Huron Perth Public Health is instituting a new case and contact management process and it is all being driven by the COVID-19 variant Omicron.
The variant accounts for about half of the cases in the province.
“Huron Perth Public Health has investigated more than 150 confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks and we expect numbers will continue to rise,” stated Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for Huron Perth. “We believe the additional provincial measures will help to curb virus spread in our region and protect our local healthcare capacity.”
The updated case and contact management processes from Huron Perth Public Health is as follows: -If you test positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 10 days from the date your symptoms started or from the date 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 supplies (e.g. groceries) at your doorstep if needed. -Tell your close contacts so that they know to self-isolate as well. A close contact is someone you have been within two metres (six feet of) for 15 minutes or more, within the two days before your symptoms started, or two 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 seven. Self-isolate for 10 days since the last time you interacted with the case, 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 the case. A 10-day isolation applies regardless of your vaccination status.
The health unit is also encouraging people to get their third dose/booster as soon as you are eligible.
Although COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide some protection against severe illness and death, there is waning immunity against Omicron compared to other variants.
As of December 20, 2021, adults aged 18 and older are eligible to book a COVID-19 booster at mass vaccination clinic or select pharmacies as long as enough time has passed since their second dose.
The interval between second and third doses has been shorted to three months.
There is a dose calculator at www.hpph.ca/thirddose to find out the earliest date you can receive the third dose.
HPPH is adding as more vaccine appointments and can be booked at www.hpph.ca/vaccinebooking or call 1-833-753-2098.
Huron Perth Public Health is also continuing to provide pediatric vaccines for those ages 5-11, and first and second doses for those aged 12 and older.
