Durham Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Kyle yesterday urged that students be tested daily for covid symptoms.
“Students must also screen for Covid-19 symptoms everyday before going to school and can refer to the provincial Covid-19 school screening tool,” he said in his latest update.
“Over the past few days, we have seen an increase in new cases both in Ontario and in Durham Region. On September 14, the Health Department was notified of 17 new cases, which is the largest number of new cases reported in one day since June,” he said.
While asking everyone to remain committed to the fight against Covid-19, Dr.Kyle acknowledged that for many months, residents and local community partners have worked together to stay informed, implement public health measures and take precautions to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community.
“Everyone’s collective efforts helped to significantly reduce the spread of Covid-19 across the region over the summer months,” he said. “Now that children are back in school, it is very important that we continue to work together to prevent the spread of illness in our community which will help keep it from reaching our schools.”
The preventive measures that residents can take to keep themselves and others safe remain the same. Please continue to practise physical distancing, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, wear a non-medical mask or face covering in all indoor (enclosed) public spaces and when physical distancing is challenging, and remain home and self-isolate if you experience any Covid-19 symptoms.
Residents can keep informed about the status of Covid-19 across the region by visiting the Durham Region Covid-19 Data Tracker. The Health Department remains focused on case and contact management, supporting schools, outbreak assessment and management, and surveillance and communication to help keep residents healthy and safe, Dr. Kyle added.
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