There have been some very encouraging statistics being reported this week by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unite [LGLDHU], but the sad fact is that there were two deaths in the region over the weekend of June 12 and 15, bringing the total number of deaths since the first outbreak to 52, of which 49 took place in long-term care facilities. There have been 3 deaths in the wider community, a number that has not increased since early April.
However, on the positive side of the table, there have been no new confirmed cases in the region since June 16, and the latest chart from the LGLDHU, dated June 18, shows only one active case of covid-19 in the entire area. One long-term care facility, in Mississippi Mills, is reporting an outbreak, but the number of tests that have been confirmed as positive has declined from 11% in March/April, to less than 1% in May/June.
The numbers are certainly heading in the right direction, and that is due in large part to the manner in which the community has abided by the regulations on social distancing that have been set out by the Provincial and municipal authorities. One source of confusion has been on the issue of face coverings. It seems that different advice is being given, not only in different countries and provinces, but in every jurisdiction. The situation is, of course, very different from place to place, so it is probably best to stick to the local Health Unit’s recommendations. These can be found elsewhere in this issue of the Times.
