The Huron Perth Medical Officer of Health says we are learning as we work our way through the current pandemic.
But Dr. Miriam Klassen also points out COVID-19 is a brand new virus and we've had less than a year's experience with it, so it will be many years before we completely understand if the virus can cause residual effects and what that might look like.
She says she doesn't think anyone should be too complacent about it and while it's true most people do recover from it, others get very ill for a much longer period of time so we just don't know what the long term impact might be.
"This is a brand new virus and we have less than a year's worth of experience with it, so it will be many years before we understand if the virus can residual effects and what that might look like. So I don't think any of us should be too complacent about it," said Dr. Klassen.
She also points out that what they've found across the Province, including in Huron and Perth, is that transmission happens when there's close contact.
"Where we're seeing transmission is people getting together for social gatherings and sharing food and not listening to the gathering limits and not adhering to the restrictions with the two metres," added Dr. Klassen. "With work place outbreaks, a common theme across the Province has been often times the work place measures are in place and are effective, but people are taking off their masks and getting together during break and car pooling and that's where the transmission is happening."
Dr. Klassen strongly recommends avoiding any non-essential travelling at this time, as difficult as that may be and she also urges local businesses that are open to very rigidly stick to the public health protocols.