The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will continue to encourage vaccination from COVID-19, even as the province lifts some restrictions.
The health unit provided an update Monday afternoon on the lifting of some capacity limits at businesses. When asked about the possibility of unvaccinated people blowing off the shots if the dropping of the vaccine passport requirement was imminent, Acting Medical Officer of Health Doctor Shanker Nesathurai said their focus is on herd immunity from COVID-19.
"I will continue to share that if you are eligible for the vaccine, the public health service appeals to those who are unvaccinated, if you are eligible, to get vaccinated," said Nesathurai. "We will continue that dialogue."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, capacity limits on many businesses such as restaurants, bars, banquet halls, bingo halls, casinos, and gyms will be lifted. Sports venues will have capacity increased to 50 per cent. Ford also called for the dropping of the vaccine passport program on March 1, as long as COVID-19 case and hospitalization rates stay down, but the health unit will still tout the shots.
Nesathurai pointed out that there is still a risk of transmitting the virus in these settings, and vaccination remains the best line of defence against severe illness and hospitalization.
"We do know that restaurant dining is a high-risk activity for the transmission of COVID-19," said Nesathurai. "There are examples of that in the health industry, and that's been covered by the media. There's also exposure at athletic events and athletic facilities."
Nesathurai also stated that the health unit board has called on the Ministry of Health to include COVID-19 vaccines under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
