Plan, protect, and keep apart for a COVID-safe experience with seasonal residences and campgrounds

With the upcoming long weekend, you may be preparing to go to your seasonal residence. Remember that the provincewide stay-at-home order (Government of Ontario) remains in effect. Travel (Government of Ontario) should be avoided unless for essential reasons.

“The long weekend often signals the start of our enjoyment of the outdoors. We need to remember that we are in a provincial stay-at-home order and it’s important to continue to stay vigilant and look out for each other’s safety. Our continued adherence to public health measures will help ensure a fun and safe summer,” said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

A simple rule to help limit the spread is to have the fewest interactions possible with the fewest number of people, at the greatest distance. Stay home unless essential. If you travel, avoid stopping on the way and go directly to your destination. Bring enough supplies and fuel so that you can make your trip without stopping. Make sure you have a face covering and hand sanitizer with you in the event of an unplanned stop.

Be COVID-safe

Under the stay-at-home order (Government of Ontario), you are permitted to travel to a seasonal residence only if you plan to stay less than 24 hours, or plan to be there for 14 days or more. If you go to your seasonal residence, follow the important guidelines listed below. Remember that attending a campground is only permitted for housing needs or under a seasonal contract. All recreational facilities in the campground and all other shared facilities in the campground, other than washrooms and showers, must be closed.

For a safe trip to your seasonal residence or campground, follow these important guidelines:

• Make a list and purchase everything you will need before leaving. Have a plan on how you will replenish supplies if needed. Use curbside pickup to get supplies whenever possible and practise all public health measures should you need to enter a premise.
• Write down the contact information of the nearest assessment centre in the area you will be visiting should you need to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test.
• Continue to do your daily COVID-19 screening such as the one you complete daily for school or work (Government of Ontario). This will help you self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.
• Make a plan for self-isolation in case you or a member of your household develops a COVID-19 symptom or learn that you may have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Though it is not a requirement for individuals travelling within Ontario to self-isolate due to travel-related reasons, individuals and families are strongly encouraged to self-isolate for 14 days prior to or following arrival in a new community, and again when returning to their home community, as COVID-19 is circulating at different levels around the province.
• Continue to follow all public health measures such as wearing a face covering, practising physical distancing, and washing your hands.
• Postpone your visit if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to self-isolate.

Being COVID-safe outdoors  

Remember that during the stay-at-home order only members of your household should be in your residence, including outdoors. Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and walking your pet is good for our health. All of these activities can be enjoyed locally. If you are not self-isolating and plan to go to a park for the day or spend some time outdoors, remember to:

• Stay home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild, and get tested.
• Stay two metres apart from people you don’t live with.
• Wear a mask or face covering indoors, and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible.
• Avoid gathering with people you do not live with, even outdoors.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For all outings, continue to follow public health measures. Let’s work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19, by practising public health measures and limiting the number of people we have contact with to only members of your household.

For more information or if you have questions about COVID-19, please visit phsd.ca/COVID-19 or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).