As restrictions begin to ease in Simcoe County and other areas with lower rates of COVID-19 transmissions, the local medical officer of health warns that employers and employees ought to still approach with caution.
He points to a couple of recent clusters that have developed among workers.
One occurred at a Simcoe County farm where three people who don’t live in Simcoe County tested positive. Public health officials are investigating and haven’t yet determined whether they are domestic or migrant workers.
A second cluster emerged at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) where three staff members who have no contact with patients have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is planning to host a webinar aimed to help businesses get back into gear safely.
“The workplace is a hotspot,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for Simcoe County and Muskoka District, emphasizing that physical distancing remains essential and a cornerstone to safety. “People need to maintain that, maintain the two-metre distance from other people when you go out.”
He noted that more workplaces are about to open as the province rolls out its phased opening of the province on Friday, which includes businesses and places of work in Simcoe County.
In addition, up to 10 people will be allowed to congregate instead of just five, anywhere in the province.
“We’re concerned about the potential for transmission in the workplace,” said Gardner. “As these work environments open up … we all need to be practising the infection control practises, the physical-distancing practices.”
In situations where distancing is difficult, Gardner suggested the use of homemade cloth masks, in addition to hand washing.
Other suggestions for employers includes focusing on the flow of people using demarcations and installing partitions. He also suggested that staff in larger workplaces work in cohorts, separate from other cohorts in the same place of work to limit transmissions.
He advised anyone with symptoms self-isolate in their homes, seek assessment and get tested.
Gardner pointed to guidelines available through the provincial government’s website, also accessible through the health unit’s website.
The health unit is also fielding queries.
“We’re receiving calls and emails from businesses with inquiries on how to do this, which is a good thing,” said Gardner.
But, he added, the health unit won’t be inspecting individual businesses.
A webinar about the work environment is being developed for businesses, although the date is not yet available.
As of June 2, the health unit determined of the 185 cases that have occupation data available, 55 per cent have occured in health care, eight per cent in manufacturing, five per cent in transportation/shipping, four per cent each in food/grocery service and construction, and 11 per cent were unemployed/retired.
