The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit won't confirm if there's an outbreak in Collingwood causing an increase in local COVID cases.
Since Feb. 1, the health unit has reported 22 outbreak-related cases in Collingwood residents. There is an outbreak at Georgian Traditions retirement home, but that outbreak involves only a single staff case.
In response to a direct question about the new outbreak-related cases in Collingwood, Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the region, said the health unit is tracking an outbreak in a multi-unit housing facility.
"We do have an outbreak in Simcoe County, I'm not specifying which municipality, that involves a cluster of individuals associated with a multi-unit premise where they live," said Gardner. "We are working with that entire building and with everybody involved to ensure they have access to testing and are informed of the situation."
Gardner reported there are 24 cases associated with the outbreak at a "real estate, rental, and/or leasing" facility. The outbreak was declared on Feb. 5.
One of the cases has screened positive for a variant of concern. Further gene sequencing testing will determine whether it is the B.1.1.7 variant strain that originated in the United Kingdom.
Gardner said if it is the B.1.1.7 strain and if more cases related to the outbreak test positive for the same variant, it's concerning because it indicates the more transmissible variant strain has spread to yet another community in Simcoe County.
The health unit has attributed the deadly outbreak at Barrie's Roberta Place long-term care facility to the UK variant, and is now tracking the same variant in outbreaks at Bradford Valley Care Community and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene.
At Roberta Place, where the most significant spread occurred, the health unit has recorded 69 resident deaths, 100 staff and 129 resident cases, seven cases in external partners, two cases in essential caregivers (one of whom died). Three resident cases that ended in death are still considered "probable" COVID-19 cases and are pending test confirmation.
The health unit has a listing of types of outbreaks, but unless they are at public institutions or facilities such as health-care centres, retirement homes, long-term care homes, or schools, the name or location of the outbreak is not released publicly by the health unit.
Cases are listed simply as outbreak-related, and not assigned to a type of outbreak in the health unit's reporting.
