Lambton County is seeing in real time how fast the COVID-19 virus can spread.

After “grumbling along” for months of the pandemic, as the Lambton Medical Officer of Health has said, the county has now had 40 people test positive for the virus in just two days.

Included among the 20 people who tested positive Saturday are two people at Trillum Village where a COVID-19 outbreak has now been declared.

“Two laboratory-confirmed positive test results for COVID-19 have been linked to staff in the nursing home. In accordance with provincial guidelines, LPH has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Trillium Villa nursing home,” say public health officials in a rare Sunday morning news release. “The first steps involve immediately isolating affected individuals and working with the site location to ensure infection prevention and control measures are maintained or enhanced.”

There are also five workplace outbreaks including two at Nova Chemical. At least seven people at the Corunna cracker unit are ill and two contractors at the Rokeby construction site tested positive Friday resulting in an outbreak.

Lambton Public Health says the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Lambton recently was the result of social gatherings like meat raffles, darts leagues, recreational activities, Christmas gatherings and office and workplace functions.

There are now 61 people ill with COVID-19 in the community. Eight people were listed as recovered yesterday.

While it has not been declared an outbreak, officials at the City of Sarnia say two people at city hall have also tested positive for the virus. The staff will be working from home over the Christmas break as a precaution.