On Saturday (March 14), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit confirmed the second positive case of COVID-19 in the Kawarthas.
The affected person is a woman in her 60s who is a resident of the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The woman was seen at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay on Thursday (March 12) after presenting with symptoms after returning from Germany. The woman had travelled on Air Canada flight 877 from Frankfurt, Germany to Toronto on Tuesday (March 10).
The patient was discharged home and remains in self-isolation with follow up from the HKPR District Health Unit.
Health unit nurses have been in contact with the woman and are working with her to identify anyone she may have been in contact with while ill.
If anyone who travelled on Air Canada flight 877 on that date develops flu-like symptoms, they are asked to call their local public health unit.
Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, medical officer of health for HKPR District Health Unit, says the health unit has been working closely with Ross Memorial Hospital to ensure measures were put in place in anticipation of a positive case, and that hospital staff took the appropriate precautions to isolate the woman so there was no risk to anyone else at the hospital at that time.
This is the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Kawarthas. The first case was announced on Friday (March 13) in a resident of Northumberland County who was seen at Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg. That person, also a woman in her 60s, had travelled to Spain and Portugal before developing symptoms. That patient was also discharged home and remains in self-isolation with follow up from the HKPR District Health Unit.
“Although we are now seeing travel-related cases in our communities, it’s important for people to remember that most people who have had COVID-19 have had mild symptoms and recovered fully at home,” says Dr. Noseworthy.
If you have travelled and develop flu-like symptoms, contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-000, or call the HKPR District Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5020. If symptoms are severe, call 911 and alert the dispatcher to the potential concern regarding COVID-19 so they can be appropriately prepared.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, Ross Memorial Hospital is implementing enhanced measures effective Sunday (March 15) to protect patients, families, and health care workers.
“We are introducing active screening measures, limiting hospital entry points, and introducing restrictions to visiting and volunteering,” says the hospital’s interim president and CEO Veronica Nelson.
Active screening means anyone whose travel history and symptoms indicate they may be at risk of having the virus will be redirected away from the hospital, and advised to contact Telehealth or Public Health for advice on next steps. This process helps to keep everyone safe within the hospital.
To enable active screening, entry to the hospital will be restricted to four entrances: the Emergency Department entrance (24 hours daily), the main entrance (6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.), the dialysis entrance (for dialysis patients only, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and the staff and physician entrance (east side of the building, 24/7 card access). All other entrances will be closed until further notice.
Visiting hours will be restricted to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors must enter through the main entrance of the hospital. Except for palliative care patients, patients will be limited to one visitor at a time.
The hospital is also asking its auxiliary volunteers, “volunteens”, and patient experience partners to refrain from volunteer service effective Sunday (March 15). As the hospital’s main lobby cafe and gift shop are run by volunteers, these two services will be closed until Sunday, April 5th.
COVID-19 Assessment Centre
The hospital has also opened a COVID-19 Assessment Centre, located at the hospital (10 Angeline St. N., Lindsay) within the ambulance bay. It is a ‘drive-thru’ centre, with marked entrance from Angeline Street North. The hours of operation are between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
At this time, patients seeking assessment at the centre are not required to make an appointment. However, patients should attend the centre only on the advice of Telehealth or the local health unit. Contact Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 or the HKPR District Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5020.
Patients must enter by vehicle in the marked entrance from Angeline Street North and follow direction from staff or security to enter “Lane 2” (Lane 1 is reserved for ambulances). An assessment will be completed by clinical staff, with patients remaining in their vehicle. Patients must remain in their vehicle at all times, unless instructed to exit the vehicle by staff.
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre will assess and direct patients on next steps. These directions may include to follow self-monitoring instructions, to go home to await test results under self-isolation, or to be escorted in to the Emergency Department for further assessment.
