Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health is actively investigating an outbreak at a long-term care facility, one confirmed positive COVID-19 case at a local school, a workplace outbreak, and case and contact management follow up for other potential cases.

A long-term care facility in Sarnia has been notified of a positive COVID-19 case and has taken steps to declare an outbreak. The outbreak places restrictions on access to the facility and adds protocols to support staff and residents in the facility. Details of the location will be provided once the facility completes their notification process. Lambton Public Health is continuing to support with case and contact management to limit further spread to close contacts.

Bright’s Grove Public School received notification of a confirmed positive COVID-19 case for an individual in their school. The Lambton Kent District School Board updated the COVID-19 Advisory section of their website to inform the community. Calls have been made to all close contacts involved and Lambton Public Health is continuing to follow up. That includes a daily call to the confirmed case and ongoing support is provided to all identified close contact individuals that are required to self-isolate.

A workplace investigation has resulted in one outbreak declared. Workplace outbreaks are declared when two or more employees test positive for COVID-19 within a reasonable timeline to suspect transmission in the workplace. All employees and close contacts have been identified and moved to isolation. There is no further risk to the community at this time. Workplaces will only be named if public notification will help to identify additional close contact that cannot be determined through contact tracing.

Other potential individual cases have been identified through ongoing investigations. Lab confirmation is required to determine a COVID-19 positive case.

Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health, advises the community, “Narrow the scope of activities to absolute essentials to keep the spread to a minimum and allow other activities to function. Transmission is connected to our social interactions and behaviours.”

Limiting the amount of time and contact with individuals outside of our household is very important to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For individuals, limit activities to essentials and follow public health safety measures. For businesses, organizations and facilities, review and monitor your operating guidance.

Public health safety measures limit community transmission of COVID-19, influenza and other common colds through basic individual interventions:

• Stay home if you are sick.
• Physical distance from others wherever possible.
• Wear a face covering or mask when you can’t physical distance, specifically in closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact settings.
• Use good hand hygiene.

Learn more about contact tracing, daily situation reports, information about local testing and assessment options online at LambtonPublicHealth.ca.

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Friday, October 16, 2020 at 11:30 a.m.

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