In an effort to see better compliance from those who are working with public health through the contact tracing process, the medical officer of health (MOH) for Grey-Bruce has issued a new order.
Effective today, April 16, Dr. Ian Arra, MOH for the Grey Bruce Health Unit has issued a class order requiring specific compliance with respect to COVID-19 from the following individuals:
- An individual that has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
- An individual that has the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, has been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting the results of their test;
- An individual that otherwise has reasonable grounds to believe they have one or more symptoms of COVID-19;
- A close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19; or
- An individual that has been directed to self-isolate by an employee of the GBHU
The MOH order directs the identified individuals to self isolate in their residence, as is required, and follow further direction from public health-related to their status, as identified above. This may include:
- To self-isolate, as required;
- To isolate separately from other household residents and avoid shared use of common areas;
- To wear a mask when complete isolation is not possible;
Individuals may also be ordered to:
- Remain at their place of residence for any reason, except to seek medical care or to avoid threat to life or serious bodily injury to yourself or another;
- Inform public health if you have any specific needs while you are subject to isolation, including but not limited to food, water, supplies, accommodation, medical treatment, clothing, pet care, etc;
- Not to associate with any persons outside of your household with the exception of those delivering services or from whom care is sought;
- If required to associate with persons outside your household, as above, wear a mask or face covering over the mouth, lips, nose and chin and to keep a physical barrier or distance of at least two metres between yourself and all other persons at all times;
- Follow the rules and directions of the public health case manager while isolating, whether they are written or verbal.
The order comes into effect immediately and will remain in effect until rescinded by a further order from Arra.
Failure to comply with this order is an offence that can result in a fine of $5,000 (for a person) or $25,000 (for a corporation) for every day or part of each day on which the offence occurs or continues.
Arra enacted the order after a dismal week in Grey-Bruce where GBHU recorded 70 new cases of COVID-19 in 36 hours, requiring public health staff to be relocated from vaccine clinics to cover the increased contact tracing workload.
In addition, Arra noted that the situations had been exacerbated by individuals that were “untruthful” with contact tracing staff.
In today’s situation report, the top doc reported that the health unit has been actively working through the increased caseload and “should be able to regain full control over case and contact management by the end of the day tomorrow, April 17.”
