Lambton Public Health says the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Lambton took place at meat raffles, darts leagues, recreational activities, Christmas gatherings and office and workplace functions.

Public Health Saturday reported 20 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Lambton. There are now 49 people ill with the virus and another person – an elderly woman who had been in hospital at Bluewater Health since the beginning of December – has passed away. There have been 45 people test positive for the virus in Lambton in one week.

There are also three new workplace outbreaks; one is at Nova Chemicals Rokeby construction site. Company officials confirmed an outbreak had been declared Friday after two contractors tested positive. They had been at work while infectious. Nova also has an outbreak at its Corunna cracker unit. Seven people were ill there Friday.

Lambton Public Health doesn’t name workplaces with outbreaks unless officials feel it is a danger to the public.

“This is a reminder to everyone that COVID-19 is currently actively circulating in our community,” says Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Sudit Ranade. “Limiting all non-essential social interactions and staying home when you are sick, even with mild symptoms, continues to be a priority. I cannot emphasize that enough.”

He adds if Lambton Public Health contacts you about a possible exposure to the virus, be honest and understand that isolating close contacts is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19.

The province reported another 2,354 cases of COVID-19 Saturday including 170 in Windsor-Essex and 93 in Middlesex-London.

Premier Doug Ford is meeting this weekend to discuss further measures to control the spread of the virus. The CBC reports that could include a possible lockdown in southern Ontario. Ford is expected to make his announcement at 1 pm Monday.