Urgency Needed to Prevent Omicron Spread
Southwestern Public Health is urgently appealing to the public to help prevent the spread of Omicron.
The COVID-19 Omicron variant is more transmissible than previous COVID-19 variants, including the Delta variant. This increased transmissibility is expected to put additional strain on an already taxed health care system, with an expected increase in hospitalizations over the weeks ahead.
The best protection against mounting case counts and subsequent hospitalizations is using multiple public health measures simultaneously. This includes:
- Being fully vaccinated at the recommended interval between doses, especially younger demographics (5–11-year-olds, and young adults)
- Seeking a booster dose as soon as you are eligible to lessen the risk of serious complications from COVID-19 and its variants
- Wearing a face covering whenever you are around other people, regardless of vaccination status
- Avoiding crowds and indoor gatherings
- Screening yourself daily for symptoms
- Staying home and getting tested when you feel sick
“Over the holidays, please keep your private gatherings small, with a recommended limit of 10 people or less. This is to prevent outbreak situations if someone there unknowingly transmits the virus,” says Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health.
Following Provincial direction to prioritize vaccinations and recognize the increasing volume of cases locally and provincially, Southwestern Public Health will no longer investigate case exposures, unless they are for specific groups or high-risk settings (e.g. health care settings, such as in Long-Term Care). As well, the COVID-19 Resource Centre will focus on vaccination bookings and will not return calls regarding general exposures unless in a specific group or high-risk setting. This change in practice will affect how our COVID-19 dashboard reports information, as all active cases will be classified as closed and removed from our active case count 10 days after they are added, regardless of the outcome.
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NEW CASE & CONTACT MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE
If you test positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 10 days since symptoms started or since you were tested, regardless of your vaccination status. Self-isolate means staying on your property, not interacting with anyone within your household (unless you are the primary caregiver of a young child) and not leaving unless you need medical attention. Arrange for someone else to drop off needed supplies at your doorstep.
Tell your close contacts so that they know to self-isolate as well. A close contact is someone you have been within 6 feet of, for 15 minutes or more, within the 2 days before your symptoms started, or 2 days before you got tested.
If you or your child are a close contact to a confirmed case, book a PCR test right away and again on or after day 7. Self-isolate for 10 days since the last time you interacted with that person, regardless of your vaccination status.
If you are a close contact of a confirmed case and test negative for COVID-19, you must still self-isolate for a full 10 days since your last interaction with that person, regardless of your vaccination status.
If you are a close contact of a confirmed case who lives in a group or health care setting (e.g. Long-Term Care or Retirement Home), you will be contacted by public health with directions for testing and self-isolation. Call 1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 if you have questions.
Resources:
- Ontario COVID-19 Science Table Projections: covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Update-on-COVID-19-Projections_2021.12.07_English-1.pdf
- Limit Social Gatherings Letter of Recommendation: www.swpublichealth.ca/en/my-health/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.aspx#LOR1209
- Self-Isolation vs. Self-Monitoring: www.swpublichealth.ca/en/my-health/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.aspx#Self-isolating
- COVID-19 Vaccinations in Elgin, Oxford, St. Thomas: www.swpublichealth.ca/covid19vaccine
Contacts
Megan Cornwell
Manager, Communications | Southwestern Public Health