The Porcupine Health Unit is reporting 10 new COVID-19 cases related to an outbreak at Extendicare in Kapuskasing.
All of the people are self-isolating, according to the health unit.
The health unit did not indicate if the cases are in staff or residents.
According to the provincial summary of long-term care cases, there are at least five residents who are positive at the 60-bed facility and fewer than five staff who are confirmed cases. The information for that is extracted the afternoon the day prior and doesn't include today's new cases.
"Public health will notify all close contacts directly. If you are not contacted by public health, you are not considered a close contact. Regardless of an announcement of a case, everyone is reminded to stay home if they have symptoms and get tested," reads the health unit update.
The outbreak at Extendicare in Kapuskasing was declared Jan. 7. Since then, 17 cases have now been identified as part of it.
So far, there have been 187 confirmed cases of the virus in the region. Of those, 147 are recovered and nine people have died. There are 31 known active cases — six in Timmins, nine in the Hearst, Hornepayne area, and 16 in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, Fauquier-Strickland.
The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, and Hornepayne.
