DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s (HKPR) medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking had some positive news to share, on Wednesday, September 29th.
At a virtual press conference, Dr. Bocking announced there were no active COVID-19 outbreaks in the health unit jurisdiction. This means an outbreak at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay has been declared over.
This was the second outbreak at the facility, and there were up to 18 inmate infections. The outbreak was declared by the health unit on Tuesday, September 7th. The first outbreak was declared at the facility in May and saw up to 146 people infected. No cause was found as to how the virus got into the facility this time.
“I don’t believe there was one event or circumstance [which] was identified to have triggered that initial spread. Certainly, we know when individuals enter the facility, they’re screened for COVID-19, and sometimes people are identified to have COVID-19,” Dr. Bocking said. “I think the most important thing is, the facility has continued to strengthen its infection prevention and control measures to ensure there’s no spread outside of intake units to the rest of the facility. As part of this outbreak, there were no cases identified among the staff population.”[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]