Staff 'nervous' as COVID-19 outbreaks declared at Sudbury shelter, warming centre

Front line workers helping Greater Sudbury's homeless population are on edge, Helen Francis, YMCA Northeastern Ontario's chief executive officer says.

Tuesday morning, Sudbury's health unit advised the public of potential high-risk exposure to COVID-19 after one person, who visited both the YMCA's warming centre on Durham Street and the Salvation Army's Cedar Place shelter, tested positive for COVID-19.

"I think everyone is nervous," Francis said. "But certainly with the case numbers that we've seen, unfortunately, increasing in Sudbury, it doesn't come as a surprise that this has occurred on two fronts. On the other hand, I think the staff recognized that it's really important for people within the community to play a role in this essential work, and that our clients perhaps need us more than ever right now."

The YMCA is trying to push the message out to its clients about potential risks, and ways to seek support, Francis said, including adding a mobile testing centre on premises at the warming centre later this week.

"Hopefully there's very few people, if any, that test positive," she said. "But should they test positive, then we can make sure that they get the right supports in isolation as required."

In the event of a positive test, the health unit says a facility on Regent Street provides isolation rooms for those experiencing homelessness.

But for now, the warming centre will stay open, despite the one positive case. It's a challenge for the health unit to shut down a warming centre, Francis said, as they could with a restaurant or school. 

"Obviously many of the people that utilize a warming centre don't have alternative accommodation or alternative accommodation that's stable," Francis said. "So we are hoping that we can remain open."

"However, these are all conversations happening across the network to make sure that, should we see an increase in numbers, we've got some longer-term plans ... to keep everybody in our community as safe as possible." 

In an emailed statement, the Salvation Army said it would not be accepting any new clients at its Cedar Street shelter, due to the outbreak.

"Our 10 clients who are currently living at the Salvation Army Sudbury Cedar Place have been provided with all appropriate personal protective equipment and are currently isolating and will receive COVID-19 testing," the statement reads.

"Our priority continues to be the health and safety of both our clients and staff as we adhere to all public health guidelines."

The shelter will also be going through an intensive cleaning and sanitization process, a spokesperson for the group said. 

Meanwhile, public health is advising the public of a potential high-risk of exposure to COVID-19 for anyone who attended the Salvation Army Cedar Place shelter and the YMCA Warming Centre on the following dates:

Salvation Army Cedar Place shelter – March 9
YMCA Warming Centre – March 14

Anyone who attended these facilities should:

• Carefully self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
• Self-isolate immediately if symptoms develop. Please seek assistance from local service agencies if you require support with self-isolation.
• Seek testing. Clients can seek testing information through the shelter and warming centre. Public Health is also working closely with partners to provide asymptotic testing to clients. More details will be communicated directly to clients, through those agencies.