Greater Sudbury registered 20 new COVID-19 cases

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported 20 new COVID-19 cases in Greater Sudbury on Friday evening. In addition to employees at two McDonald’s locations in the city, a post-secondary company will also be affected.

“Detailed research is ongoing to determine exposure settings and identify close contacts in all cases. To date, close contacts have been identified in home settings, at McDonald’s at 3575 Highway 144 at Chelmsford and at Cambrian College,” Health Medical Officer Dr Penny Sutcliffe said in a statement Friday. These individuals were approached by public health and advised to undergo self-monitoring or self-isolation and testing depending on their exposure risk.

“Everyone should stay home when they are sick and get tested for any symptoms of COVID-19 to limit the spread of infection. Public health works very closely with every person suffering from COVID-19 to understand their conditions and prevent further spread. This is a rapidly evolving situation at a time when many cases are being investigated. ”

Of the newly reported cases – 162 diagnoses have now been made in the catchment area of ​​Public Health – one is a close acquaintance of the confirmed case; One is associated with prevalence; And the remaining cases are still being investigated. All self-isolation, like all intimate contacts identified so far.

“While this increase in numbers is worrying, we need to listen to public health experts on how to respond,” said Mayor Brian Bigger. “I want to remind you to follow the guidelines of public health – be vigilant, be smart. Even when children are back in school and back to normal, we can not lower our defenses for a single moment. COVID-19 will find a way if we allow it. This weekend in particular, Put on our heads and masks. ”

Five McDonald’s employees are currently self-segregating after being tested positive for COVID-19.

The fast food chain announced Friday that two employees at its Honmer location tested positive. Three employees working at the site in Chelmsford tested positive for the virus on Thursday.

Both restaurants were closed immediately for cleaning and cleaning.

“With great care, the certified third party decided to close the restaurant (s) immediately for complete cleaning and sanitation,” the company said in a statement. “Since we know our guests are dependent on their local McDonald’s, we are working hard to reopen them safely and we are committed to doing our part to help our communities.

The drive-through in Chelmsford reopened Friday morning.

“Maintaining the health and well-being of our staff and guests is our priority, and we will continue to monitor and adapt actions where necessary,” McDonald’s said. “We continue to work with local health officials to support our people and our guests and look forward to returning to serve our community as soon as we can.”

Anyone visiting the Chelmsford location from October 30 to November 1 or the Hanmer location on October 31 or November 4 was asked to comply with Ontario Health Services directives. bit.ly/3p7CiCA. You can contact Public Health Sudbury and Districts at 705-522-9200 phsd.ca.

Cambrian College President Bill Best said in a letter to the college board on Thursday that the post-secondary school was open.

“I would like to inform you that PHSD has advised us that members of the Cambrian community have tested positive for COVID-19,” Best wrote. “These members of our community are currently self-isolated. We want them to fully and quickly recover and support us in any way they can. Public Health has shared with us that there is no evidence that it was broadcast on campus and that we do not need additional public health measures than we already have. Advised us. ”

Since the college is legally required to protect the privacy of individuals, Best said there is no information to come; However, the staff is cooperating with the health department.

“PHSD conducts contact tracing. Some community members may hear directly from public health and receive specific instructions based on their research, ”Best wrote. “Unless you are contacted by Public Health, you will not be considered a close acquaintance.”

Since Halloween, there have been 37 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There are now 38 active cases of the virus in Greater Sudbury. There were only two deaths and 122 successful resolutions.

Public Health on Thursday reported nine new cases of COVID-19 in Greater Sudbury. Seven of those diagnoses were caused by being in close contact with an infected person; However, both do not know the epidemiological origin, which means they do not know how they were infected. There is potential for community outreach.

Currently, one person with COVID-19 has been admitted to Health Sciences North and eight patients are awaiting results. One of those eight is in the intensive care unit.

The regional government announced on Friday that it was reorganizing the framework in which public health departments work.

Keeping Ontario is known as the Safe and Open Framework, which classifies public health areas into five levels: green / block; Yellow / protect; Orange / limited; Red / control; And lockdown, which is “the measure of the last and emergency resort.”

The changes will take effect from midnight on Saturday. Public health is in the green category, which has the lowest risk level. There are no public health departments in the lockdown scenario.

“This framework applies an active and graduate response based on local conditions in each area,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. By working with health medical authorities and local authorities on the facts and circumstances of COVID-19, we want to help protect the health and well-being of the public. We follow public health measures to be as targeted and effective as possible to stop the spread of the virus, but maintain any spread as soon as possible. ”

Keeping Ontario safe and open takes a comprehensive approach by introducing precautionary measures to prevent extensive closures and to allow the gradual introduction or elimination of additional public health and office security measures.

This ensures that public health measures are targeted, growing and responsive to help limit the spread of COVID-19 while keeping schools and businesses open; Maintaining the efficiency of the health system; And protecting vulnerable individuals, including those in long-term care.

“COVID-19 will be with us for a while, so we’ll put in place a framework that will soon introduce more public health measures to limit the transmission of COVID – 19 in our communities while preventing widespread closures,” Health Minister Christine Elliott added. “We are committed to being transparent with Ontarians, businesses and local communities as we work together to keep Ontarians safe while keeping our economy open.”

Trends in public health data are reviewed weekly. At the same time, the government is continuously assessing the effects of 28 days, or two COVID-19 incubation periods, to determine whether public health units should be located or relocated.

– With files from Colleen Romaniuk

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