February 08, 2021

Probable case of COVID-19 associated with Highpoint Community School in Dundalk

Photo: Google

 

The Grey Bruce Health Unit is working with Kids Club Before and After school childcare program in Highpoint School in Dundalk to address a probable case of COVID-19 associated with a cohort at the centre and Highpoint Community School.

A probable case is defined as direct link with a positive case, symptomatic and has not yet been tested.

While there is a person with probable COVID-19 associated with a cohort at this childcare centre, in the Public Health assessment, to date, there is no evidence of transmission within the childcare centre environment. Currently there are no outbreaks (i.e. evidence of transmission from person to person) in any schools or childcare centres in Grey Bruce.

In this situation, the person with COVID-19 has been contacted directly by our COVID-19 Case and Contact Management Team. We have worked with the individuals and the childcare centre, along with the relevant school boards and have identified all others, both in and out of the childcare environment, who may have been exposed and have determined their risk level. All individuals that need to be notified have already been contacted.

Those people who are not contacted by Public Health, need not take any additional steps including asymptomatic testing.

Public Health is the lead in all outbreaks and case management. Public Health will contact you if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, based on a thorough risk assessment completed only by Public Health.

Determining who has had close contact is a decision that can only be made by Public Health. Anyone at heightened risk of COVID-19 transmission due to close contact to a person with COVID-19 will be contacted by Public Health within 24 hours of the investigation.

The Grey Bruce Health Unit will direct those considered at risk regarding testing requirements and recommendations (e.g., timing). There is no value in anyone being tested before they are notified and instructed to do so by Public Health. Results of early testing are unreliable and place individuals at risk of more testing than is required.

Public Health reminds everyone, if you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to seek testing at your nearest assessment centre.

All contact tracing and determination of individual and community risk is made by Public Health. This is true of all cases, whether in childcare centres, schools, workplaces or the community. A health care provider or childcare official cannot make this decision.

 

---

At South Grey News, we endeavour to bring you truthful and factual, up-to-date local community news in a quick and easy-to-digest format that’s free of political bias. We believe this service is more important today than ever before, as social media has given rise to misinformation, largely unchecked by big corporations who put profits ahead of their responsibilities.

South Grey News does not have the resources of a big corporation. We are a small, locally owned-and-operated organization. Research, analysis and physical attendance at public meetings and community events requires considerable effort. But contributions from readers and advertisers, however big or small, go a long way to helping us deliver positive, open and honest journalism for this community.

Please consider supporting South Grey News with a donation in lieu of a subscription fee and let us know that our efforts are appreciated. Thank you.