Hosting guests over Christmas in your Simcoe-Muskoka region residence isn’t recommended, but it also isn’t outlawed.
The region’s medical officer of health has for several weeks been recommending people stick to just their own household for close contact.
But there’s a difference between a recommendation and a requirement.
“It is our strong recommendation people not receive visitors over the holidays,” said Dr. Charles Gardner of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. “Or if they do, that they physically distance from them.”
Under current provincial law, people in orange zones may have gatherings up to ten people indoors, and that includes in their homes.
Fines are not issued for people who do not follow advice and avoid having any guests inside their home.
A fine could, however, be issued if the gathering is more than ten people.
“We continue to see clusters in households and families, including large family gatherings and multi-generational households,” said Gardner.
But not every cluster has been linked to gatherings larger than the current legal limit.
“Travel to the GTA has been a factor,” said Gardner, noting that travel has been both work-related and, in some cases it has been people socializing beyond their immediate household.
After Thanksgiving, the health unit confirmed 47 regional cases and 15 out of jurisdiction cases linked to 23 known Thanksgiving gatherings in Simcoe County and Muskoka.
“We’re seeing a rise of COVID-19 going into this holiday season. It’s not at all under control,” said Gardner. “Gatherings … lead to more transmission. Certainly, the last thing you would want is a gathering in your household to lead to more transmission. We’ve all got to be part of the solution.”
If the Simcoe-Muskoka region is moved into the province’s red “control” measures under the COVID-19 Response Framework, gatherings cannot (by law) exceed five people indoors. Any gathering larger could result in fines.
As for the school Christmas break, Gardner said he doesn't support more than the customary two weeks.
"I think it's appropriate and best that students return to school after the break without an extension," he said. "We've had good experience so far in containing or avoiding spread in schools ... this goes back to the commitment of students getting a full education and it's positive for their mental health."
The health unit has reported 144 school-related cases to-date with 12 outbreaks declared in schools as of Tuesday, Dec. 8.
"A great majority of those exposures did not result in transmission," said Gardner. "That speaks to the importance of the control measures in place."
For more information on preventative measures and laws versus recommendations, visit the health unit website.
