Paramedics ready to return to work after testing negative for COVID-19

GUELPH – Eight local paramedics forced to self-isolate after a co-worker tested positive for COVID-19 will soon return to work.

"All eight paramedics have received negative test results, are experiencing no symptoms and are scheduled to get back to work over the next several days," states an Oct. 28 press release from the City of Guelph.

The paramedic who tested positive is recovering well, officials say, and will follow instructions from the public health unit before returning to work.

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“I am relieved, reassured and confident our emergency response plan will help us contain any future cases, prevent them from spreading on our team, and in our community,” stated Stephen Dewar, Chief of the Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service (GWPS).

"Keeping our paramedics healthy and safe is a critical part of managing COVID-19 cases here in Guelph-Wellington.”

GWPS announced on Oct. 21 that one of its paramedic had tested positive for COVID-19.

The public health unit noted the case is evidence the virus "is still a circulating threat in our community."

In the 48 hours before testing positive, the paramedic affected “was not involved in high-risk calls,” GWPS officials noted.

They also stressed that ambulance response times and services were not impacted by the positive test.