THUNDER BAY – Political and health leaders in Thunder Bay are cautiously welcoming Monday’s announcement that the city will head to Stage 3 of reopening on Friday, along with most other regions of the province.
Thunder Bay’s medical officer of health, Dr. Janet DeMille, said the region's COVID-19 numbers justify the step, which will allow the large majority of businesses and other facilities to reopen, as well as easing restrictions on public gatherings.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit was reporting only one active case as of Monday morning.
“We’ve done very well in Stage 2 and it’s been four weeks, so it’s reasonable that we’d be reopening,” said DeMille, who heads the health unit. “In terms of the indicators, we have very little COVID-19 circulating, the hospital is doing okay, and public health capacity is good.”
Still, DeMille said experiences in other Canadian jurisdictions have proven the virus can spread quickly when people gather without appropriate precautions.
“I have to admit, even though I’m supportive of more reopening, I’m also quite nervous about it,” she said. “I have a lot of confidence that if we all do this together, we can navigate through Stage 3 and beyond. [But] if we let up our guard in any way, we could easily slip back."
Managing COVID-19 risks still largely comes down to the basics, DeMille said: maintaining physical distancing, wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, and washing hands frequently.
The province’s decision is good news for the city, said Mauro. The mayor sees the greatest COVID-19 risks coming from outside the region, not from reopening within it.
“I think a lot of people feel we can move to this stage, even health professionals,” he said. “I don’t think they’d be recommending it if they thought it would necessarily lead to an increase. The pieces we need to be cautious about are the border and travel."
DeMille expressed confidence activities allowed under Stage 3, such as indoor service at restaurants and bars, can be carried out safely – as long as both staff and customers follow precautions. Anecdotal evidence indicates that hasn’t always been the case during Stage 2, she said.
“Sometimes precautions are put in place, but people aren’t abiding by them – sometimes it’s the staff, sometimes it’s the customers. Even just the simple one of the directions in the grocery store: It’s a great idea, but I’m finding people don’t necessarily follow that.”
Mauro agreed the success of Stage 3 reopening will come down to residents’ determination to stick with public health advice. He pointed to ballooning COVID-19 numbers in many parts of the United States that took similar reopening steps in recent weeks.
“We’ve seen areas in the U.S. and other [places] where they’ve reopened - it hasn’t gone well, and they’ve had to go backwards and close down again,” he said. “I’m not suggesting that will happen here, but it's something you need to guard against. Yes, things are changing, but caution and good health advice still remain part of the equation.”
While most workplaces will have the option of reopening as early as Friday, DeMille urged them not to rush.
“One big piece of advice I’ll ask workplaces [to follow] is, don’t open up until you’re ready,” she said. “You have to do it safely – it’s not going back to the regular practices, it’s got to be done differently.”
The province offers a number of detailed resources on how to safely reopen for businesses across various sectors, she added.
While Mauro anticipated the private sector will react more nimbly, it will take longer to determine if recreation centres and other city-run facilities might open under Stage 3. The city estimates it will take two to six weeks to prepare facilities after any decisions are made.
Asked whether he himself plans to venture inside restaurants and bars, the mayor said he’s unsure – but added the warm weather means that decision can be put off for a few more precious weeks.
“If I’m with family, I might consider it," he said. "Right now, the lovely part is we don’t have to think about it too much – find a patio, stay outside, get something cold and enjoy the summer.”
