Public health officials are concerned about a possible fourth wave but note it may be different considering vaccines are widely accessible.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said it's "mostly a certainty" that there will be a fourth wave in the fall among unvaccinated people.
"I think it's fair to say there will be a fourth wave, I think it's fair to say that we're concerned but we can't look at this from the perspective that we used to look at it from, we didn't have vaccines on board."
Ranade said when it comes to a fourth wave, the questions really revolves around how it will impact the health care system.
"For the most part, I would suggest that no matter what a fourth wave looks like, we won't be getting a lot of deaths because the people who are at the highest risk of death have been protected by two doses," he said. "For the most part, we shouldn't be seeing a lot of hospitalization either."
Health officials in nearby communities such as Windsor-Essex have also expressed concern about another wave and penned an open letter to the community.
Ranade said nearly 75 per cent of the total eligible population (including eligible youth) have received one vaccine dose and nearly 64 per cent are fully vaccinated.
He said people who haven't been vaccinated should consider talking to someone who has and consider how much easier life will be in the fall for those who are vaccinated, especially when it comes to travel.
"Certainly I think the opportunity to maximize the things you can do will really be there for people who are vaccinated. If you're not vaccinated, I think there are going to be places or situations in which it might be a struggle to do all of the things you want to do," said Ranade. "Even if you end up being exposed incidentally to a case of COVID-19, to what extent you would have to isolate and for how long, those conversations are going on too."
Canada marked a vaccine milestone on Tuesday with over 80 per cent of the eligible people in the country have received their first dose and approximately 64 per cent being fully vaccinated.
Ontario's Health Minister Christine Elliott announced on Thursday that more than 80 per cent of Ontarians 12 and up have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Ontario will remain in Step Three for at least 21 days and until: ☑️ 80% of those 12+ received their 1st dose ? 75% of those 12+ received their 2nd dose ? No #PublicHealth unit has less than 70% of their 12+ population fully vaccinated ? Other key indicators remain stable pic.twitter.com/Jx330eb3G1
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) July 29, 2021
