Since Friday, the Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) has reported 14 new cases of COVID-19, including four new cases in Grey Highlands, and one new case in both the Town of the Blue Mountains and Meaford.
The cumulative total number of COVID-19 cases in Grey and Bruce counties is now 367, with 28 confirmed-active cases.
Active cases in Grey County are currently located in Grey Highlands (7), Southgate (5), West Grey (2), the Town of the Blue Mountains (1), Owen Sound (1), Meaford (1) and Chatsworth (1).
GBHU has also identified 198 high-risk contacts associated with the 28 active cases.
The health unit has indicated there are six additional active-probable cases. An active-probable case is considered to be someone that is linked to an active case and is showing symptoms but has not received lab-confirmed test results.
The six active-probable cases are located in Southgate (1), West Grey (1), and Chatsworth (4).
Today’s situation report from GBHU notes one indeterminate new case - if confirmed as a positive case, it will be added to totals.
GBHU is also reporting an ongoing investigation in relation to a positive case related to the Walkerton Minor Hockey Association.
Currently, there has been no outbreak declared and public health officials are working to contact all identified close contacts.
Anyone not contacted by public health is not considered at increased risk and need not take any additional steps, including asymptomatic testing.
“As with all other community members, members of the Walkerton Minor Hockey League are asked to monitor themselves for symptoms. If symptoms develop, please isolate and go to an assessment centre for testing as soon as possible,” said Dr. Ian Arra, medical officer of health for GBHU.
Today, GBHU has also announced the outbreak that had been declared at the long-term care Golden Dawn Senior Citizen Home located in Bruce County on Nov. 25, is now resolved.
“Working together, Golden Dawn and health unit staff carefully evaluated the situation and worked to immediately implement outbreak measures appropriate for the level of risk. An on-site infection control assessment was conducted by public health infectious diseases team members during the outbreak, where the hard work and careful planning done by Golden Dawn staff was observed in action,” Arra stated in a press release.
Of GBHU’s 367 cumulative cases, 321 cases have recovered and 18 cases were referred to other health units.
Currently, there is one person in the region being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
There are no outbreaks in any daycares, schools or long-term care facilities in the region.
GBHU continues to be one of the only health units in Ontario to have no deaths as a result of COVID-19.
The current Public Health Classification Level for the Grey-Bruce region is yellow or protect.
In the yellow category of the framework, restaurants, bars, cinemas, casinos, and performing arts centres will be required to close at midnight and stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. A maximum of six people may be seated together. Workers within two-metres of a customer not wearing a face covering (such as a server) must wear eye protection. Gyms are limited to 10 people per class and 50 people per room (for weights or exercise equipment) and the people in the room or class must be three metres apart.
According to a press release from the provincial government, public health data from each region will be reviewed weekly to determine if health units should stay where they are or be moved into a higher level.
Lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Grey County include - Owen Sound (71); Southgate (57); Grey Highlands (47); West Grey (22); Meaford (14); Blue Mountains (19); Hanover (14); Georgian Bluffs (2); Chatsworth (2).
