Ontario Activates Emergency Brake in Sudbury Public Health Region

Immediate action required to interrupt transmission, contain community spread and save lives

News.ontario.ca
March 12, 2021

On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario Government is activating an "emergency brake" in the Public Health Sudbury and Districts region, and moving it to the Grey-Lockdown level in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. The decision was made due to the concerning trends in public health indicators and in consultation with the local medical officer of health.

"Implementing an emergency brake to immediately interrupt transmission of COVID-19 is a key component of our government's plan to safely and gradually return public health regions to the Framework," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "We have seen a rapid rise in the case rate in the Sudbury area, and swift action is needed to protect individuals, families and businesses and save lives."

Based on the latest assessment of data, the "emergency brake" is being used to stop the spread, guard against variants and protect public health and health system capacity in the region. From March 3 to 9, 2021, the region's case rate increased by 54.1 per cent to 75.9 cases per 100,000 people.

The public health region will move to Grey-Lockdown effective Friday, March 12, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

"As a result of the rapid deterioration of trends in key indicators, the emergency brake is being applied to move Public Health Sudbury and Districts to Grey-Lockdown to help reduce further spread of the virus in the region," said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. "We must remain vigilant in adhering to all public health and workplace safety measures to combat the threat posed by variants of concern."

The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to consult with public health and other experts, review data, and provide advice to the government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health of Ontarians.

Quick Facts

• Find out what level and which public health and workplace safety measures are in place for your area.
• To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard health system capacity, everyone is strongly urged to continue staying at home and limit trips outside their household and to other regions for essential purposes only, and not to gather with individuals outside of their household. In addition, people are required to wear a face covering when within two metres distance of another individual who is not part of their household (both indoor and outdoor), with limited exceptions.
• Local medical officers of health continue to have the ability to issue Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, and municipalities may enact by-laws, to target specific transmission risks in the community.