It's been nearly two weeks since there's been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Porcupine Health Unit region.
This past week, there has been a drop in the number of people tested for the virus compared to other weeks. The last confirmed case was 13 days ago.
To date, there have been 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region. Of those, at least 55 are resolved and six people have died. The daily testing table on the health unit's website has not been updated yet today.
Based on the numbers reported yesterday, there had been 204 tests done this week.
That is a drop from previous weekly tallies this month.
Recent weekly testing numbers have been:
• April 26 to May 2 - 482 tests;
• May 3 to May 9 - 948 tests;
• May 10 to May 16 - 1,162 tests were done.
"Continue to stay home as much as possible, send only one member per family to run errands when possible, wash hands frequently and maintain a physical distance of 2 metres when you are out. If you’re going to be in an area where physical distancing may be challenging, wear a face covering. If you are not well, stay home," reads today's update from the health unit.
For the local confirmed cases, 41 have been in Timmins. Of those, 33 cases are resolved and four people have died. There have been 23 cases in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls. Of those, 21 are resolved and two people have died. There has been one case in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland and it is resolved.
Symptoms of the virus include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing as well as sore throat/hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, loss of smell or taste, fatigue, muscle aches, runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting.
There are COVID-19 Assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst and Hornepayne. They are by appointment only and you must be referred by your primary healthcare provider or the health unit.
The PHU COVID-19 hotline is open today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
