Pembroke – Five new cases of the COVID-19 virus were confirmed Tuesday at 1 p.m. by the Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) bringing the total of confirmed cases in the county to seven. 

The new cases include:

A woman in her 60s, tested in Ottawa at Brewer Arena Assessment Centre on March 16. She remains at home on isolation and is being monitored. Her case is associated with travel.

A woman in her 50s, tested in Perth on the March 29. She remains at home on isolation and is being monitored. No travel was associated with onset of symptoms.

A male in his 20s, developed mild symptoms on March 22. He was tested at home by Renfrew County paramedics with the Community Paramedic Program on March 28 and currently remains at home on isolation and is being monitored. No travel was associated with his onset of symptoms.

A woman in her 30s who developed mild symptoms and was tested on March 19 at home by paramedics currently remains at home on isolation and is being monitored. Her case is  associated with travel.

A woman in her 30s developed symptoms and was admitted to Pembroke Regional Hospital. She was tested on March 27 and has since been discharged from hospital. Shel remains on home isolation. Her case is associated with travel and a close contact of a confirmed case.

Health unit officials say all necessary precautions are being followed to ensure the safety of the patients, the public, and the health care workers.

RCDHU is conducting case and contact management with appropriate individuals and organizations. All affected parties will receive specific instructions on self-isolation and self-monitoring based on exposure.

“We are seeing more cases in the community and we continue to work with our health system partners to ensure the safety of the public,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Cushman said. “I cannot stress enough that it is everyone’s responsibility to practice physical distancing.”

RCDHU is reminding residents that the best way to prevent further spread and to reduce the risk of significant illness is to practice physical distancing which include the following measures:

• Avoiding non-essential trips in the community.
• If you have to go into the community for an essential trip via taxi or rideshare, be sure to keep the windows down.
• Avoiding visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes, supportive housing, hospitals, hospices and other congregate care settings unless the visit is essential.
• Talk to your supervisor, manager, or employer about the possibility of working from home.
• If you have meetings planned, consider doing them virtually instead of in person.
• Avoid sending children to daycare.
• Individuals should stay home unless necessary.
• If you spend time outside maintain a 2-metre distance from other people.

Additionally, practice the following measures to reduce the spread of germs including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then clean your hands.
• If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve and then clean your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, unless you have just cleaned your hands.
• If you are ill, stay home.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Get your flu shot.

If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care.

If you need further assistance, call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-000, or Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre at 1-844-727-6406 or your health care provider. You can also call RCDHU at 613-735-8654.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

For more information, visit the RCDHU website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-2/, or for COVID-19 information for workplaces, visit: https://www.rcdhu.com/covid-19-information-for-workplaces/.