NEWS RELEASE
THE TOWN OF BLUE MOUNTAINS
*************************
The Town of the Blue Mountains would like to advise residents that following the direction of the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared as three town employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit and the Town would like to emphasize that the three positive cases are isolated to one town department and are from employees that do not regularly interact with members of the public.
Through extensive contact tracing efforts, all individuals that were in direct or close contact have been contacted and have been instructed to self-isolate.
“Working together, the Town of The Blue Mountains and Health Unit staff carefully evaluated the situation and implemented immediate measures to mitigate the risk of transmission,” said Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer of the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, Doctor Ian Arra. “The collaboration between the Health Unit and the town, along with rapid and accurate communication of vital information allowed for a timely, robust, and effective contact tracing process to take place. We thank the Town leadership and staff for their dedication and commitment to health.”
Following Public Health direction, the three individuals are at home in self-isolation. As a further safety precaution, additional employees within the department that were identified as close contacts are also at home in self-isolation.
To ensure privacy and confidentiality, the identity of the individuals will not be disclosed. No additional information will be provided by the town in respect to the processes and measures that are led by the Health Unit.
“I would like to thank the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit for their leadership and management of this situation. Through an excellent working relationship, and through detailed record-keeping, contact tracing was conducted immediately, and all individuals found to have had close contact to these cases have been contacted,” explained Chief Administrative Officer Shawn Everitt.
“On behalf of the Town and community, I would like to extend my best wishes for the health, safety and recovery of the impacted individuals.”
As is the case in all outbreaks and case management, Public Health is the lead and will contact individuals if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, based on a thorough risk assessment completed by Public Health.
Determining who is a close contact is a decision that can only be made by Public Health. Anyone identified as a contact to these cases has been contacted by a Public Health case manager directly.
Anyone that has not been contacted by Public Health is not considered at risk and does not need to take any additional steps, including asymptomatic testing.
“I join CAO Everitt in thanking the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit for helping us manage this situation,” stated Mayor Alar Soever. “COVID-19 is here in our community, and it is inevitable that some cases will arise. It is important that we all follow Public Health advice and keep our close contacts to an absolute minimum so that when cases do arise, contact tracing and containment can be effective in preventing further spread.”
*************************
