Local coronavirus update for Friday, April 17

Journal staff The number of COVID-19 deaths reported in Sarnia-Lambton has risen to 13 today, up from 11 deaths Thursday. Both of the deaths were individuals in their 70s and both had pre-existing health conditions, Dr.

Journal staff

The number of COVID-19 deaths reported in Sarnia-Lambton has risen to 13 today, up from 11 deaths Thursday.

Both of the deaths were individuals in their 70s and both had pre-existing health conditions, Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health, said Friday.

Neither was a resident of Landmark Village retirement home, Ranade said, where to date seven staff and 16 residents have been infected, including six deaths.

The number of confirmed cases is unchanged at 128 today,

Lambton Public Health said.

A total of 45 people have recovered, up four from Thursday.

The limited supply of test kits available for local residents is about to increase in coming days, Lambton Public Health and Bluewater Health say.

Testing done at the assessment centre in Sarnia could double by next week, a second testing clinic is opening in Petrolia, and in-home testing done by paramedics on residents unable to move is about to expand, officials said.

That surge in testing could impact the daily numbers when the results begin to return.

Lambton Public Health has declared a second senior home outbreak at Lambton Meadowview Villa in Petrolia, after a staff member there was confirmed to have the virus.

Teams from the Sarnia assessment clinic and mobile paramedic program tested 272 people in two locations on Thursday, including staff and residents at Meadowview.

Sarnia-Lambton has 10 retirement homes and 10 long-term care homes. Testing at the other locations will be scheduled over the next few days, officials said today.

Eight health-care workers at Bluewater Health have also tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks, the Journal reported Wednesday.

A total of 736 test results have come back so far, with 17% positive (128) and 83% negative (611).

Those who have died of COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton range in age 69 to 93, the health unit said.

The breakdown:

60-69 years: 1

70-79 years: 4

80-89 years: 5

90-99 years: 3

At Bluewater Health, 16 confirmed patients and 11 presumed to have the virus (and awaiting results) were being treated in hospital on Friday.

That compares to 28 patients and 16 awaiting results one week ago.

Sarnia-Lambton’s first five cases of COVID-19 were confirmed March 25.

Lambton Public Health continues to recommend that all residents practice social and physical distancing to decrease the transmission of the virus that causes the disease.