Halton Region Public Health is actively engaged in contact tracing and assessing health risk
A Burlington resident who is awaiting confirmatory testing for COVID-19 experienced the onset of symptoms on March 12, 2020. The individual took flights from Cranbrook to Vancouver on March 11 (Flight 8218; Air Canada) and Vancouver to Toronto on March 12 (Flight 106; Air Canada) and presented himself for testing at Joseph Brant Hospital on March 21. He is currently self-isolating at home. Those who have travelled on any of the above-mentioned flights need to self-isolate if they become symptomatic within 14 days of being on the flights.
As per established infection prevention and control protocols, the hospital took all precautions, including testing in an isolated environment with all necessary personal protective equipment. Halton Region Public Health is actively engaged in contact tracing and case management.
“As more cases emerge, I want to remind residents to continue practicing self-isolating and self-monitoring as appropriate to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of our community,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “By working together, we can help those who are most vulnerable as well as health-care workers and first responders—those that are putting their lives on hold to take care of our community.”
“The COVID-19 situation is rapidly changing how we provide care to our community, while keeping all of our people safe,” said Eric Vandewall, President and Chief Executive Officer at Joseph Brant Hospital. “We continue to have isolated areas for community members who require immediate screening and care, meeting the highest infection prevention standards. We have made further changes including restricted visitors, reduced elective program and service offerings, as directed by the Ministry of Health, and patients being masked when receiving care in the Emergency Department. All of our physicians and staff are prepared for the increased demands and additional infection control precautions that are required during this time.”
Halton Region Public Health and health care partners continue to focus on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from the following people who have symptoms:
- those aged 60 and over;
- those with pre-existing medical conditions;
- those who have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
- those living or working in a health-care or long-term care setting or institution; or
- First Nation community members living on-reserve.
Residents must have an appointment to attend an Assessment Centre. Those with symptoms that meet one of the criteria above are asked to use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool (external link) to see if they need to seek further care. If you need further assistance, call 311. Residents without symptoms are not being tested at this time. Those with mild symptoms that do not meet the criteria above are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, or until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Please do not contact Public Health. Residents with severe symptoms are asked to call 9-1-1 immediately.
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, residents are asked to follow the recommendations from Public Health:
- stay home as much as possible, especially when ill;
- cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve;
- wash hands frequently with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub;
- clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces;
- practice physical distancing;
- do your best to keep at least two metres away from others;
- if you are able, avoid all non-essential activity recommended and declared by the province;
- avoid all non-essential travel until further notice; and
- if you have travelled, please stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days from when you return home.
There are a number of ways that residents can help protect themselves and their loved ones; the best way is to stay informed. For more information on COVID-19 including confirmed cases in Halton, symptoms, risks and when to contact Halton Region Public Health, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.
The Regional Municipality of Halton serves 580,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.
Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) is a full service community teaching hospital serving more than 185,000 residents in the communities of Halton and Hamilton, including Burlington, Waterdown, Flamborough, Milton and Stoney Creek, with a skilled staff of 194 physicians, 1,911 full- and part-time staff and more than 700 volunteers. In conjunction with McMaster University, JBH is a Clinical Education site, and designated as an Academic Community Teaching Hospital with an expanded campus which includes the seven-storey state-of-art Michael Lee-Chin & Family Patient Tower which features a new Emergency Department, 172 acute inpatient beds, 9 new Operating Rooms and post-anaesthetic care unit to support expanded medical, surgical and outpatient services. JBH is also a partner member of the Burlington Ontario Health Team. For more information, visit www.josephbranthospital.ca (external link).
To get the latest information on cases in Ontario and to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19, please visit ontario.ca/coronavirus (external link).
Media Contacts:
Julia Le
Communications Specialist
Halton Region
905-825-6000, ext. 7763
Cell: 365-228-5342
julia.le@halton.ca
Janelle Eade
Manager, Corporate Communications
Joseph Brant Hospital
905-632-3737, ext. 2062
Cell: 905-869-4821
jeade@josephbranthospital.ca