At mid-afternoon Thursday, Algoma Public Health issued an alert about a possible case of COVID-19 exposure involving a passenger on an Ontario Northland bus which travelled from Toronto to Sudbury on Oct. 26.
This person then headed west on the bus on Highway 17.
After that, the passenger in question transferred to a shuttle bus, and travelled north on Highway 108, disembarking in Elliot Lake.
Dr. Cathy Groh, a member of the Elliot Lake Family Health Team, has commented in media and social media and through virtual TV sessions, providing her professional expertise regarding issues relating to the virus, in the months since it emerged in Canada last spring.
Regarding this incident, she told ElliotLakeToday, "While I do not know the details of this situation, it is an example of why people need to remain cautious."
"People travelling in and out of Elliot Lake could have acquired COVID-19 in another community and could infect people here."
Dr. Groh concluded, "If people continue to follow the advice of public health then we will be less likely to have this result in an outbreak."
Up until Thursday's APH announcement, Elliot Lake had recorded only three positive cases of COVID-19, all reported from external exposure from travel outside the community.
According to APH, all three of those cases then self-isolated, following detection.
Here is part of the original APH news release from Thursday, "Algoma Public Health is advising residents of a potential COVID-19 exposure."
"The health unit announced in a press release today that there was potential exposure on an Ontario Northland bus on Monday.
"Anyone who travelled on the Ontario Northland bus on Oct. 26 on the following dates should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days (from Oct. 26-Nov. 9):
- 11:00 a.m. bus from Toronto to Sudbury, rows 1-5
- 5:30 p.m. bus from Sudbury to Spragge, rows 1-5
- Shuttle from Spragge to Elliot Lake, rows 1-6
"This notification is for a potential exposure only.
"At this time, there is no new confirmed case of COVID-19 in Algoma.
"In today's advisory, APH stated "From time to time, APH becomes aware of exposures that may affect Algoma residents. Through contact tracing, APH notifies all close contacts directly. If you are not contacted by APH, you are not considered a close contact."
APH concluded, "The risk of infection is considered low."