The CEO at Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington asks the public to consider how their actions in public impact local hospitals.
Kristin Kennedy thinks it is highly unlikely the May long weekend will be normal again this year.
"We're headed in the right direction, and positive days are coming," she said. "But, we still have a bit of a way to go."
Last Friday, Medical Officer of Health Doctor Wajid Ahmed said daily COVID-19 case counts and the positivity rate are trending down. At that time, the case rate per 100,000 residents was 66.4, down from 82.9 the week before. The positivity rate was 5.4 per cent last week.
He cautioned people against gatherings for Mother's Day, but his advice holds for the upcoming Victoria Day Weekend.
"Any opportunity where more people are gathering; that's a recipe for disaster," he said.
Ahmed suggested even those who have had one shot of the vaccine against the virus still need to socially distance and wear masks out in the community.
Kennedy said it is within the public's power to prevent a fourth wave of the pandemic.
"In order for us to prevent a fourth wave, we really need to open back up cautiously," she said. "We know that some of these holidays often lead to outbreaks after that are concerning and put pressure on the health care system as a whole."
Ontario's stay-at-home order is expected to expire May 20, but most experts predict the provincial government will extend it beyond the long weekend to prevent transmission of COVID-19.