Hospital expecting plans for vital contact tracing

‘A lot of discussion on that both provincially and federally’: WRH

Contact tracing of COVID-19 has been singled out as a critical element in the reopening of Ontario’s economy, and Windsor Regional Hospital officials say these plans are on the horizon.

“The province is moving on this and I expect to hear something shortly on contact-tracing plans — aggressive contact-tracing plans,” president David Musyj said following Thursday’s hospital board meeting held on Zoom.

“There’s been a lot of discussion on that both provincially and federally. I’ve had some personal discussions with the federal government and they’re very supportive of helping.”

Musyj said there isn’t a formal plan quite in place yet, but he said there are local examples of contact tracing already being done. The benefit of conducting such tracing has been significant.

“You just have to look at what other jurisdictions, that have been able to get at least level or out front of COVID on an ongoing basis, (positive) things happen.

“It has to be substantial testing on a regular basis, not on a onetime basis.”

Windsor Regional Hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Wassim Saad, was even more blunt in assessing how important a tool contact tracing will be in ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One of the key components in containing a pandemic is making sure you have contact tracing,” Saad said.

“If you don’t have that part of testing, it becomes useless. It’s critically important.”

Musyj said the province is studying variety of options to conduct tracing.

“It could be software solutions with respect to tracking different types of applications,” Musyj said.

“The province has talked about the possibility of a Bluetooth device having the opportunity to identify whether any one of us has come in contact with someone who tested positive to COVID. We’re alerted immediately to self-isolate when that happens and also to be identified.”

Musyj added whatever form tracing takes, it must be extremely aggressive and quick in identifying who has potentially been exposed during the period when an individual was infectious.

Once identified, it’s imperative that those individuals are monitored for self-isolation.

“We have to continue to monitor people on a daily basis,” Musyj said.

“We have to make sure they’re where they are supposed to be and they’re just not answering the phone saying, ‘Yes I’m at home.’

“Phone calls don’t work. We have to actually physically ensure individuals are self-isolating so they don’t spread it.”

Musyj pointed to the outbreak of COVID-19 among the local migrant worker population, that saw a 31-year-old man die from the virus over the weekend, as an example of phone calls simply not being enough.

Since Monday, health-care workers from Leamington’s Erie Shores Healthcare, EMS and Windsor Regional staff have been given authority by the Windsor-essex County Health Unit to check workers at local farms.

“If you want to do contact tracing well — and unfortunately we’re seeing that with the migrant worker situation — you have to go into these farms,” Musyj said. “You have to see it.”

Additional swabbing tests are also being requested.

The result of this week’s visits has been the hospitalization of more workers.

“It’s my understanding as of (Wednesday) there were six that came into hospital,” Musyj said.

“One of the six came to WRH. A 25-year-old gentleman who is not doing well, he’s in critical care.

“They ’re here in Canada, Ontario we have to take care of them. We have an obligation.”