News

EOHU Confirms COVID-19 Case at Parent’s Independent in Rockland

2020-05-17

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is notifying the public that a case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in an employee at Parent’s Independent at 2737 Laurier St. in Rockland. The EOHU is actively working in cooperation with the store to assess the risk to store employees and to trace contacts of the individual. The employee is currently in isolation.

The risk to the public is considered to be low, however the employee had been present at work during the period of communicability and may have been contagious on the following dates when working as a cashier in the store’s outdoor garden centre: May 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th (day shifts). A full cleaning and disinfection of the store and garden centre has been undertaken.

“Although we feel that the risk to the public is low, we’re releasing this information so that people who shopped in the garden centre at the Parent’s Independent during this period are aware,” states Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health. “As a precaution, shoppers who were there on these dates should self-monitor for symptoms. If they start to feel symptoms, they should seek testing.” Common symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, muscle aches and more. A full list of symptoms is available at www.EOHU.ca/coronavirus.

Testing is offered at a number of COVID-19 assessment centres in the region. Locations and hours of the assessment centres are available on the EOHU’s website. Anyone presenting with symptoms, who was at the Parent's Independent garden store on the dates above, should indicate to the assessment centre that they were potentially exposed. The EOHU recently expanded the testing criteria to open up testing to anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms.

Precautionary Measures Are Essential

The EOHU is reminding everyone across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott and Russell, and the City of Cornwall that precautionary measures are essential to protect the general public, including the most vulnerable, like seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions.

“Although we’re seeing a gradual re-opening of places and activities, it’s still very important for everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and others,” says Dr. Roumeliotis. “This includes limiting non-essential outings, and staying home if you’re sick.”

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the EOHU recommends that you:

  • Stay at home as much as possible, and limit non-essential outings.
  • When you do go out, stay at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from others.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just cleaned your hands.
  • Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or into your arm, not your hand.
  • If you’re not feeling well, stay at home unless you need to seek medical care or to be tested for COVID-19.

For more information about COVID-19, please consult EOHU.ca/coronavirus and Ontario’s website at Ontario.ca/coronavirus.