'Go gradually' as public health restrictions lift, says Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang

As public health restrictions ease and people look forward to getting back to a version of normal life, the region's medical officer of health repeated on Friday a message she's made many times during the last two years.

Don't get too carried away in ramping up social activities. 

"We're in a state now where we can lift mandatory measures, and move toward recommendations about what people can continue to do to best protect themselves and those around them," said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang during the region's final weekly COVID-19 media briefing.  

"My recommendation will continue to be, as it has been for some time, that people approach this gradually."

The pandemic is not over, Wang said, and going forward we "shouldn't be surprised" to see future, intermittent waves and waning immunity. 

The difference now is that we know more about COVID-19 and have the tools to fight back, Wang said. Some of those tools include staying up-to-date with vaccines, staying home while sick, improving air ventilation and wearing masks inside during periods of heightened risk. 

Two years into the pandemic, health officials say they, too, are now looking forward to getting back to a version of normal. For them, that means ramping up the preventative healthcare initiatives that were put on the back burner with resources reallocated to COVID-19. 

"I think the biggest piece … we've had to stop doing is the health promotion, the getting out and getting into communities and talking about things other than COVID-19," said David Aoki, director of infectious diseases with regional public health. 

School-based immunizations and programs aimed at babies and young children will also see more resources in the weeks and months ahead, according to Wang. 

She noted that regional public health, in partnership with the rest of the Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy, is also renewing its focus on addiction — after two years that saw a steep increase in suspected overdose deaths. 

As of Friday, the number of deaths from COVID-19 has reached 401 in Waterloo region. 

The media briefing closed with a moment of silence for those who have died of the virus. 

"Many hearts are still broken and still aching as we move forward," said North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton, who was part of the call.