A man in his 30s who was the first person in Elgin County to test positive for COVID-19 is now in intensive care at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH).
Hospital officials confirmed the man was brought in by ambulance on Monday night and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The man's case worsened hours after Southwestern Public Health reported he tested positive and was in self-isolation at home. He contracted the virus after coming into close contact with a person outside of the region who was infected.
All necessary precautions were taken to ensure the safety of other patients, staff and physicians at the hospital prior to the man's arrival, according to STEGH President and CEO Robert Biron.
"Having a confirmed case in our hospital is not unexpected given the transmission of this virus globally,” Biron said in a statement. "Our health care team was ready for the presentation of COVID19, and demonstrated the effectiveness of our planning, precautions, and protocols."
The man remains Elgin County's only confirmed case of COVID-19.
It is recommended anyone with symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing use the online self-assessment tool launched by the Ontario Ministry of Health. The online tool asks a series of questions to inform and determine next steps for those concerned they may have contracted the virus.
In Middlesex London, there have been 14 confirmed cased of COVID-19 since the outbreak began.