An Appeal to Young Adults from KFL&A Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health

Kingston— As Ontario eases restrictions and reopens the province, the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise, especially amongst adults in the 20 to 29 year age group. This is particularly concerning as post-secondary institutions are set to begin classes next week.

“We recognize that the impact of COVID-19 has been particularly stressful for young adults who have likely been cooped up since March and are excited about returning to classes in a place away from parents and close to friends,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health.

“Under normal circumstances, we would encourage students to socialize with peers and explore their new surroundings.  However, these are not normal circumstances with the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, these times demand all of us to consider our own behaviour to protect ourselves, and to act in a responsible and conscientious way to protect others in our community.”

“I am not happy with what I have seen in Kingston over the past week, large gatherings of people who are not wearing face coverings nor physically distancing which is counterproductive to the efforts and safety measures that have been put in place to protect our community and to keep everyone safe and healthy," added Dr. Moore. “We need to take action now, particularly ahead of Labour Day long weekend to prevent a potential surge in COVID-19 cases. I am urging people to avoid activities that are considered high risk, such as spending time with large groups of people they may not know and being in close contact with multiple people outside of their social circle of 10.”

We must all continue to work together, stay vigilant, and follow the public health measures to keep COVID-19 from spreading in KFL&A.

• Wear a face covering and stay 2 metres apart
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Limit the number of people you come into close contact
• Maintain a trusted social circle of no more than 10 people
• Refrain from attending parties or activities where there are too many people
• Avoid overconsumption of substances (e.g., alcohol, cannabis)
• Stay home if you are sick
• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19

For the most up to date information on COVID-19, visit www.Kflaph.ca/Coronavirus or www.Ontario.ca/coronavirus.