Three new cases confirmed in region

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The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Porcupine Health Unit’s catchment area since Friday morning has now increased to 28, but none of the three announced on Wednesday is located in Timmins.

All three of the new cases, attributed to an institutional outbreak, are located in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, Fauquier and Strickland area.

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Each of them is in self-isolation.

To date, there have now been 167 cases in the health unit’s catchment area since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March, with 27 of them remaining active.

Health unit statistics show 138 cases have now been resolved, with 129 having recovered and nine having passed away as a result of the disease.

Two of the cases are located outside of the region, and are not included in the health unit’s statistics.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 55,051 test has been administered in the region.

On Tuesday, Yves Poitras, principal of École secondaire catholique Thériault, responded to local social media chatter after the provincial database listing COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres indicated two students at Thériault had been confirmed as COVID-19 cases.

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“We can confirm with certainty that the identified cases were not in school during the period of infection or exposure due to the Christmas break and the extended distance learning period. Students and staff are therefore not at risk,” Poitras wrote in an online letter to parents and guardians of Thériault students.

“Rest assured, there are currently no active cases in the school.”

When the provincial database was updated on Wednesday, the notation concerning the two Thériault students had been removed.

In the meantime, health unit officials are reminding the public if they think they may have COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in close contact with someone who has it, to first self-isolate and complete the on-line COVID-19 SelfAssessment (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/) to determine your next steps.

If testing is required, they should seek testing through one of the assessment centres across Ontario (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations/).

They can also call the Porcupine Health Unit at 705-267-1181, or toll-free at 1-800-461-1818.

To reduce the risk of exposure, we ask that you continue to follow public health measures:
• screen regularly for symptoms;
• stay home and isolate if you have any symptoms;
• wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
• sneeze and cough into your sleeve;
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth;
• practice two-metre physical distancing;
• wear a mask in indoor public spaces;
• do not have gatherings indoors with people outside your household;
• wear a mask indoors and outdoors when physical distancing of two metres (six feet) cannot be maintained with anyone outside your household.