'This may be the worst of it,' Thunder Bay public health head says as stay-at-home order takes effect

As a provincial stay-at-home order begins, the medical officer of health for the Thunder Bay District says this is the worst of the pandemic.

After having declared a second state of emergency earlier this week, new COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario officially went into effect on Thursday.

Dr. Janet DeMille, describing this as a horrible time, said the pandemic is affecting everything from the economy, to people's mental health and the ability of children to go to school.

"This is also maybe the worst of it right now. This is the time that viruses like COVID are stronger. They tend to circulate. We see flu at this time every year," DeMille said.

"This is a virus that is circulating. It's getting out of control in other places where there's been dramatic increases in numbers. Unfortunately, we're at risk, even though we've generally done well."

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit announced eight new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with four located in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area, two in district communities and two in First Nations communities.

There have only been three days through the first half of January where there have been double-digit increases in the number of new cases in the Thunder Bay District.

Prior to the provincial stay-at-home order, some local Thunder Bay small business owners expressed frustration with the northern Ontario lockdown being extended, which DeMille at the time said she supported.

"I will commit to being an advocate for our area to open up when we're able to open up safely and won't relapse," DeMille said. "I do have opportunities to provide that input. They don't necessarily take my input, but I will do that."

One of the new cases on Thursday is at the Thunder Bay District Jail, where 14 had been reported the previous day.

"In this case, it really had spread before those initial cases were picked up. We did surveillance testing of a broader number of people which showed a larger number of people that were actually infected," DeMille said.

Two of the other cases are related to travel outside of northwestern Ontario, one is a close contact of an existing case and four remain under public health investigation.

Seven previously announced cases are now considered resolved. There are 84 active cases in the Thunder Bay District.

The health unit's COVID-19 dashboard shows three patients hospitalized, with two in the intensive care unit.

DeMille said the health unit and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are planning to start vaccinations at a smaller long-term care home on Friday. Up to this point, all vaccines were being administered on site at the hospital.

"It's actually really complicated, and this has unfolded really quickly," DeMille said.

"We are going to quickly move forward as able to immunize. Currently, the significant limitation is the supply of vaccine. Right now, when we go into the homes, we're targeting vaccines for the residents. We really can't go past that at the present time."