The COVID-19 outbreaks at two seniors facilities in Timmins are still in effect.
An outbreak of the virus was declared at Spruce Hill Lodge in South Porcupine on April 11 after a resident tested positive. A second resident later tested postive as well. Both cases are now resolved.
The outbreak at St. Mary's Gardens was announced April 16 after a staff member tested positive. That case is also now resolved.
There is also an outbreak at Timmins and District Hospital.
Porcupine Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton said there have been no further positive cases at either of the seniors' homes.
“There are a couple of individuals under investigation at this point in time who remain in isolation, the homes are following all appropriate precautions and measures,” she said.
There have been 60 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the health unit's region. Of those, 43 are resolved and four people have died.
The 60th case was announced today and is a Timmins woman in her 40s. She is self-isolating.
A couple weeks ago, the health unit revealed it's taking part in a limited-time surveillance initiative for Northern Ontario.
It has people with milder symptoms being eligible for testing.
Catton said there is no clear indication when the program will end.
"We may get further direction as other surveillance strategies are implemented across the province as that impacts lab capacities and capacities across the system. But at this point in time we continue to promote testing, we have seen an increase and we’re quite pleased with the access to testing across the region with all the assessment centres and partners really working hard to facilitate this,” she said.
The health unit's first epidemiology report is now available online.
It includes local data up to Saturday, April 25.
At that time there were 58 cases confirmed, and 53 per cent (31 people) of the cases were women. The 60-79 age bracket had the highest number of cases with 37.9 per cent (22 cases).
The local case fatality rate at that time was 5.2 per cent, which is slightly under the provincial 5.8 per cent. One person has died from the virus locally since the report was put together.
The resolved cases percentage was 72.4 per cent, whereas Ontario's is 53.7 per cent.
Because of the area's low population and low case numbers, Catton said the report isn't something that can be used to predict risk in particular groups or make broader statements.
“As you can imagine, it is very easy for these percentages and these rates to change quickly with very small changes in the number of cases or very small changes in the distribution oft he age groups,” she said.
The report will be updated online every Monday.
