MOUNT FOREST – After a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Mount Forest, the Claire Stewart Medical Clinic will be locked and anyone needing to come in will have to call in advance including those who need to access services by LifeLabs.
The Mount Forest Family Health Team (MFFHT) announced these measures yesterday in a press release after a 66-year-old man tested positive for the virus.
The man, currently recovering at Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest, did not have a travel history or contact with a known case. The Claire Stewart Medical Clinic is located beside the hospital.
In a press release, MFFHT executive director Suzanne Trivers said these measures are in place to protect staff working at the clinic and the public in general.
“It also allows us to redeploy staff to other activities across the system as we get ready to manage more cases in the community,” Trivers said in the release. “We will continue to see patients whose needs cannot be met through telephone or secure videoconference.”
Trivers said the decision about who requires a face-to-face visit is made by the doctor or nurse practitioner and is based on clinical need.
Dr. Hugh Perrin, clinical operations director at Claire Stewart Medical Clinic, thanked patients for their understanding and patience.
“During this public health crisis, it’s important that we all work together to ensure that we are able to provide the urgent and emergency care that people need,” Perrin said in a press release. “This is not a time to address long-standing, mild health concerns that can wait. The medical system will be busy and should not be using limited protective equipment to address such issues now.”
Patients and caregivers are asked to call if they have questions and concerns about whether they should be getting blood tests completed or seeing their doctor face-to-face for symptoms they are having.
The clinic is experiencing a higher than usual call volume so a message can be left at (519)-323-0255 ext. 5000.
