Hamilton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Richardson Recommends Staying in Red Zone – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

March 24, 2021
Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson says her recommendation is Hamilton remain in the COVID Red Control zone.
We are “at a critical point in terms of where we sit in the [provincial] control measures”, she said. “I am not convinced the move into Grey will give us a significant impact in terms of severe disease and mortality. It will have a significant impact on business … At this point I am saying we stick in Red and continue to monitor the numbers”.
Dr. Richardson’s statement follows a briefing Tuesday morning by Hamilton Public Health Services Dr. Doug Sider that Hamilton is heading towards another lockdown.
“If you look at things strictly by the numbers, you’ll see that we’re sitting at that cusp of 100 cases per 100,000 population per week”, Dr. Richardson said. “Although our positivity rates in our tests aren’t yet at the point that would take us through Red, they are definitely increasing over the last few weeks. We continue to have a number of outbreaks”.
Dr. Richardson said vaccinations are making a difference in managing the severity of COVID , and this means while “certainly we could go into Grey based solely upon the numbers” she recommends remaining in Red.
“At this point, we’re certainly at a stage where we’re looking at which way do we go”, Dr. Richardson said. “That is going to continue for the coming weeks … this is going to be something we closely monitor day-to-day”.
Hamiltonians need to stay-at-home as much as possible, not gather with people outside of their households, and not go out if they are feeling unwell.
“We continue to recommend that people stay at home as much as possible, work from home as much as possible, not gather with people outside your own household”.
It is essential people continue to follow the rules, Dr. Richardson said.
The next scheduled Hamilton COVID public briefing is scheduled for next Monday, March 29, at 3pm.