Candid conversation about COVID-19 in Georgina: masks, beaches, daycares and second wave

Death rate of coronavirus cases twice as high in Georgina compared to York Region

Yorkregion.com
May 28, 2020
Amanda Persico

Recently, Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk hosted a virtual town hall with Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s medical officer of health, to talk about the coronavirus situation in Georgina.

Here’s what we learned from Dr. Kurji.

SHOULD GEORGINA OPEN BEACHES?

Only the municipality knows how many visitors it gets. And if physical distance cannot be managed, closing the beach is justifiable.

We can’t give the virus the fuel it wants -- people.

SHOULD I WEAR A MASK WHEN GOING TO STORES?

Yes.

The gold standard would be to wear a surgical mask, but two-layer cloth masks mirror the same two-way protection.

It is safe to assume everyone else is infected.

WHAT DOES A REOPENED DAYCARE LOOK LIKE?

This will have to come from federal and provincial guidelines, but be prepared to see: screening of all children, strict handwashing programs, one-parent pickup policies, staff and parents required to wear masks, one child at a time for dropoff and pickup and separate toys for each child that are not shared, but no communal play.

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR THE SECOND WAVE?

Proper handwashing hygiene, physical distancing and wearing a mask are now part of our DNA.

But the controversy with the second wave is we don’t know if, when or what it will look like.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT DEATH RATE?

Overall, in York Region the death rate among confirmed COVID-19 cases is about eight per cent.

But that increases with age -- 20 per cent in those 70 years old and older and up to 30 per cent in those 85 years old or older.

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO GEORGINA?

In Georgina, the death rate among confirmed COVID-19 cases is more than double the region’s -- about 19 per cent of case as of May 27, 2020.

WHY IS GEORGINA’S DEATH RATE SO HIGH?

A: More than 80 per cent of the Georgina’s COVID-19 cases are from institutional outbreaks, compared to just under 40 per cent across the region.

Numbers in Georgina still make up about five per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases in York Region.

TRANSPORTATION IS A CHALLENGE. WILL THERE BE COVID-19 ASSESSMENT SITES IN GEORGINA?

Currently, there are three COVID-19 assessment centres located at the three hospitals -- Southlake Regional Health Centre, Mackenzie Health Hospital and Markham Stouffville Hospital.

The current numbers don’t justify having a COVID-19 testing site in Georgina.

Vaughan has about 50 per cent of the region’s confirmed COVID-19 cases and does not have an assessment centre.

WHEN SHOULD I GO TO AN ASSESSMENT CENTRE?

With criteria lifted from the province, residents are encouraged to go to an assessment centre with mild symptoms.

Residents should also be aware of other less common symptoms that could develop in children, seniors or people with developmental disabilities including: fatigue; delirium; acute functional decline; increased number of falls; pink-eye; lethargy in infants; fast heartbeat; decreased blood pressure; and symptoms of multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children.

Call 911 if symptoms worsen.

Many are calling too late.

HOW TO TELL IF IT’S COVID-19 OR SEASONAL ALLERGIES?

Let the physician decide if you should get tested.