Easter weekend is coming soon! But with COVID-19 case numbers on the rise, many are left wondering how they can celebrate the long weekend.
“When we think about what’s really safe, what’s not safe, and what’s in the middle. You know, on the safest side of things is staying home… and celebrating virtually with people. In the middle there are potentials to see people in an outdoor environment in which two meters maintained so things like a walk. But what really can’t happen is an outdoor party. That isn’t going to be helpful at all. And large gatherings, even outdoors, if people are in close proximity at this point in time is not something we can advise,” said Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU).
Dr. Summers hopes that people will continue to do what we have been doing and practicing for the last year- social distancing, masking, staying home, and keeping social circles small. But he also knows that people are tired and frustrated.
“It’s frustrating for folks and I understand that. That we’ve been at this for so long. But we are in the home stretch, the vaccine’s coming, it’s rolling out, by the time we get to the summer this is going to feel a lot better than it does right now. So, we are asking people for one final stretch to really do what they can to limit transmission,” he said.
The biggest worry entering this long weekend is an increase in case numbers, variants, hospitalizations, and people gathering.
“This spike is especially concerning. Not just because of the case count, but on the rate of increase, as well as the number of variants of concern that we are seeing.”
As COVID numbers in the city rise, more young people are becoming infected with the virus, yet they are not currently being vaccinated.
Dr. Summers spoke on this stating, “throughout this pandemic, we’ve actually seen highest case counts amongst those in that 20 to 30 age band… so, it’s really important that we continue to recognize that although you may not be the first in line for the vaccine and you may not be the type of person that’s most likely to be sick and hospitalized from COVID, you still have to do your part to protect yourself because you could be that person who ends up in hospital even though you’re young and you also could be that person that spreads it to somebody else who maybe doesn’t have the age benefit that you have.”
Dr. Summers highlights that moving forward, everyone will be vaccinated in “good time.” But as far as this long weekend goes, he says that the best thing to do is stay home, celebrate with your household, and social distance as the increase in numbers is “especially concerning.”
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