarm … but I would suggest there is reason for concern.”
The city is using “enhanced cleaning procedures” at all of the buildings it owns and operates, Clarke said. That includes more frequent cleaning of “high-touch areas” such as door handles and debit machines.
Orillia Transit buses are being cleaned every night with commercial disinfectant, with added focus on high-touch points on the buses.
“This is an elevated level of maintenance,” Clarke said.
While some gatherings and sporting events have been cancelled elsewhere, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association playoff games set for this weekend at Rotary Place are still a go.
“The risk in this area right now is still quite low. That’s likely to change, so we’ll have to contemplate that at that point,” the mayor said of potentially cancelling events.
In a statement posted to the Orillia Minor Hockey Association’s website, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association noted the Public Health Agency of Canada has deemed the risk to public health to be low “and recommends assessing the risk from a specific situation on a case-by-case basis.”
“At this time, the OMHA has not cancelled events or games. New information will continue to be communicated to our members when provided.”
After speaking with health professionals, Clarke was told the number of COVID-19 cases in the area is likely to increase. The city is currently reviewing its emergency management plan to prepare for it.
The hope is that if COVID-19 cases spike, it happens over a period of time, rather than many at once, to “make it easier for our health-care providers to manage,” the mayor said.
Residents can do their part with healthy hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing and sneezing into their elbows.
More information, as well as updates, are being posted to the health unit’s website.
