The Middlesex-London Health Unit has been notified by the Ontario Public Health Laboratory of a positive case of COVID-19 infection in a London and Middlesex area woman in her 50s. Health Unit staff also met with the individual, who is now isolating at home, where she has mild symptoms of the virus. The woman is also a primary healthcare worker who has no history of recent travel to areas that have been significantly affected by the novel coronavirus. Health Unit staff continue to investigate to determine a source of the illness, and are following up with her close contacts, who will be advised to self-isolate at home for the next 14 days.

“What this shows is the measures we’ve taken so far have been appropriate and that we as a community have to remain diligent in taking steps to contain this virus and limit its spread,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “These are extraordinary times and more than ever we need to use extra caution. We need to follow the standard infection prevention measures that we can all take to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbours 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. The guidance for testing no longer considers country of travel; instead it focuses on prioritization of those at highest risk.

Testing is now recommended for the following people:

• Contacts of confirmed cases who have symptoms,
• Individuals admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illness (ARI is any new onset cough or shortness of breath in either the upper or lower respiratory tract),
• Healthcare workers with ARI, individuals with ARI who reside in long-term care homes and retirement homes,
• Individuals with ARI who reside in other institutions and as directed by the Health Unit; healthcare workers as part of a healthcare institutional outbreak and as directed by the Health Unit,
• First Nation Community members living on reserve with ARI.

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. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, Middlesex-London Health Unit