Holiday Greetings and Advisement that Rapid Changes to COVID-19 Case and Contact Management are Underway

Advisory Alert

December 24, 2021

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To: Local Health System Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

Dear Colleagues,

Please let me extend my very warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season. There are no words to adequately to express my gratitude to you for your sacrifices and dedication over this last year and beyond. Your patients and our communities are healthier and safer thanks to you – notwithstanding the personal toll. Thank you from me personally and on behalf of our entire team at Public Health Sudbury & Districts. May you find some moments of peace and replenishment this holiday season.

Penny

COVID-19 Case and Contact Management in the Context of the Omicron Variant

Please be advised that the Ministry of Health guidance on COVID case and contact management is rapidly changing in the face of the Omicron surge.

While details are still evolving, we are shifting to a new “paradigm” of how we manage COVID-19 with the goal of protecting vulnerable people at highest risk of severe outcomes, protecting public health and health system capacity, and ensuring maintenance of critical infrastructure. As we transition to learning how to live more “normally” with COVID-19, I hope that the key directions summarized below are helpful to you. We will do our best to share more information as it is available.

Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT)

Self Isolation

Isolation requirements (household)

If timely access to PCR testing is not available, Public Health Sudbury & Districts advises the following individuals and their household contacts to self-isolate immediately and continue to self-isolate for 10 days from the end of their exposure, after symptoms start, or after positive test, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status:

Isolation requirements for high-risk contacts (non-household exposure)
Isolation requirements for high-risk contacts (non-household exposure, fully immunized)

Reporting to Public Health Sudbury & Districts:

Please remind patients that COVID-19, in particular Omicron, often presents with minor symptoms (congestion or runny nose) or may cause no symptoms at all. Decreasing the number of people we associate with is important to control spread.

Sincerely,

Original Signed By

Dr. Penny Sutcliffe
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer

NOTE: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.


This item was last modified on December 24, 2021