Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health (LPH) will be modifying the COVID-19 case and contact management process as a result of a significant increase in cases, outbreaks and identified contacts to confirmed cases. We will be reprioritizing case identification, isolation and the identification of exposures in vulnerable or critical settings.
“Shifting resources to priority areas is a critical step in our COVID-19 response,” states Dr. Sudit Ranade, Medical Officer of Health for Lambton County. “Our staff continues to meet the goals of reaching cases within 24-hours. These changes will continue to make that goal a priority.”
Early identification and notification of COVID-19 cases and contact exposures will continue to be the priority. This includes the steps to isolate impacted individuals and direct them to get tested. Changes to the process will reflect the number of calls completed once a COVID-19 case is confirmed, including:
- Temporary suspension of daily follow up calls to individuals with laboratory confirmed COVID-19.
- Temporary suspension of calls to notify a case that the period of isolation is over.
Information will be provided during the initial contact with a case to support a referral pathway if an individual has symptoms. Higher-risk individuals will also be identified and may be referred to the COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring program to receive additional support.
With the recent announcement of a province-wide lockdown to include more restrictions, the expected impact is typically seen at least two weeks later. The temporary changes to the LPH case and contact management process will be critical to support cases effectively now, moving forward and will be reassessed in the coming weeks.
To learn more about public health’s COVID-19 response in Lambton County visit LambtonPublicHealth.ca.
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