The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is issuing a warning about the COVID-19 Omicron variant with two confirmed cases and another 15 suspected.
The RCDHU has reported a record 85 cases in the last 7-days.
Along with the other Ontario Public Health Units, RCDHU is shifting their focus from community containment to mitigation of further transmission of Omicron.
This will occur by improving vaccination efforts and by managing individuals with the highest risk of transmission, as well as mitigating outbreaks and transmission to vulnerable individuals in high-risk settings, including Long-Term Care Homes, Schools, Daycares, and Hospitals, etc.
RCDHU Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Cushman is urging all local residents to remain vigilant, decrease their contacts by 50%, continue practicing all the necessary public health measures and to get fully vaccinated.
Cushman adds we can help to stop the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern in our community if we all do our part to follow public health guidance.
Testing
Due to technical issues, RCVTAC is currently experiencing longer than usual wait times on their phone lines and at the testing sites.
Online booking is currently not available.
Please call RCVTAC to book a COVID-19 test 844-727-6404.
Please be patient and kind with the team who are working exceptionally hard under extremely challenging circumstances, to support all members of our community.
Staff are working hard to increase testing capacity to better service local residents but in the meantime, if you develop symptoms and are awaiting a test – assume you are positive and self-isolate immediately.
Case and Contact Management
Residents who test positive for COVID-19 can now expect a call from a member of the Provincial Workforce Team or a text from the Virtual Assistant (will have a long-distance number) with instructions for how to isolate, when to get a COVID-19 test, and instructions on how to notify your high-risk contacts.
The RCDHU COVID-19 Response Team is continuing to actively investigate cases and contacts in high-risk settings only, at this time, and until further notice.
If you are awaiting a test or test results you should:
- Continue self-isolation and
- Isolate your household members for 10 days, from their last day exposed to you, regardless of their vaccination status.
Workplaces
RCDHU would also like to note that workplaces, outside of high-risk settings, are no longer being notified of COVID-19 cases or high-risk contacts.
Information and resources for managing COVID-19 within the workplace can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-workplace-health-safety
- Employees who are a confirmed case of COVID-19 must self-isolate for 10 days from symptom onset or positive test result (whichever is earlier).
- Employees who are a household contact of a case – regardless of their vaccination status – must self-isolate for 10 days from break in contact from the case and get tested for COVID-19.
Remember, even if you have been vaccinated, it is important to continue following public health measures to keep the community safe; stay home if you are sick, avoid contact with people who are ill, practice physical distancing (2 metres), wear a mask/face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, wash your hands, use the COVID Alert App, and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment tool or COVID-19 school and child care self-assessment tool daily before going to work, school or daycare, to monitor for symptoms and proper guidance.
