Shrink bubbles, avoid gatherings: Gardner

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Simcoe Muskoka’s medical officer of health is urging people to shrink their bubbles and think twice before going to any kind of gathering.
With cases of COVID-19 on the rise in the region and across the province, Dr. Charles Gardner is changing his message to be more stringent, asking people to stick to their household units when it comes to intimate contact. Masks, physical distancing and all other health protocols should be used adhered to during all other interactions.
He said the community must keep its sights on keeping the virus out of long-term health care facilities, and schools.
This after the region has had its first case of COVID-19 in a school. A staff member at Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia has tested positive. Gardner said the staff member was asymptomatic. He said the risk of exposure to others in the school is low because all protective measures were followed.
“We are in contact with the individual and from the information gathered so far all indications are that the virus was contracted in the community, and not in school,” said Gardner. “The staff person was wearing full personal protection including a face mask and face shield and maintained physical distancing in the school setting.”
“With this knowledge all indications are that students, and other school staff would not be considered at higher risk than the general public, and will not need to be tested or quarantined,” he said. “The precautionary protocols developed in consultation with the province, the health unit and school boards appear to have succeeded in keeping the school community safe.”
The infected individual is self-isolating at home.
Most people who acquire COVID-19, including children, will recover without help. Those at increased risk for severe outcomes are those who are over the age of 70, or have chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or cancer. If these vulnerable people are living in the same household as a case, the health unit recommends families have an isolation plan to keep sick children away from the vulnerable person.
“We are working closely with all our schools and school boards to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 as much as possible,” said Gardner, “and I urge families to do their part too.”
Residents are asked to follow these precautions at all times:
• Maintain a social circle of immediate household members or no more than 10 people.
• Continue to screen children before they go to school using the COVID-19 self-assessment tool and keep them home if they are ill, or have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Continue to physically distance at least two metres from those outside the social circle, wear a face covering when physical distancing is not possible and when in indoor public spaces.
• Wash hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently.
• If symptoms of COVID-19 arise, self-isolate and get tested.
For more information, visit the health unit’s Return to School section of simcoemuskokahealth.org/topics/COVID-19 or call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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