After three confirmed cases were diagnosed at its shelters, the Welcome In Drop-In Centre is offering COVID testing for any asymptomatic residents who stayed at its facilities during the holidays.
Drop-in centre officials report one case at their location on 23 Gordon Street and two cases at the Loyola House, a temporary housing shelter. The individuals who tested positive are now isolating.
Following the results, both locations are now considered to have an outbreak, said Gail Hoekstra, the executive director of the Welcome In Drop-In Centre. The centre is conducting contact tracing to notify anyone who may have come in contact with the infected individuals. The centre is also offering testing for individuals who are asymptomatic. That testing will take place at the centre on Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m.
Public health has arranged for testing for all staff and residents at Loyola House to be done on Thursday at 9 a.m.
Anyone showing symptoms after staying at the warming centre between Dec. 20 and 24 is being encouraged to go get tested at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
Hoekstra said the organization has been working with the community since March to prepare for the possibility that COVID may reach Guelph's most vulnerable community members.
"We have processes in place to protect our staff and the individuals who access our services," she said in an email statement. "We are doing everything we can to support our team while working closely with public health partners."
