Most restrictions will lift after Step 3: Simcoe Muskoka health expert voices his concerns
One health expert in Simcoe Muskoka is voicing his concerns as the Ontario government announces its plan for exiting Step 3 of its reopening.
The news comes as Simcoe Muskoka's health unit reports a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases, which Dr. Barry Nathanson said is not surprising.
"This is entirely predictable," said the Stevenson Memorial Hospital's chief of staff on Thursday. "This is a natural consequence of the loosening of restrictions that we have been living under for many, many months."
Nathanson, a critical care specialist, said the region would see "more transmission of the virus" as the province eases restrictions.
Step 3 came with fewer capacity limitations, more business reopening, and more gatherings permitted.
There is no step 4, according to officials. Exiting the third phase would mean a return to an 'almost' normal for residents and businesses.
On Friday, Ontario officials said most public health measures in place would be lifted when Step 3 comes to an end, except for passive screening, signage and safety plans for businesses.
Health Minister Christine Elliott added that wearing face masks indoors would remain essential "as the Delta variant is the dominant strain in Ontario, which is not the case with some other provinces."
The province initially said the third phase would last for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of those 12 and older received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Currently, 69 per cent of eligible Simcoe Muskoka residents have rolled up their sleeves for their first dose. The health unit reports that 56 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Nathanson reiterated the need for residents to get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves and others, saying there is "reasonable cause for fear" of a fourth wave.
He pointed to the situation in hospitals and critical care units over the past year and a half. "We've seen a great deal of avoidable death and suffering," he added. "A logical approach to the balance of the risks and benefits of either being vaccinated or not would naturally lead, objectively, to the decision to be vaccinated."
The province did not offer a specific date for when Step 3 would end, but Premier Doug Ford said it could happen by mid-August.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
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.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.