'Excellent results' in fight against COVID, Arra said

After an quiet weekend when just one new case of COVID-19 was reported, ending a week in which more days saw no new cases than saw any, the local medical officer of health congratulated everyone’s work for the “excellent results we have.”

There were no new cases reported Sunday and one new case Saturday, bringing the total to 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce.

Now 71 people have recovered and 23 health care workers have been infected. Every municipality in Grey-Bruce has had at least one case except Hanover. Owen Sound has by far had the largest number of cases, 44.

“Relative to other areas of the province we stand in a very good position; we have only 90 cases. Zero death, zero death that’s a major thing. And zero hospitalization at this point,” Dr. Ian Arra, of Grey Bruce Public Health, said Sunday in an interview.

He noted just four long-term care homes have had outbreaks, but two of them no longer do. And the homes still with outbreaks have just three cases total.

“So relative to what we are seeing in other areas, congratulations to everybody around the table. Social distancing has worked in flattening the curve. And just to reiterate that it’s not the time to lower our guard.

“Re-opening happens in stages and businesses will have to bear with the process and us.”

Arra declared the outbreak at Brucelea Haven long-term care in Walkerton over Sunday.

It would have been declared over Thursday but someone came down with gastro-intestinal illness, was tested for COVID and the results came back negative, he said. The outbreak was declared April 27 when two staff tested positive for the virus.

But a new outbreak was declared Saturday, at Golden Dawn long-term care in Lion’s Head, where one resident tested positive so far. Arra ordered a new test Sunday to confirm it wasn’t a false positive.

There are 44 residents and 60 staff at Golden Dawn. All were tested but by late Sunday afternoon, results were back for 13 residents, which were all negative except for the one case. So far, 11 staff have tested negative.

The COVID case at Golden Dawn was discovered because of the provincial directive to test all residents and staff in long-term care by May 15. Arra said 14 of the 19 homes in Grey-Bruce were tested as of May 8 and all of them are scheduled to be tested by May 14.

Parkview Manor in Chesley is the other long-term care home in Grey-Bruce where an outbreak was declared. That declaration on May 3 was due to one asymptomatic resident who tested at the upper end of the spectrum of a positive test, Arra said.

That test was redone and COVID was confirmed. If after a 14-day isolation period the resident fully recovers, and there are no new cases, that outbreak could be declared over by May 16 or May 17, Arra said.

A false-positive case was recorded at Sepoy Manor in South Bruce and so that home was removed from the outbreak list. A COVID outbreak at Maple View in Owen Sound was declared April 1 and rescinded May 1.

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The Ontario government announced on Friday that garden centres and nurseries may open starting that day for in-store payment and purchases that day, and hardware and safety supply stores could open as soon as Saturday, May 9.

On Monday, non-essential retail stores with a street entrance may begin offering curb-side pickup and delivery.

On Saturday the government announced 520 provincial parks and conservation reserves across Ontario would open Monday. Another 115 will open next Friday for limited day-use activities.

All washrooms, campgrounds, playgrounds and beaches remain closed. Physical distancing must be maintained.

An online park locator shows Sauble Falls and MacGregor Park are among the local parks which will be open Monday. See https://www.ontarioparks.com/park-locator.

“At this time, recreational activities will be limited to walking, hiking, biking and birdwatching. Day visitors will also be able to access all parks and conservation reserves for free until the end of the month,” a news release said.

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On Sunday Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson issued a reminder to those planning to come up to cottages in her riding to keep their distance from one-another.

“I would like to remind those looking to visit our cottage country in Huron-Bruce that we are still in the middle of our battle with COVID-19,” she said.

“The priority in our local communities is to preserve what our residents, frontline healthcare workers and first responders have worked so hard to achieve over the last two months.

“With the Victoria Day weekend approaching quickly, seasonal residents who will be travelling to their cottage are reminded to continue practicing social distancing and follow public health directives; to bring along food and supplies; and most importantly be respectful of our communities and the need to work together in our fight against Covid-19.”

Two Bruce County municipalities issued statements about the May 24 weekend last week.

Huron-Kinloss Mayor Mitch Twolan revoked a municipal order that prohibited the operation of any valves to supply water to seasonal dwellings, while also saying the township strongly discourages the return of all seasonal residents.

Saugeen Shores issued a similar message, urging all cottagers to stay home due to the risk of spreading COVID-19. Beaches remain closed there.

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On Sunday, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam said in a statement there were 67,996 COVID-19 cases, including 4,728 deaths.

More than 31,600 or 47% of cases are now recovered. Labs across Canada tested over 1,090,000 people for COVID-19 to date, with about 6% of these testing positive. In the past week, an average of 26,900 people were tested daily, the statement said.

In Ontario as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, there were 20,238 cases of COVID-19, 14,772 had resolved, there were 1,634 deaths, 961 hospitalizations, including 195 in intensive-care, with 140 on a ventilator, the province’s COVID-19 website said.

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