Halton Confirms Ontario’s Second Death Due to COVID-1

Halton Region Public Health has been notified of a death related to COVID-19. The individual, a man in his 50s, is the second known death in Ontario related to COVID-19. The man is identified as a Milton resident in his fifties suffering from underlying health conditions.  He was admitted through  Milton Hospital ER and  hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit.  When his condition worsened, he was transferred to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for more specialized care where he died.   He did not recently travel outside of Canada, or  have any contact with a known case of COVID19. 

“This is the tragic proof that we need to work together as a community to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and taking action to protect yourself and those around you,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health. “This is a larger community issue and I know that everyone joins me in extending their deepest condolences to his family at this time.”   The Public Health department is in the process of contact tracing.

“Halton Healthcare extends our sincere condolences to the family and our thoughts are with them at this time,” said Dr. Neil Rau, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Halton Healthcare. “We want to reassure our communities that all of our infection, prevention and control policies and procedures were followed during this patient’s stay, consistent with the clinical presentation.”

Halton Region Public Health urges residents to take every precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help protect the health of the community, especially those most at risk. The best way to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 is to practice social distancing and:

• stay home when ill;
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve;
• wash hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub;
• clean and disinfect objects and surfaces;
• do your best to keep at least two metres away from others; and
• if you are able, avoid all non-essential activity recommended and declared by the province.

Halton Region Public Health continues to focus on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from these groups only:

• health care providers seeking or reporting information;
• those living or working in a healthcare setting or institution and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; or
• those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

To get the latest information on cases in Ontario visit Ontario.ca/coronavirus.  To get the latest on Halton’s response visit their site at: www.halton.ca/covid19