Troy Shantz & George Mathewson
Lambton’s medical officer of health says the Ontario government needs to explain why Sarnia-Lambton wasn’t included in its second stage reopening of the economy.
Twenty-four of Ontario's 34 public health units will be allowed to reopen malls, restaurant patios, pools, beaches, hair salons and other amenities starting Friday.
But Sarnia-Lambton, despite a relatively low COVID-19 infection rate, was told to wait along with Toronto, Hamilton and the border areas of Windsor and Niagara.
“If you’re going to say that we cannot move forward, but our neighbours can, you need to have an argument that the risk level here in the population is materially different from that of our neighbours,” Dr. Sudit Ranade said today.
“And I’m not sure, looking at our data, that I could actually say that.”
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Sarnia-Lambton has been falling for weeks and is now at its lowest level since March.
The county is also doing well in what Ontario has called key indicators, including community transmission rates, hospital capacity, and testing.
Ranade said not allowing some regions to reopen will create “interesting dynamics” for bordering counties.
While Sarnians are still unable to visit the mall or get a haircut, they can in neighbouring London-Middlesex and Chatham-Kent starting Friday.
“We’re going to be actively asking the province to revisit that decision, because when I look at the numbers over the last two weeks… I’m not sure that holding us back is consistent with those indicators they have proposed.”
Asked if Sarnia-Lambton’s proximity to the border is a factor, Ranade replied: “I can tell you that we have had no cases that have been related to travel across the border.”