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Case of COVID-19 confirmed in Halton region

Mar 11, 2020

Case of COVID-19 confirmed in Halton region

Mar 11, 2020

On March 11, 2020, Dr. David Williams, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Halton region. This is the 41st case confirmed in Ontario.

A female in her 30's returned from Hawaii on Saturday, became symptomatic on Monday and was tested at Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) Juravinski Hospital on Monday, March 9. She is a frontline healthcare worker at HHS and resides in Burlington. The hospital took all necessary precautions and followed standard operating procedures, including testing and assessment. The patient is currently at home where she remains in self-isolation. Halton Region Public Health, Hamilton Public Health and Hamilton Health Sciences are working closely and actively engaged in contact tracing and case management.

“Halton Region Public Health is continuing to work with provincial and local health counterparts and with the resident to identify all known contacts who may have been potentially exposed to the virus to assess if there is a potential health risk,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health. “The risk to Halton residents remains low.”

"This incidence was detected very quickly and all proper processes were followed,” says Dr. Wes Stephen, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Hamilton Health Sciences. “When she began to show symptoms, infection control protocol was swiftly initiated and she was tested in a safe environment. Out of an abundance of caution, last week, Hamilton Health Sciences expanded its criteria for testing beyond the standard case definition to include any travel outside Canada. As a result, this case was identified as quickly as possible. She is now in self-isolation protocol.”

Contact Halton Region Public Health by calling 311, 905-825-6000 or toll free at 1-866-442-5866 if you have a fever OR cough OR breathing difficulty AND any of the following:

  • travelled outside of Canada in the 14 days before onset of illness; or
  • close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19; or
  • close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who travelled to affected areas within 14 days prior to their illness onset.

The best way to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 is to:

  • stay home when ill;
  • cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve;
  • wash hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub;
  • clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit halton.ca/coronavirus.  

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

Hamilton Health Sciences is a community of 15,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves southwestern Ontario residents. We also provide specialized, advanced care to people from across the province. We’re the only hospital in Ontario that cares for all ages, from pre-birth to end-of-life. We offer world-leading expertise in many areas, including cardiac and stroke care, cancer care, palliative care and pediatrics.

Visit Ontario’s website (external link) to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Kosturik
Communications Specialist
Halton Region
905-825-6000, ext. 3260
BB: 289-259-3658
elizabeth.kosturik@halton.ca

Lillian Badzioch Senior Public Relations Specialist
Hamilton Health Sciences
badzioch@hhsc.ca
905-730-1836

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Kosturik
Communications Specialist
Communications & Customer Service
905-825-6000, ext.3260
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