The local health unit is continuing to report a significant transmission of COVID-19 in Lambton County with the confirmation of outbreaks at a Sarnia nursing home and a local workplace.
Lambton Public Health announced late Thursday evening that Twin Lakes Terrace has been notified that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and an outbreak has been declared. The nursing home has since placed restrictions on access to the facility and has implemented protocols to protect staff and residents. Lambton Public Health is also conducting contact management to limit further spread of the virus.
The last outbreak at a long-term care home in Sarnia-Lambton was declared over on July 2.
As well, Lambton Public Health said another outbreak has been declared at an unidentified workplace within the county after three people tested positive for the virus. All of the workplace employees and their close contacts have been identified are currently isolating.
The health unit said this outbreak poses no further risk to the community at this time.
A workplace outbreak is declared when two or more employees test positive for COVID-19 and there is evidence to suspect transmission within the workplace.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said the cases are all connected to "social interactions and behaviours."
"Narrow the scope of activities to absolute essentials to keep the spread to a minimum and allow other activities to function," Dr. Ranade advised in a news release.
These recent outbreaks come on the heels of positive COVID-19 being detected at three schools in Lambton County. The first confirmed case was announced at Colonel Cameron Public School in Corunna on Tuesday. Another two schools --Bright’s Grove Public School and Northern Collegiate high school -- reported positive cases on Thursday.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Sarnia-Lambton jumped from three to 10 Thursday evening. Since the pandemic was declared in March, the Sarnia-Lambton region has had 358 confirmed cases of the virus and 25 COVID-related deaths.