PSA: 4 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 (#266 - 269) and outbreak declared at Echo Bay Learning Centre

Sun, Apr 11, 2021

 

Algoma Public Health (APH) is reporting 4 new cases of COVID-19, all from Sault Ste. Marie and area.

Through contact tracing, APH notifies all close contacts directly. If you are not contacted by APH you are not considered a close contact. 

 

Outbreak declared at Echo Bay Early Learning Centre

Algoma Public Health has also declared an outbreak at Echo Bay Early Learning Centre (Child Care Algoma). 

In accordance with provincial guidance, an outbreak in a child care setting is declared when two or more laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 are linked and occur within 14 days of each other, and at least one case could have acquired their infection in the child care setting.

 

At this time, Child Care Algoma has made the decision to close the Echo Bay Early Learning and Care Program until Monday, April 26, 2021.

 

All high risk close contacts have been identified by APH and instructions have been provided regarding COVID-19 testing and self-isolation requirements. Working with the child care centre, APH will continue to review and reinforce infection prevention and control practices to help prevent COVID-19 transmission.

 

Details of the confirmed case:

 

 

Unknown exposure means the person did not have recent international travel or close contact with a known confirmed case.  How the person acquired the virus is not known. 

 

Close contact means the person acquired their infection through close contact with a known confirmed case.  For example, living together with a case, or spending more than 15 minutes with a case while less than 2 metres apart, are considered high risk close contact exposures.

 

International travel means the person acquired their infection from travel outside of Canada.

Critical Actions:

• Anyone who is ill, even with mild symptoms, must stay home and self-isolate away from others.
• Stay home as much as possible, and avoid gathering, visiting or having close contact with people you don’t live with.
• As of April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a third provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat on the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants.
• The government is issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise , or for work that cannot be done remotely.
• All returning international travellers must stay home for 14 days.
• Algoma residents who regularly cross the Canada - U.S. border into Sault Ste. Marie and into Chippewa County for essential work should take the following actions even if you are exempt from federal travel and quarantine restrictions
  • Avoid travel except for essential reasons and avoid travelling between zones except for essential reasons
  • Avoid cross-border travel and use virtual options if possible
  • If you become sick, isolate away from others and call to get tested for COVID-19
  • Once back in Algoma, follow provincial public health advice for all Ontarians by staying home as much as possible and not having close contact with people you do not live with, especially vulnerable people who are elderly or have underlying health conditions.
• As of October 2, 2020, the mandatory masking policy was extended to all of Ontario for all indoor settings across the province, such as businesses, facilities and workplaces.

Learn more:

• View our webpage with updated status of cases in Algoma. 
• Learn more about COVID-19 in Algoma.
• Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about the province’s response to COVID-19.