The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Haliburton County.
On Monday (March 30), a man in his 90s arrived by ambulance at Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) after presenting with abdominal pain. He was subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia and tested for COVID-19.
Results received on Wednesday (April 1) confirmed the man is positive for COVID-19. The man as no travel history and has not been in direct contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, pointing to community transmission. A resident of Haliburton County, the man was admitted to hospital, isolated, and is recovering.
This announcement now means there are now residents confirmed to have COVID-19 in all three of the counties served by the HKPR District Health Unit: City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the HKPR District Health Unit area is now 64, including 48 cases in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 15 cases in Northumberland County, and one case in Haliburton County. There have also been 13 deaths, including 11 residents of Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon.
“We are so pleased to hear that this man is recovering,” says HKPR Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy. “We know that COVID-19 can be devastating for our older population and that is why we are imploring everyone to do their part in stopping the spread of COVID-19. This new case is another vivid reminder that we must all take steps — like self-isolating, hand-washing and physical distancing — to protect ourselves and others from the virus.”
Dr. Noseworthy says the health unit has been working closely with HHHS throughout the pandemic and that the hospital has put numerous measures in place in anticipation of a positive case. This includes active screening of staff, limiting the points of entry to the hospital, and restricting visitors to the facility.
When the man presented at the hospital the hospital also took the appropriate precautions to ensure there was limited risk to anyone else at the hospital at that time.
“I want to thank our dedicated staff team at HHHS who have been working hard to ensure we were prepared with all of the right protocols and precautions in place to address local COVID-19 cases,” says HHHS president and CEO Carolyn Plummer. “We will continue to take the steps required to protect the health and safety of our community, patients, residents, clients, staff and physicians, and encourage everyone to do their part to keep our community safe.”
HHS, in collaboration with the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team and Haliburton County opened a COVID-19 Assessment Centre in the parking lot of the Haliburton Family Medical Centre on Wednesday (March 31). The assessment centre is staffed by health care providers who will complete a phone assessment and advise of next steps, which could include instructions on self-monitoring, self-isolating or possible testing. Not everyone will be tested, and testing is by appointment only.
