THUNDER BAY - In the wake of record-high COVID-19 cases in the city, as well as pressures on isolation centres and the hospital, city officials are reaching out to the provincial and federal government and pleading for more assistance.
“Our goal today is: give us, please, the health and human resources we need, provide us commitments on long-term funding, please, so we can manage the situation we are in today,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro during an update on the city’s COVID-19 situation on Wednesday.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported 46 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the second highest single day increase since the pandemic began and bringing the district to a record high of 304 active cases.
The city declared a second state of emergency three weeks ago to address outbreaks at the Thunder Bay District Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and requested funding for human resources to manage isolation shelters for high-risk individuals.
Mauro said the work is ongoing but the city has yet to hear from the province.
“We are hopeful in the not too distant future we will hear something positive from the province,” he said.
The city has requests in to the provincial government’s Emergency Medical Assistance Team for additional support staff in isolation shelters, as well as funding requests to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
“We have that application in now, it has been in for a little while,” Mauro said. “If it is successful, it would provide supports for the city from the beginning of April until the end of September. We are asking the federal government to please do what you can to expedite that particular application. We need that help.”
Mauro added the isolation space that was put in place throughout the pandemic has kept more than 1,000 people out of hospital; however, with community spread in the city and an outbreak of COVID-19 among the homeless population, the system is reaching its capacity.
“If the numbers continue to increase, if we cannot provide the supports required, we will not be able to take people into isolation,” he said. “It will mean more pressure applied to other agencies in the community, not the least of which is hospital capacity.”
When asked if the city has considered reaching out to the Canadian Armed Forces for assistance, Mauro said the city is not there yet, but it is an option.
“There is consideration to request Canadian Armed Forces personnel for assistance,” added city manager Norm Gale. “There is a process for that. It has not started yet. We need to exhaust all other opportunities for that to happen. We need to get EMAT to support us.”
Another lockdown likely
There are concerns that the situation could get worse in the city of Thunder Bay due to the likelihood that COVID-19 variants could arise here and people not adhering to public health guidelines.
Mauro said there are more instances of people not practicing physical distancing, holding social gatherings, or not self-isolating.
“There are a number of situations we are all hearing about, both anecdotally, and from the medical health professionals,” Mauro said.
“I think when we came out of lockdown, clearly people were fatigued, it was difficult. People were isolated. In the sense we all got out from this and there was a rush to congregate. There is not one particular population that is contributing to the rise of numbers in the city of Thunder Bay.”
But there remains evidence of community spread in the city, which is why Mauro believes the Thunder Bay District will be moving back into lockdown or even potentially another stay-at-home order.
“Will a lockdown achieve the result of reducing community spread, will a lockdown achieve a result of a decline in our numbers, will a lockdown see the result of decreased pressure on the hospital?” Mauro said.
“As the numbers continue to climb, as we see there is community spread, it is my belief we are in a position where there isn’t a choice to be made. But ultimately that is a choice that will be made by the province in cooperation with the local health unit.”
Mauro acknowledged that many people are feeling fatigued by lockdown measures and anxiety over rising case numbers, which is why the public is reminded to continue to follow all public health guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“We implore you to please continue do everything you can to follow these guidelines,” Mauro said. “There is positive news on the horizon, we will get out of this together as a group, but we need you to continue to do what you have to do to get us out of this.”
