THUNDER BAY – Staying safe and following the common sense of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic makes solid sense for you and for your family.
Keeping life as normal as possible is important too.
For many people, ordering food for delivery during the weeks of self-isolating is one of the keys to keeping the family on an even keel. Others are heading out to camp to wait out the pandemic, and many parents and grandparents are struggling to keep up with their kids.
NetNewsLedger asked the Thunder Bay District Health Unit for some information based on questions we have been receiving from readers:
Ordering in Food
Question: During COVID-19, many people are ordering delivery. What is the TBDHU doing in terms of making sure restaurants and food services are maintaining standards?
Answer: All Routine work continues so all food premises are inspected as per their inspection schedule; all food premises that are offering takeout and delivery have been provided additional information; all of the food deliveries services have also received information from the TBDHU; those food premises offering take out for the first time have also been visited by TBDHU public health inspectors
Going to Camp
Question: Going to Camp. If people in Thunder Bay head to camp, their health/hospital is still Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. What advice from the TBDHU. Premier and province is saying that people should not head to camp because It can overwhelm smaller centres health capacity. How is heading to camp from Thunder Bay an issue or is it?
Answer: At this time the public health guidance is to stay home and only leave for essential reasons. Travel to camp increases the risk of needing an emergency response. Common camp activities such as boating, quadding and exploring remote areas also increase the risk of needing an emergency response.
Ontario has asked people to stay home, and not head out to camp. The added strain on the healthcare system is something not needed at this time.
Keeping the Kids Busy
What suggestions from the TBDHU do you have to offer for families with youth children during the COVID-19 stay at home and self-distancing? It is hard getting the kids out the past few cooler days. However, the forecast for the weekend is far warmer. Many are concerned lots of people are going to be going out.. and not self-distancing.
Caregivers for children can find a lot of information and supportive resources on our website such as “Parenting Tips”, mental health supports and infection prevention and control measures.
Here is the link to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit Website.
Do you have questions? Ask us and we will seek out answers. Email: newsroom@netnewsledger.com
