Haldimand emergency worker tests positive for COVID-19

A Haldimand County emergency services worker has tested positive for COVID-19.

The worker doesn't live in Haldimand, and is self isolating, the county said in a media release. Now the joint health unit for the two counties is following up on anyone who had close contact.

"This news may be unsettling, but it isn't a shock," said Mayor Ken Hewitt in a statement."Like so many other communities, we've been preparing for this scenario."

The county wouldn't give any details about the person, including where they worked, "in the interest of protecting patient privacy" in the small community.

The person was tested outside Haldimand-Norfolk. No Haldimand residents have yet tested positive for COVID-19, but the health unit is preparing for it.

Hewitt said people should follow directions from local and provincial authorities and practice social distancing, and avoid all non-essential trips in the community.

Meanwhile, the Niagara region had its first COVID-19 death Monday. The84-year-old man was a resident at Ina Grafton Gage Village in St. Catharines. Niagara has nine cases as of noon today.

Brant County has three cases, including a woman who works at a hospital in Cambridge and a man in critical care.

As of 10:30 a.m., Ontario has671 confirmed cases of coronavirusand nine deaths. Canada has1,959 cases and 27 deaths.