A man who tested positive for COVID-19 at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) on Wednesday had recently returned from Austria.
The man, in his 60s, went to OSMH on Monday and the test result came in Wednesday.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit confirmed to OrilliaMatters that the man had travelled to Austria. Additional information was scarce.
Asked where the man was from, a health unit spokesperson said, “We only know he went to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.”
The man is self-isolating at home for 14 days.
OSMH was asked how this latest case might change protocols and procedures at the hospital, whether anyone working at the hospital was self-isolating as a result and whether it has affected staffing levels. OSMH referred those questions to the health unit, which was unable to answer them.
At an emergency city council meeting today at City Hall, the local case and its potential impact on the city was a topic of discussion.
"Now that we do have a case confirmed in Orillia, I’m sure a lot of people are going to be freaking out," said Coun. Mason Ainsworth.
Coun. Tim Lauer asked if any light could be shed on how many people the man might have had contact with.
Fire Chief Brent Thomas, who heads up the city's emergency management control group, said the health unit and the Local Health Integration Network, essentially, handle those issues.
He said the health unit has investigators that look into each case and inform anyone who might have potentially been in contact with the person who tested positive.
Thomas also said the hospital is looking to establish an assessment centre, similar to one that opened in Barrie earlier this week.
"They are in the process of trying to open our own assessment centre here," said Thomas. "They’re actively working on that and that’s no secret. It’s hopeful that’s imminent."
He said depending on "how many cases we get and how busy OSMH becomes ... those are the types of other steps we can take as a community and we'll take them as necessary and as soon as we can, proactively, to protect people."
For more on today's city council meeting, check back here later tonight.
— With files from Dave Dawson
