One of the common questions – usually a complaint – I get from readers of our regular COVID-19 case update and outbreak stories is: where are the details?
In short, the answer is we don't have them and can't get them.
The region's health unit is the authority reporting local COVID-19 cases. They provide the sex, age group, and (usually) the location of a case. The transmission source is also usually listed, though lately those are left "under investigation" since the health unit is running behind on case investigations.
They will provide a general number of hospitalizations, but won't specify anything about the person who is hospitalized. If someone dies, the health unit will confirm simply their sex, age group, and location. If the person who died was a resident at a long-term care facility, the health unit will also confirm that.
We cannot, however, find out how many of the people who contracted COVID-19 as a result of the cluster of cases at Loblaws are hospitalized.
We know there are six people hospitalized at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital with COVID-19. We do not know where they are from.
Dr. Charles Gardner, the region's medical officer of health, said it is the public health unit's job to provide information to protect people. In the case of COVID-19, he says, that also means protecting the identity of individuals.
You or your neighbour may know who at Loblaws contracted COVID-19. But we won't be able to publish any of that information, unless that person decided they wanted to be interviewed for a story.
"We are always seeking to protect the public while avoiding causing harm," says Gardner.
The truth is, someone who contracts COVID-19 may face harm should their identity be made public. In a town the size of Collingwood, it wouldn't take a full name to identify someone. A few extra details would easily confirm rumours.
So, while we will always seek more details for our stories, and try to answer questions from readers. We simply can't provide the level of details some request.
Do we know what gas station they went to? Where they bought groceries? What they touched? Where they got COVID? No.
What we do know is there is community spread. And we know there are always more questions to ask.
