No new COVID-19 cases or recoveries were reported by the Porcupine Health Unit today.
There have been 70 confirmed cases of the virus in the region since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 61 are recovered and eight people have died. There is one known active case.
The health unit is aware of 11,184 tests being done locally, which is an increase of 220 from the last report Friday. Since last Monday, 753 tests have been done. That's on par with the week prior when 749 tests were completed.
Public Health Ontario reported 119 new cases in the province today, most of which were from three southern Ontario health units. Ontario has reported 38,799 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Of those, 34,461 (88.8 per cent) are now listed as recovered, and 2,764 people have died.
For the confirmed cases in the Porcupine Health Unit region, 45 have been in Timmins. Of those, 38 are resolved and six people have died. There is one known active case in the city. There have been 24 cases in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls. Of those, 22 are recovered and two people have died. There was one case in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, Fauquier-Strickland which is recovered.
Last week, a face mask or covering order went into effect for the entire Porcupine Health Unit region. It requires people to wear a face mask of covering at indoor, public spaces.
"You may have little to no symptoms and may spread COVID-19 without knowing. Their purpose is to “filter” respiratory droplets. A face covering with two or more layers fitting snuggly over your nose, mouth and chin without gapping traps these droplets and help limit the spread of COVID-19," reads today's update from the health unit.
"Currently, many cases are labelled as community exposure which means they are not linked to confirmed positive cases nor to international travel. We are seeing outbreaks throughout the province and country due to gatherings. COVID-19 is circulating in our area and it will continue to be a part of our lives."
The health unit continues to remind people that wearing a mask doesn't replace the other measures of slowing the spread of the virus.
Those steps include practising physical distancing, washing your hands often and well, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, and staying home if you're sick.
COVID-19 testing is open to anyone who feels they need to be tested, even if you don't have symptoms. To access testing, call your health care provider or the health unit.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst and Hornepayne.
The hours for the PHU hotline have changed.
It is now open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
