THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro says the province and public health officials have little choice but to issue a lock-down order for the district.
Mauro, speaking to CTV News on Friday, moments after the Thunder Bay District Health Unit announced a record single-day high 60 new COVID-19 cases, said he expects the announcement to come on Friday afternoon.
Whether it works or not is another question, said the mayor, telling the network it was outbreaks in the corrections system, then the homeless and vulnerable population where the case counts started to grow, and now there are outbreaks circulating in the local school system.
“I think the question remains is will (a lock-down) have the effect we want,” said Mauro, adding city and public health officials should know in a week or two.
The health unit on Thursday recommended all school boards in Thunder Bay pivot to virtual learning, which begins on Monday.
Mauro also laid some of the blame on social gatherings, which he said are happening even though they’re not allowed under the provincial COVID-19 framework.
Thunder Bay moved back into the framework on Feb. 16, whether there were 159 active cases in the community. As of Friday, there are 349.
Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, said a lock-down cannot be the only measure.
“The province must also immediately provide the supports that are desperately needed for our health unit and social services to address the spread in our vulnerable population,” Robinson tweeted on Friday morning.
