'COVID is a part of our life moving forward,' says region's associate medical officer of health - CBC.ca

What does it mean to normalize COVID-19?

Last week, Ontario's top doctor caught some flak when he suggested we "normalize" COVID-19, speaking in the context of schools. 

Here in Waterloo region, associate medical officer of health Dr. Rabia Bana says normalizing COVID-19 basically means balancing the level of risk and of restrictions that need to be in place. 

"I think as we increase our vaccination rates that balance can shift a little bit, and help us to move towards more normal life," said Bana, speaking at a media briefing Friday. 

Dr. Julie Emili, also an associate medical officer of health, agreed. 

"I think some of this is, we are past a year and a half into this and understanding that COVID is part of our life moving forward," said Emili. "We need to find ways to get as back to normal as possible as safely as possible."

Key to that, Emili said, is getting vaccination rates as high as possible. 

In Waterloo region, young people have been answering that call.

The vaccination rate for people in the 12 to 17 and 18 to 29 demographics has far outpaced the provincial average. As of Wednesday, people in Waterloo region in their 30s and 40s were also above the provincial average. 

As of Friday, just over 83 per cent of people 12 and up have had at least one dose of the vaccine in Waterloo region. 

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'COVID is a part of our life moving forward,' says region's associate medical officer of health - CBC.ca
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