OHSWEKEN/BRANTFORD — Ohsweken Public Health officials have confirmed another case of the COVID-19 while Brantford-Brant confirmed another four cases including an outbreak at a local retirement home.
On Six Nations, Public Health officials say contract tracing is now underway for anyone that may have been in contact with one positive case confirmed. No information about the p
Meanwhile, three major retailers in the city are reporting staff testing positive for COVID-19.
A second coronavirus case emerged among staff at Lowe’s in Brantford. Public health officials say the person was not in direct contact with the public but are urging anyone who attended the store between June 28-July 9 to begin monitoring for symptoms until July 23 and get tested if they are concerned.
Another positive COVID-19 case was discovered in an employee who works at the Fererro factory and Adidas factory in the city. Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, Acting Medical Officer of Health says that case is believed to have a low risk of transmission as staff were all wearing masks and practicing social distancing in the facility.
A third positive case was found in a person working at Brantford Walmart on King George Road.
“Through our case management, as well as through conversations with the store, we have determined that the risk of exposure to the public is low. This employee spent minimal time interacting with customers or other employees and was wearing a mask and gloves during any potential exposure period,” said Urtbanke.
Health officials are saying anyone that was in the Walmart store on July 5 should monitor for symptoms and get tested if they are concerned.
The fourth confirmed case in Brantford-Brant is at the Briarwood Gardens Long-Term Care and Retirement Home.
Urbantke said “The outbreak was declared after one staff member, whose duties coincide with both the retirement home and long-term care facility, was found to be positive. This positive test was discovered as part of Ontario Health’s continued mass swabbing of long-term care homes throughout the province. As of today, tests have been administered to residents and staff at both facilities. We have received no further positives associated with this outbreak.”
“We’ve all been getting a little more comfortable going about our day-to-day activities since entering stage two of the recovery plan, but this latest confirmed case is a stark reminder that the virus is still in and around Six Nations Territory,” says Six Nations Health Service’s Director Lori Davis Hill. “Everyone should continue to conduct themselves as though they have the virus and don’t want to spread it, and as if everyone else has the virus and they don’t want to get it.”
The latest confirmation brings the total number of active cases to 1 on Six Nations and 11 in Brantford-Brant.
The total number of confirmed cases in Six Nations since the start of the pandemic now sits at 15. In Brantford-Brant the total number is now 134.
Ontario announced that Brant will be moving into Stage 3 of Ontario’s re-opening plan. Gathering limits will be increased to a maximum of 50 people and outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people.
This has health officials doubling down on advice to wear masks, keep up with physical distancing protocols and take extra precautions.
“With many previously closed businesses and services re-opening, there can be a tendency to think we can all just simply go back to our previous way of doing things. This is most definitely not the case,” said Urbantke. “With even more businesses and services set to open on Friday, physical distancing, face coverings and frequent hand washing become even more important to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
