Every weekday at noon and on some weekends for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, a group led by Mayor George Pirie called the Timmins Health Table will issue an update.
BY THE NUMBERS
The count of number of positive cases in Porcupine Health Unit is now up to 24. The Porcupine Health Unit received positive results 22-24 this morning.
SOCIAL GATHERINGS CAUSE CONCERNS
Mayor Pirie: “You can’t cure stupid.”
Mayor George Pirie is alarmed at the number of people not adhering to physical distancing.
He uses two examples. One is the traditional gathering at the post office.
“Go get your mail. It’s not a social activity. You have to change your behaviour,” he says.
The other comes from reports he’s getting about people sharing vaping pipes.
“Well, there’s an old saying and this is very blunt. You can’t cure stupid,” he states. “It’s exactly behaviour like that that’s going to overwhelm our health care system. You put hundreds of people at risk.”
To that, Pirie reiterates that behaviours have to change.
Medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton encourages us to go outdoors to enjoy the spring weather, as long we’re keeping our distance from others.
“It is okay to wave to a neighbour from across the road. It is okay to say hello across the street when you see someone in more than two metres away,” the doctor comments. “But right now I’m really concerned about the increase of gatherings outside for social get-togethers.”
If you’re in self-isolation because you’re a confirmed COVID-19 case,Dr. Catton says it’s okay to be out in your yard, as long as no one else is with you.
Here is the complete audio of today’s session: