Throughout the pandemic unconfirmed reports of outbreaks at area workplaces have circulated in the community.
As per provincial guidelines, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health says it is not required to report on outbreaks that don’t meet one of two requirements: that it is mandated by provincial legislation or various criteria leads Public Health to believe there is certain risk level to the community.
Public Health spokesperson Danny Williamson explains that certain outbreaks that Public Health reports on are a result of provincial direction, for example long-term care homes. Other than that, it only reports on outbreaks where there is a risk to the public of a COVID-19 infection.
“We don’t comment publicly outside of those two things,” said Williamson.
“We only comment where Public Health is directed by the government or statute to release information.”
Williamson gives the example of outbreaks at two of Cargill’s meat processing facilities.
“The reason why we reported the Cargill outbreak was that the outbreak was a sufficient size that there was some level of risk to the community and so we made the decision to share that information,” he said.
Williamson said an outbreak is not necessarily reported because of its size and there is no specific case number to reach before an outbreak constitutes a sufficient size, rather, multiple factors play a role.
“What that means is when you look at the outbreak, when you go through the case management and contact tracing, there is a risk to the public that the outbreak could result in community transmission beyond what is just out there in the community,” said Williamson.
He said when there is an outbreak, WDG Public Health first tries to determine if there is an enhanced risk of additional community transmission.
“And that's when we would make the decision to share information with the public as to whether there is an outbreak at a facility where we are not directed to post information on it,” he said.
Once it receives information about a positive COVID-19 that must be reported, it is required to share it publicly within 24 hours.
Information about active and current outbreaks in the community is shared publicly on the WDG Public Health website.