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The holidays are a time to give thanks, reflect on the past year and celebrate the successes we have achieved together. As we enter the holiday season, we want to thank you, our South Georgian Bay community, for continuing to come together while taking the necessary precautions to keep one another safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. We see the many sacrifices you are making to keep each other safe, and we thank you. We know this is a frustrating and challenging time for all, but please know that by continuing to follow protocols, your efforts are saving lives. While we have come a long way with the rollout of vaccines, we are still in a global pandemic and the threat that the COVID-19 Omicron variant poses is very alarming. We must stay vigilant.
These have been, and remain, incredibly challenging times for all of us - both mentally and physically. COVID-19 has had a profound impact on us all. We are all tired. Our health care workers are exhausted. We all just want our pre-COVID lives back. But we’re not quite there yet. With the holidays approaching, we are asking you to stay home, stay safe, and stay connected. Only gather in small groups with your household, and connect in ways that protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community. In South Georgian Bay we are so fortunate to have nature at our doorstep. This provides us with incredible opportunities to get outside and enjoy the fresh air while keeping connected and safe, and in accordance with public health guidelines.
As healthcare leaders, we are asking you, our community, to step up, stay vigilant, and get your vaccine. By doing this and staying home, you reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the impending crisis on our local health care system. Choosing not to comply with public health measures results in COVID-19 spreading quickly and easily across our community, infecting health care workers across the system, including those in long-term care facilities, hospitals, primary care, specialists and surgeons, retirement homes, home care services, hospice, and the list goes on. If these organizations do not have the staff they need to serve their communities, among many others, surgeries will be cancelled, mental health services will be unavailable, cancer screening will be delayed, loved ones will not be admitted into long-term care, and intensive care unit beds will not be accessible. We urge you to stay home so we can all access these services and the everyday care we need to keep healthy. If we do not, the damaging impact on our health system from the past waves will only be worsened by this Omicron wave. This has impacts far beyond rising COVID-19 rates. Now more than ever, we need to stay vigilant!
Like nothing we’ve seen yet during this pandemic, the Omicron variant is spreading quickly. We need your help. If you are eligible to get a vaccine, please book yours today! Vaccines are the most effective way to keep you, your loved ones, and your community safe. It is critically important to adhere to public health requirements, wear your mask, and don’t forget that getting vaccinated is the best defence against COVID-19!
As healthcare leaders, we are leaning on you to make a difference in your community to keep us all safe – your commitment really does make a difference.
On behalf of all of the partners and supporters of the SGB OHT, we wish you a happy holiday season and a safe and healthy 2022.
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