Ottawa's top doctor urges people to proceed cautiously as COVID-19 restrictions eased
As restaurant patios and non-essential businesses open in Ottawa for the first time in two months, the city's top doctor is urging residents to "proceed cautiously" as the COVID-19 restrictions are eased.
And medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches believes this was the final lockdown Ottawa and Ontario will endure during the pandemic.
"I would be surprised if we had to go that far backwards. I don't see that in the modelling and the projections from the science table," said Dr. Etches in an interview on CTV Morning Live.
"The vaccines, again, are providing good protection, just not enough to only rely on vaccinations and that's going to improve. We have to monitor, we have to see, so for now we still need that distance, we need masks for a bit longer but we know this is what we're aiming for."
The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said Thursday that COVID-19 cases in Ontario are dropping sharply, while the threat of a fourth wave caused by the delta variant still exists but is unlikely.
Ottawa entered Step 1 of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen plan at 12:01 a.m. Friday, allowing bar and restaurant patios to reopen, while non-essential retail may open at 15 per cent capacity. Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted.
Dr. Etches is encouraging residents to continue following COVID-19 protocols, including maintaining two metres distance from people outside your household and wearing a mask when distancing is not possible.
"We want to make sure that people are choosing the lower risk activities, avoiding crowds – we're not quite there yet," said Dr. Etches when asked what's on her radar as things reopen.
"We want to make sure that the level of COVID doesn't start to rise exponentially."
Ottawa will enter Step 2 of the reopening plan 21 days after the start of Step 1, as long as COVID-19 indicators are trending in a positive direction and COVID-19 vaccination rates are at 70 per cent for first doses and 20 per cent for second doses.
CTV Morning Live host Leslie Roberts asked Dr. Etches if she supports speeding up the start of Step 2.
"We need the time to be able to make sure that we're not having a resurgence of COVID that leads to more hospitalizations in that exponential growth kind of way that leads to real challenge," said Dr. Etches.
"What we want, what we're aiming for is that the level of COVID stays low enough that it doesn't lead to hospitalizations, and we're seeing this is what the vaccines are enabling – we're getting there. But not everyone has their two doses of vaccine that will really enable us to keep progressing to that point where COVID is manageable and people are staying out of hospital."
As of Wednesday, 70 per cent of Ottawa residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"We can't quite rely on the vaccine coverage yet, but we'll get there and the caution is needed as we go to monitor to make sure we're just keeping things under control," said Etches.
The medical officer of health says she has no plans to celebrate Ottawa ending the lockdown, but she is optimistic about the summer for Ottawa.
"I'm feeling very, very positive. People have done a lot of hard work, businesses have struggled, and here we are able to take the next step cautiously going forward with lower risk activities that are outdoors," said Etches.
"This is a good way to proceed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.