Here’s the latest on COVID-19 outbreaks in health care and non-health-care settings: report

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Published July 23, 2020 at 10:11 pm

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Since COVID-19 began spreading throughout the province in March, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) has been tracking the number of people who have contracted the virus in health care settings.

As Stage 2 permitted more types of businesses to open, the OHC began tracking outbreaks in other industries as well.

According to the OHC’s findings, As of July 13, there have been 694 confirmed cases—including 595 resolved—in 570 facilities including hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, Public Health Units, clinics and other congregate care settings.

This represents a slight increase of the last reported numbers from the OHC, on June 17 the Coalition reported 664 outbreaks—including 526 resolved—in 557 facilities.  

Additionally, based on the OHC’s data, while the number of both patients and staff of congregate care facilities who have contracted the virus has increase, it has been at a slower rate compared to previous months.

The OHC reported that as of July 13 a total of 6,934 patients/residents have contracted the virus which represents an increase of one per cent—down from the 2.3 per cent increase rate from June 2 to June 17.

Further, the OHC reported that a total of 4,394 staff members have contracted the virus as of the same date—an increase of 2.6 per cent, which is down from 4.2 per cent from June 2 to June 17.

Moreover, as of July 11, the OHC is reporting an increase of 113 active outbreaks in non-health-care-related industries with a cumulative total of 271 outbreaks since the start of the pandemic.

The findings by the OHC have found the majority of the people who contracted the virus from these outbreaks worked in public services—such as the TTC, Parks & Recreation, and the LCBO—manufacturing, shelters, retail and agriculture sectors.

The agriculture sector has been particularly hit hard by the virus—150 workers have contracted the virus just in the Windsor-Essex area since June 29.

As well, one facility in Chatham-Kent had 63 workers test positive for the virus last month.

In total, the OHC is reporting 1,244 workers in the agriculture sector who have contracted the virus, three of whom have died.

Retail is another sector that has seen a spike in outbreaks.

The OHC is reporting 50 outbreaks in retail stores, including at least nine new outbreaks in the last two weeks.

These outbreaks in non-health-care settings have resulted in 13 deaths.

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