Eventhough Ranade is “comfortable” Lambton’s COVID-19 rates are decreasing

Lambton’s medical officer of health says it’s “probably not advisable” for local politicians to actively work to reduce provincial COVID-19 restrictions.

Dr. Sudit Ranade made the comment Wednesday morning as several media outlets are reporting the Ford Government will impose a stay at home order for the entire province which will start Thursday morning. Council was also expected to discuss a motion from Sarnia City/County Councillor Margaret Bird which calls on the province to end lockdowns completely.

Bird is not the only one advocating the move, March 25, the majority of Brooke-Alvinston councillors agreed to send a letter to the premier asking for the end to lockdowns.

Ranade was asked at Lambton County Council if it was a good idea for municipal politicians to work to reduce those restrictions. “Probably not given what the province is facing right now and the pressure on ICU beds,” he says. Right now 504 people are in the province’s intenstive care units.

Ranade says Lambton’s hosptials are okay now, but will face pressure as London and Windsor see more admissions. He says Bluewater Health may have to take on cases from other regions and would have a problem transferring seriously ill patients to London for specialized care.

And the MOH is advocating province-wide controls.

“If you’re asking if it is reasonable to have regional restrictions…we know if those are significantly different between two neighbouring places, there will be traffic and that traffic has the potential to have increasing cases in the other region.”

Ranade added it is difficult for everyone for the restrictions constantly changing. “We need a more sustainable way out of this problem…I don’t think that is to yo-yo back and forth between complete freedoms and complete restrictions…

“The longer we go back and forth like this, the harder it becomes to continue.”

Today Lambton Public Health says there were four new cases of COVID-19 and one more death. Another 34 people have recovered. The MOH says he’s “comfortable” with the local rate infections right now.

Ranade is closely watching the outbreak at Rosewood Village – one of the nine in Lambton today. The 19 residents and two staff members were vaccinated and so far, their COVID-19 symptoms are mild. “that could set the expectations of other outbreaks if others are fully vaccinated.”

At press time, councillors had not voted on Bird’s motion.

Ontario is reporting 3,215 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths today. Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce the stay at home order at 2 pm today.