Renfrew County and district headed for province’s ‘yellow’ COVID-19 response zone

The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is among seven public health regions moving into new tiers of Ontario's COVID-19 response framework.

The RCDHU had been in 'green-prevent' since February 10, but will be moving to 'yellow-protect' on Monday, March 8.

The Ontario government says all decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health, and are based on the latest trends in public health indicators, as well as local context and conditions.
                    
The announcement comes as the province transitions the Toronto, Peel and North Bay Parry Sound public health regions out of the province-wide shutdown. The North Bay Parry Sound District will be returning to the framework at the 'red-control' level. Health officials say Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health are making progress, but as their case rates remain high, they will return to the framework at the 'grey-lockdown' level.

“The best defence against the virus and all of its variants of concern remains continuing to stay at home, avoiding social gatherings, only travelling outside of your community for essential purposes, and limiting close contacts to your household or those you live with,” says Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams.

Ottawa remains in the 'orange-restrict' tier, but local health officials have warned that the region is bordering on red.