The Middlesex-London Health Unit has been notified by the Ontario Public Health Laboratory of a pair of additional positive cases of COVID-19 infection in two London and Middlesex area women. The first is a woman in her 20s who had travelled recently to Las Vegas and is a healthcare worker at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC); the second is a woman in her 40s who travelled to St. Maarten. The Health Unit has been advised that the healthcare worker did work at the hospital while symptomatic. Health Unit staff members continue to investigate both cases and close contacts of both women are being notified. This includes patients and LHSC staff who were seen by the healthcare worker or had worked closely with her. Both women, and their close contacts, have been advised to self-isolate at home for the next 14 days.

“We are working closely with LHSC and are following up with the patients who were seen at hospital while this staff member was working and also with the colleagues she was working with,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We continue to hear from a number of people across the region who have concerns about COVID-19 and are communicating with those who require follow up and testing. At this time, the best thing to do is follow the standard public health advice that can help keep ourselves and our community healthy.”

The Health Unit recommends the following actions to not only help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus/COVID-19 infections, but also many other respiratory illnesses:

• Stay home from work and other activities if you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a waterless hand sanitizer with at least 70 percent alcohol content.
• Cover coughs and/or sneezes with your sleeve or cough into your elbow.
• Clean high-touch areas frequently.

The Health Unit continues to monitor this developing situation actively, in collaboration with national and provincial health agencies, as well as local stakeholders, including hospitals and community partners.

Testing is now recommended for the following people, dependent on the local availability of swabs:

• People who have a fever, or cough, or shortness of breath

AND any of the following within 14 days, prior to the onset of their illness:

• Travel outside of Canada
• Close contact with a confirmed or probable case
• Close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who has travelled

For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus or www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-663-5317 ext. 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell)

Spokespeople:
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit