A news release from the Ontario government this afternoon says the COVID situation in Simcoe-Muskoka has worsened and the district is being moved from orange to red in the colour code.
North Bay – Parry Sound remains green and Sudbury remains yellow.
Seven public health regions have jumped to new levels with stronger public health measures, including Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and York Region Public Health moving into Grey-Lockdown.
“These steps are being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 in order to keep schools open in the regions where in-class learning is permitted, safeguard health system capacity, and protect the province’s most vulnerable populations,” says a release.
The regional levels and specific public health measures are set out in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework.
“Moving a region into Grey-Lockdown is not an easy decision, but it is one we needed to make in order to help stop the spread of the virus and safeguard the key services we rely on,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As we enter the holiday season and as the province prepares to receive its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines, it remains crucial for all Ontarians to continue adhering to public health advice and workplace safety measures to reduce the spread of the virus and keep each other safe.”
Based on the latest data, the following public health regions will move from their current level in the framework to the following levels effective Monday, December 14, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.:
Grey-Lockdown
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit; and
York Region Public Health.
Red-Control
Middlesex-London Health Unit;
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit; and
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
Orange-Restrict
Eastern Ontario Health Unit.
Yellow-Protect
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
