NWO health units warn COVID numbers aren't decreasing at the same rate as province

As capacity limits get removed in a number of public settings across Ontario, two northern Ontario medical officers of health say the area's COVID-19 case numbers aren't decreasing at the same rate as most areas of the province.

As of Friday, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported 315 active lab-confirmed cases of the virus, with 196 new ones since the previous update on Wednesday.

The new cases reported on Friday represent the most since late January.

Dr. Janet DeMille said limited testing eligibility also means that public health officials don't have a clear picture of the prevalence of the virus.

"We are definitely on the downside of this particular wave," she said. "Even though we're still navigating that downside, it is reasonable to be talking about reopening and reducing some of those restrictions.

LISTEN: Dr. Janet DeMille gives a COVID-19 update as restrictions ease in the province

"I think probably where I felt nervous, and I watch the numbers in our area very closely, is I have found that even though we're on the downside, our decline has been slower than I would have liked to have seen."

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Friday reported 38 patients admitted who have tested positive for the virus, of whom 10 are in the intensive care unit.

The latest phase of the province's reopening plan took effect on Thursday. That stage includes removing capacity limits in certain settings where proof of vaccination is required, including in restaurants. Other changes include allowing sporting venues to admit 50 per cent of their spectator capacity.

"I think we need to realize that lifting restrictions doesn't mean that everything's safe and we're all good to go," DeMille said.

"It's taking the next step, and there's a result. It could mean that Omicron will spread more. It could potentially mean that our numbers will go up a little bit."

DeMille said she's not necessarily worried about the most recent easing of restrictions this week, but she adds she would have preferred to stay with Ontario's previous reopening plan.

"The next step would've been March 14 instead of March 1. I feel like that, you know, there's not a lot of time between [Feb.] 17 and March 1 to really sort of navigate any implications of the reopening," she said.

Ontario's science advisory table said wastewater data across the province is generally showing a decline in COVID-19 numbers, except in northern areas of the province.