Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health says this may be the “kick in the pants” people need to take COVID-19 restrictions seriously.

The Lambton Public Health Unit says five people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

They’re all being treated in hospital in Sarnia. They are all over the age of 60.

Officials say each person came to Bluewater Health’s emergency department – although it is not clear at this point whether that was in Petrolia as well as Sarnia. They were screened and tested for the illness. 

Officials were isolated in the hospital with all infection control protocols followed

In a teleconference minutes ago, Dr. Sudit Ranade said the test results had just come back from provincial labs and public health is beginning its investigation.

Ranade says it is not clear yet whether the cases are travel related or if the virus was spread in the community.

For the past few days, Ranade had said there were likely cases in the community considering the travel between communities like London, Chatham-Kent and Michigan, which all had confirmed cases.

Today (Wednesday) Ranade said this is “confirmation of what we were fairly sure of.

“I’m hoping that the fact that we have confirmed cases will be a bit of a kick in the pants for people who haven’t been doing what they are supposed to do.”

The MOH is asking people to strictly follow the physical distancing guidelines of staying two meters from anyone in public, to stay home when you are sick and to wash hands often.

Ranade, in an interview with The Independent Tuesday said there were dozens of test without results yet. The province is opening more labs to process the COVID-19 tests now.