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Seven now ill in Nova outbreak as Lambton cases continue to rise

December 18, 2020

New statistics by Lambton Public Health show seven people at Nova Chemical’s Corunna Cracker Unit site have COVID-19.

The company is one of three active workplace outbreaks in Lambton as the numbers of people being diagnosed with the virus continue to grow.

Lambton Public Health says three more people have tested positive in the county yesterday; 39 people are sick with the virus right now.

Public health says the outbreak at Shell’s Sarnia Manufacturing Centre is over but seven people are now ill at Nova. There are two other outbreaks, including one at Insigna Hotel Restaurant in Sarnia. Two kitchen staff there tested positive. In a Facebook post, the company says the restaurant will be able to reopen Dec. 27.

Officials say the construction work is on hold until the New Year while people onsite in other areas continue to work under pandemic restrictions including staff working from home, physical distancing in the work place and eliminating non-essential in person meetings.

Another 2,290 people in the province tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday including 207 new cases in Windsor-Essex. The medical officer of health has said there are so many cases to follow up the may start asking people to tell people they have been in contact with that they have COVID-19 instead of having contact tracers from the health unit call.

The pandemic continues to take its toll in long term care; 139 homes have outbreaks and 757 residents and 853 staff have COVID-19. Twenty-five more residents have died. Since September, 623 long term residents have died.

The premier has indicated there may be more restrictions coming to help stem the rising numbers. He tweeted this morning “Minister Elliott, Dr. Williams and Ontario’s hospital leaders to discuss next steps to break the concerning trends in cases and hospitals in our province. Everything is on the table when it comes to protecting the health of Ontarians.”

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