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Sarnia

Sarnia-Lambton COVID cases up 28, variants of concern detected

Sarnia-Lambton's COVID-19 numbers climbed again Thursday and the health unit confirmed the increased presence of variants of concern (VOC).

Lambton Public Health reported 28 new confirmed cases for a total of 2,300. There were 13 more recoveries, pushing the active case count up 15 to 152.

The health unit also reported that nine of the positive cases in Lambton have screened positive for a variant of concern. One of the VOCs was identified in a case who has a permanent Lambton address, but currently resides in another municipality. An additional three VOC cases have been investigated and found to be close contacts of each other.

There are eight institutional, school and workplace outbreaks.

Lambton Public Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Brooke Central Public School where six cases have been identified including two that have tested positive for variants of concern. The school is closed to students. The public school board has at least one positive student or staff case linked to 15 Lambton schools.

The St. Clair Catholic District School Board is still reporting positive student and staff cases at five local schools. Two classes are closed at St. Peter Canisius Catholic School in Watford, where seven students have tested positive for the virus.

An outbreak declared at the Sarnia Jail on Feburary 7 is now over. A total of 47 inmates and five staff members tested positive for the virus during the outbreak.

Bluewater Health has four positive patients in hospital, unchanged from Wednesday.

The local COVID death-toll of 46 is unchanged since February 17.

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