Stay home when sick, urges Brant medical officer of health

After a summer breathes from COVID-related deaths and rising cases, new deaths are beginning to be added to the COVID tally and an uptick seen in COVID outbreaks.

That has Brantford-Brant’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Rebecca Comley, reminding people to combat the expected upcoming respiratory season by staying home when sick.

“It’s the most simple and effective thing we can do to prevent the spread of all respiratory illnesses.”

An August outbreak at the Brantford General Hospital was the first at the facility since May. A large outbreak at the John Noble Home, declared over on Sept. 5, included 33 residents and three staff. And another outbreak at Riverview Terrace this summer resulted in the death of a woman in her 90s there.

Other summer deaths included a man in his 80s who was hospitalized at the time of death.

A woman in her 90s was also added to the list of COVID deaths recently but she was found through a data check to have died in April as part of an outbreak at St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre.

According to data posted each week by the Brant County Health Unit, cases added over the last few weeks were 39, 32 and 11.

There have now been 13,377 COVID cases in Brantford and Brant, and 128 deaths.

While there have been some minor blips, the local wastewater signals have been extremely low since the end of April.

“The wastewater signal is increasing provincially,” said Comley, noting that the stat is just one of the metrics examined since many factors can affect its accuracy.

With the Pirolo, or BA.2.86, variant now increasing in the US, Europe and Canada, Comley said it’s too early to predict how it will behave.

“It’s too soon to fully evaluate (but) there is no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or different symptoms.”

The MOH said mask use continues to help decrease risks, especially to those recently recovering from a respiratory illness like COVIDflu or RSV.

“It is important that we all be mindful that there are members of our community who remain at higher risk for serious outcomes and that face coverings, when interacting with these individuals, should be considered.”

The doctor said Ontario’s fall respiratory vaccination plan will be announced soon and include vaccines for both COVID and influenza. Those will be available through pharmacies, doctor’s offices and health unit clinics.

Anyone over age five will be eligible for the COVID booster and those over six months can get a flu shot.

“The fall respiratory season last year was atypical, so we are planning with this uncertainty in mind.”

But, said Comley, we know more about COVID-19 now and can fight it by staying up-to-date with vaccines, staying home when ill and isolating when positive for the infection.

For fall gathering and Thanksgiving celebrations, Comley asked people to consider improving ventilation and masking around those considered high-risk.

“We’ve learned COVID-19 can be spread through droplets as well as aerosols. This means it can be spread by close contact as well as in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor settings.

“There are simple steps to operate accordingly: things like opening windows when weather permits and trying to keep larger gatherings outdoors can help.”

She advises those who are ill to stay home.

“I’d advise all residents who are eligible to get a COVID-19 booster and flu shot this fall. (It) will maximize protection against COVID-19 outcomes when the virus is expected to be spreading the most.”