This month marks two years since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. This significant milestone coincides with the province lifting sector-specific pandemic control measures and proof of vaccination requirements in certain settings.
This expedited lifting of pandemic control measures is a testament to York Region’s extensive COVID-19 vaccination efforts, willingness of residents’ adherence to public health guidance.
While it is encouraging to see many key public health indicators stabilizing and showing signs of improvement, including hospitalization rates and ICU admissions, COVID-19 continues in our communities, placing additional pressures on the health care sector.
In keeping with our focus on safety, we must continue to take a measured, evidence-based approach to pandemic control measures within our health care environment. This includes maintaining the visitor and employee vaccination mandates across all four York Region hospitals.
By maintaining proof of vaccination policies, combined with the continued mandatory mask requirements, we continue to offer additional protection to some of our most ill, injured and vulnerable residents in settings where they need to be safest. These measures also work to keep our health care workers safe.
The last two years have been challenging for all of us. Hospital staff, public health staff, our health and community partners and volunteers are doing everything they can to continue providing exceptional care to patients and their families.
As we start to put the pandemic behind us, please remember to be kind to one another, and especially to our health care professionals and the others who continue to serve the public good.
On behalf of all of us, thank you for doing your part to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you are already vaccinated with three shots – thank you. If you are eligible, and still need to receive any of your COVID-19 vaccines, we urge you to do so as soon as possible.
Please visit york.ca/COVID19 for more information on York Region’s COVID-19 vaccination program, including a list of clinic locations, dates and times.
