Update: Confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Kingston, Brockville YMCAs

The YMCA of Eastern Ontario has announced two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 at each of its locations – one case at the Kingston location, and another at the Brockville location.

Update (Friday, Nov. 19, 2021): Additional case confirmed at Kingston YMCA

Following up on an email to all members yesterday, Rob Adams, CEO of the YMCA of Eastern Ontario has announced an additional case of COVID-19 has been confirmed that Kingston YMCA location.

The first case at the Kingston location was within areas of the YMCA’s childcare centre on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, and a second positive COVID-19 case has now been confirmed in the same classroom. While working in “close collaboration” with Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health and “following their directives,” the YMCA here in Kingston has closed the affected rooms. Those rooms will be reopened on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, according to the second email from Adams to YMCA of Eastern Ontario members.

“As you know, everyone accessing our facilities must show their vaccination passport (proof of full vaccination), however, Covid-19 continues to be a risk in our communities. Following all health protocols such as maintaining distancing, wearing a mask, thorough hand-washing and getting a booster shot, if you are eligible, are critical in combatting the virus,” Adams said in the email, noting that anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate and arrange testing through the Health Unit and anyone with COVID-19-related questions should contact KFL&A Public Health directly.

“The health and safety of the children in our care and everyone who attends a Y program or enters one of our facilities remains our top priority,” Adams concluded.

“We are following all public health requirements and will continue to provide all information as it becomes available to us.”

Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates if/when more information becomes available.

Original article:

According to a memo to YMCA of Eastern Ontario members from CEO Rob Adams, the two cases we announced on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. The case at the Kingston location affects the childcare sector of the Wright Crescent facility, and the case in Brockville affects a spin class at the Park Street facility.

Here in Kingston, the YMCA has closed areas within its childcare centre as a result. Some of those areas are expected to re-open on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, and no other area of the Kingston location is affected, Adams said in the memo. The Y suggests that Kingston members with any COVID-19-related questions contact Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health at 613-549-1232.

Regarding the case in Brockville, the YMCA of Eastern Ontario said that the contact with that case was limited to the spin class that took place on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.

“The class was on the second floor, an area that is isolated from the rest of the facility,” Adams said in the memo.

According to Adams, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) District Health Unit has assessed the risk to those who were in that class as “high.” He said that the YMCA and LGL Health Unit were reaching out to those who were in the class on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2021. The memo stated that the LGL Health Unit has assessed the risk for others who were in the Brockville Y at the time (but not in the spin class) as “low,” and that any Brockville members with COVID-19-related questions contact the LGL Health Unit at 613-345-5685

“While everyone accessing our facilities must show their vaccination passport (proof of full vaccination), Covid-19 continues to be a risk in our communities. Following all health protocols such as maintaining distancing, wearing a mask, thorough hand-washing and getting a booster shot, if you are eligible, are critical in combatting the virus,” Adams said in the memo, noting that anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate and arrange for testing through their local Public Health Unit.

“As you know, we have always operated with the utmost consideration for the health and safety of everyone in our programs and our facilities, and have taken immediate action, ahead of Public Health directives,” he concluded.

“We are following all public health requirements and will provide all information as it becomes available to us.”

Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.