COVID-19 Reflection: Local public health officials went into high gear to keep us safe

When Peterborough Public Health confirmed the first local COVID-19 case five years ago this past week, little did we know what laid ahead.

With the World Health Organization declaring a worldwide pandemic, local public health officials went into high gear, advising residents how to best protect themselves while monitoring continued cases and issuing restrictions intended to keep us safe. Still, deaths resulted and many fell ill.

On reflection, public health director of health protection Donna Churipuy remembers the early onset of the virus as time of learning how it spreads and what measures were best to keep the spread low. She says while there was a pandemic plan in place, pushed for years earlier by former Medical Officer of Health Dr. Garry Humphreys, there was much to be learned and acted on

Churipuy says if there’s a silver lining, public awareness of the spread of infectious diseases and how to best protect themselves was heightened.

Churipuy says getting public health messaging across in the face of a barrage of social media-fueled misinformation and rumours was a challenge.

Churipuy reminds us that COVID-19 is still with us and people need to recognize the symptoms and take steps to reduce spreading the virus. Six local deaths this year, she adds, have been attributed to the virus.

(Written by: Paul Rellinger)