First 2 Fatalities of COVID-19 Confirmed in Sarnia
The Sarnia Primary Control Group met via teleconference on March 29, 2020 at 9:00am regarding developments related to the COVID-19pandemic and received confirmation of the first 2 fatalities related to the COVID-19 pandemic within the Sarnia-Lambton area.
Given the rapidly changing situation, we would like to refer concerned community members to the Bluewater Health website for updated information on the COVID-19 Virus, including the number of active cases within our community.https://www.bluewaterhealth.ca/covid-19-information
Lambton Public Health has indicated that they have seen a significant increase in the number of reported positive COVID-19 cases, due to the clearing of testing back-logs, and continue to recommend that community members act as though the presence of the virus within our community is prevalent. Lambton Public Health is in the process of tracing individuals who may have been in contact with these patients and will follow up with them directly to confirm appropriate actions that they must take to prevent the further spread of this virus within our community.
If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms,or have been in close contact with someone who you believe may have been infected, first self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care.
We thank all community members for their suggestions for dealing with this health emergency and can assure you that, while individual responses may not always be possible given time constraints, all suggestions are being brought forward for consideration by the Sarnia Primary Control Group and referred to relevant professionals who are able to assess and evaluate their effectiveness in helping deal with this emergency.
Given the confirmed presence of the COVID-19 virus within our community, we remind community members that it is essential that we all do our part to stop the spread of this virus by continuing to adopt safe practices such as social distancing, regularly washing our hands and not touching your faces and keeping a safe distance of at least 2 metres from others.
In order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus at the heart of the current pandemic emergency, the Government of Ontario issued a mandatory order requiring that all businesses that have not been identified as an essential workplace be closed as of March 24, 2020 beginning at 11:59 p.m. The list of essential workplaces that can remain open can be accessed from the Government of Ontario web site through the link provided below:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces
More information can be obtaining by calling the Government of Ontario Stop the Spread Business Information Line directly at: 1-888-444-3659.
For local information on essential workplaces, please access the Lambton Public Health web page through the following link: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/workplaces/
In light of rapid new developments with regards to COVID-19, please be advised that all City facilities and programs remain closed until further notice. Please continue monitoring the City’s website and daily Media Releases for further information regarding event cancellations and closures.
In order to protect public health, the City would like to remind members of the public to not useany of the playground equipment in our local parks because the equipment cannot be properly sanitized at this time. Signage is posted throughout our parks as a reminder of this requirement. Social distancing and proper hygiene practices are the only ways for us to curb the spread and reduce the burden on the health care system. Too many members of the public are ignoring these recommendations and it is of growing concern to our community.
We would like to reassure members of the public that we are currently continuing to work with our emergency partners to develop enhancedcommunication protocols to ensure that members of the public continue to have access to the latest up to date information available. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that it remains imperative that you continue to obtain your information regarding COVID-19 from trusted governmental sources such as Lambton Public Health who can be contacted directly at the following coordinates:
• Telephone: (519) 383-8331; or
• Internet: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca
In order to better coordinate the city’s response to this pandemic emergency, we would like to request that members of the public direct all inquiries to the City of Sarnia’s emergency hotline at 1-877-4-SARNIA (1-877-472-7642) or visit our web site at www.sarnia.ca for updates on the latest information available.
To listen to a detailed listing of City of Sarnia closures and disruptions, you are encouraged to call our City of Sarnia Services Update Line at
226-778-4611 which will be updated daily.
The City will continue to monitor the situation and update the citizens of Sarnia as soon as information is available.
Lambton Public Health Information:
If you are experiencing symptoms and have traveled internationally, please call your health care provider or Lambton Public Health (519-383-8331) or https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/ (Please do not call 9-1-1 unless it is an emergency).
The Primary Control Group will continue to meet daily to ensure that all new and relevant information is being taken into consideration going forward. Daily public notifications will be issued. Please visit the City’s website www.sarnia.ca,Facebook, and/or Twitter for updates.
Please continue to utilize the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-877-4-SARNIA (1-877-472-7642) and the City’s website to keep up to date on any and all information pertaining to the city’s current status.
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For further information, please contact:
City of Sarnia COVID-19 Hotline
1-877-4-SARNIA (1-877-472-7642) or 519-332-0932
Andrea Lane, Customer Service Manager
andrea.lane@sarnia.ca or 519-332-0330 ext.3231
City of Sarnia, Customer Service
customerservice@sarnia.ca or 519-332-0330 ext.3131