March 18, 2020

NO. 5 AND COUNTING … AS COVID-19 SPREADS NORTH

BARRIE — From Barrie to Orillia — the coronavirus is spreading north as Ontario sees a surge in COVID-19 daily.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) said Wednesday that it is “following up with known contacts of its fifth confirmed case of COVID-19.”

They said March 18 that a man in his 60s presented himself to Orillia’s Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) March 16, and he is self-isolating and recovering at home.

SMDHU says all required infection control practices were followed in the assessment of this case.

The case is related to travel out of country.

SMDHU did not say where the man’s home was.

This as CTV reported today that the Midland Walmart on Hwy. 12 was closed while store and health officials deal with a suspected case of corona by a store employee.

The health unit, which is having difficulty distributing important timely information, hasn’t commented on the closure or investigation.

If confirmed, that would be the sixth case.

The fifth case follows a confirmed case in Barrie man, reported Tuesday.

“The health unit is following up with the contacts of this new case to determine who should self-isolate,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, SMDHU’s medical officer of health.

“I want to thank our front-line teams for their expertise and professionalism in caring for this individual while ensuring the safety of staff and others around them,” said Carmine Stumpo, OSMH president and CEO.

The health unit is reminding people to protect themselves and others by including staying at least two metres distance from others, avoiding crowds, staying at home if you are sick, avoiding people who are obviously ill and continuing with frequent hand washing.

For more information on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, which has extended hours, or see www.smdhu.org.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.