The Grey Bruce Health Unit has confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at the long-term care (LTC) facility in Meaford.
“Any case of COVID is important but LTC cases, because of the vulnerability of people who reside in these facilities, would require us to be involved immediately,” said Dr. Ian Arra, medical officer of health for Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU).
GBHU unit reported the outbreak yesterday, stating that the case that prompted the outbreak declaration is a non-active, temporary staff member.
According to the situation report, the COVID-positive individual resides outside of the region and is being managed by the corresponding health unit.
“I ask my staff to inform me of every case in LTC, whether it is positive, probable,” Arra said during a virtual public meeting last night.
“That quick response to initiate the protocols from public health has been very successful,” he continued.
As the case detected in Meaford resides outside of the region, the health unit reports zero active cases in Grey and Bruce Counties.
“We continue to have full control of the dynamic of the outbreak locally. The total [number of] hospitalizations has been two, and zero deaths,” Arra reported.
Although the region currently sits with no active cases, Arra said the region will see more COVID-19 in the coming months.
“It is inevitable we will see cases but if we do our jobs right, we will not have outbreaks,” Arra added, noting he speaks to a collective ‘we’, which includes health care professionals, local government and the general public.
“All-in-all the situation continues to be stable and in control,” he said.
