Four new case of COVID-19 reported in Blue Mountains today

The Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) is reporting 12 new cases of COVID-19 in the region today. 

The 12 new cases are located in the Town of the Blue Mountains (4), Owen Sound (4), Georgian Bluffs (1), Saugeen Shores (1), South Bruce (1), and the South Bruce Peninsula (1). 

The health unit has reported a total of 827 cases in the region to date. There are 65 active cases in both counties combined. 

GBHU is also reporting the region has had a total of 46 cases of variants of concern, 16 of which are active. 

Active cases in Grey County are currently located in Owen Sound (16), Southgate (5), Grey Highlands (4), the Town of The Blue Mountains (9), Hanover (2), Chatsworth (5) and Georgian Bluffs (2).   

The GBHU is also working with the Bluewater District School Board to address a probable case of COVID-19, associated with Georgian Bay Community School in Meaford.  

Currently, there are no outbreaks or evidence of transmission from person to person in any schools or childcare centres in Grey-Bruce. However, one bus route is involved with this probable cause.

The health unit has been in direct contact with all individuals who may have been exposed and any cohorts that have been identified as contacts to the case have been excluded from school at this time. The health unit is asking anyone that has not been contacted by public health to avoid unnecessary testing.

There have been four deaths due to COVID-19 in Grey and Bruce combined, and there are currently six individuals being hospitalized due to the virus – four locally and two outside of Grey-Bruce.   

The health unit continues to manage an outbreak at the Owen Sound Hospital which was initially reported on March 19. 

The health unit is currently tracking 532 high-risk contacts associated with active cases.

“It takes a tremendous amount of effort to manage this number of high-risk contacts. This number will keep increasing, unless we limit, starting today, our unprotected encounters with all people outside of our own households,” said Dr. Ian Arra, medical officer of health for GBHU. 

Of GBHU’s 827 cumulative cases, 758 cases are resolved.

Resolved COVID-19 cases in Grey County include: Owen Sound (123); Southgate (102); Grey Highlands (71); West Grey (49); Blue Mountains (60); Hanover (47); Meaford (26); Georgian Bluffs (7); Chatsworth (11).

To-date GBHU has currently administered 28,888 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

This week, the health unit received a shipment of 5,850 doses, which will be focused on: clients 75 years and older, First Nation communities and First Nation clients, long-term care home staff, residents and essential caregivers (2nd dose). 

Those turning 70 this year or older, born 1951 or earlier, can make appointments through the provincial on-line booking system for COVID-19 vaccinations at https://ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Those without access to the internet can call the toll-free number 1-888-999-6488.

For additional information on the health unit’s vaccine roll-out program, visit the GBHU website.