HURON-PERTH – An active COVID-19 outbreak at Listowel Memorial Hospital (LMH) is now up to 10 cases, according to updated Huron Perth Public Health numbers on Monday.
The outbreak is currently one of five in the Huron-Perth region, along with the Spruce Lodge long-term care home in Stratford, and Goderich Place and Harbour Hill Retirement Suites (Goderich) in terms of retirement homes affected. One unnamed congregate living setting is also in active outbreak.
LMH’s outbreak, announced last weekend, had three initial cases. Nine patients and one staff member are currently affected.
Provincial hospitals are among the public facilities still falling under traditional pandemic-related restrictions, including masking, screening and in some instances, proof of vaccination status.
Ontario’s long-standing mask mandate was officially eased on Monday in business and school settings, among others.
“Ontario is now in a transition period, and focusing on living with and managing COVID-19. It’s by no means gone,” commented HPPH Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen during her bi-weekly media briefing on March 16. HPPH will not be conducting regular media briefings going forward. “This means that businesses, organizations and individuals must make their own decisions on how best to protect themselves, their employees and their customers from COVID-19.”
Klassen warned of severe illness-related outcomes still in play, including hospitalization, death and potential for ‘long COVID,’ especially amongst elderly populations, those living in congregate settings, people with underlying health conditions and the unvaccinated. Two new community-based deaths have brought the cumulative regional total up to 95 since the onset of the pandemic two years ago.
“It’s been a long, tough two years I think for everyone,” said Klassen. “We’re feeling cautiously optimistic that the pandemic is not over, but that we’re moving into a new phase. And hopefully with kindness, we’ll continue to see things improve for everybody.”
