The Grey Bruce Health Unit has identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases in eastern Grey County resulting from some individuals failing to adhere to social gathering recommendations, regulations and basic COVID-19 preventive guidelines. A number of active cases share a common association.

In the last few days, Grey Bruce Heath Unit contact tracing has followed up with approximately 100 contacts, including 32 known high risk close contacts, within this one cluster. Subsequent testing confirmed five individuals positive for COVID-19. Those individuals, as well as all the close contacts in this cluster, have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days. It is expected a few more people currently being monitored by the health unit as a result of the cluster could test positive for the virus in the coming days. Cases will continue to be identified on the Health Unit’s daily situation report.

This cluster will be posted on a secure national monitoring site, accessed only by public health agencies, to assist in identifying any potential COVID-19 links or cases outside Grey Bruce.

“In this case, we are confident we have reached the close contacts of this cluster and we're managing them and it's not beyond our capacity. So, there is no need to post a business or post the name or location.” says Dr. Ian Arra, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health. “While the outbreak is in several communities, the one thing in common is that people lowered their guards. It is mainly related to people over-extending social gatherings and having too many contacts.”

Although not connected to this cluster, similar cases of individuals failing to heed limits on contacts continue to emerge. Each circumstance requires close scrutiny and an assessment of the risk to individual contacts. Public Health is the only authority that can identify close contacts. If you are not contacted by Public Health you need not worry about the need to be tested.

To break the spread of COVID-19, it is important to continue to follow current public health guidance, including:

· Watch your distance and maintain physical distancing of 2 metres between yourself and others

· Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer

· Wear face coverings correctly in indoor public spaces

source: media release, Grey Bruce Health Unit