Tara Jeffrey
Lambton Public Health is now investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 at a Sarnia long-term care facility, as well as an area workplace.
In a news release issued late Thursday, the health unit says it notified a Sarnia long-term care facility of a positive case of the virus 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," the release stated. "Details of the location will be provided once the facility completes their notification process."
The health unit said it's "continuing to support with case and contact management to limit further spread to close contacts."
Meanwhile, a workplace investigation has resulted in one outbreak declared.
"All employees and close contacts have been identified and moved to isolation," the health unit said. "There is no further risk to the community at this time."
Workplace outbreaks are declared when two or more employees test positive for COVID-19 within a reasonable timeline to suspect transmission in the workplace.
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," the health unit added.
The news comes following two more school-linked cases confirmed Thursday; one at Bright's Grove Public School, and the other, at Northern Collegiate.
The health unit says it’s working closely with the school communities and contacting any individuals (students and staff) who may have been potentially impacted. Lambton-Kent District School Board director John Howitt says the Northern case does not impact the school directly, because the individual had not been at the school for more than two weeks.
The area's first school-related case was confirmed Tuesday at Corunna's Colonel Cameron Public School.
“Narrow the scope of activities to absolute essentials to keep the spread to a minimum and allow other activities to function," Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said in the release. Transmission is connected to our social interactions and behaviours.”
This story will be updated.