EXETER – A staff member at Exeter Villa has tested positive for COVID-19 after a screening done May 4.

Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) medical officer of health Dr. Miriam Klassen confirmed the positive case during a May 11 press teleconference.

“All other residents and staff screened negative,” said Klassen. “The case and any close contact with that one have been isolated.”

Klassen confirmed the results were reported May 9 and that the staff member is asymptomatic, though the positive test doesn’t contribute to the total of 49 cases in Huron Perth since the staff member lives outside the area. The positive case makes Exeter Villa the site of the sixth long-term care facility outbreak within the counties.

The test was done as part of the province-wide effort to proactively test all long-term care home residents and staff. Klassen said the testing at care homes in Huron Perth was completed May 8 and most of the results have already been received.

“It’s important to remember that testing is only part of the response and strategy to control COVID-19 and to stop the spread in our community,” she said. “Testing helps us track the virus and isolate cases of contact, but to get ahead of the virus we also want to practice public health measures like staying home if sick, staying home whenever possible, washing our hands, and keeping our physical distance from one another. These measures are working and need to be followed still.” To view the HPPH testing data as of May 11 visit hpph.ca/en/health-matters/covid-19-in-huron-and-perth.aspx