The fire ban in Timmins is still in effect, according to Timmins fire chief Tom Laughren.
Over the weekend, he said an outdated link about a ban being lifted was shared on social media.
“No pun intended, but it’s spreading like wildfire throughout not only Timmins, but the region,” said Laughren in today's daily health table update for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fire ban was put in place April 3.
Laughren said it's for all crown and private land in the municipality, as well as provincial parks and conservation areas.
“It’s really put in place as a proactive measure to ensure emergency response capacity is maintained during these uncertain times,” he said.
To date there have been 65 confirmed cases of the virus in the Porcupine Health Unit region. Of those, 49 are recovered and five people have died.
An outbreak of the virus was declared today at Extendicare Timmins after a resident — a woman in her 70s — tested positive. It is the second outbreak at the facility since the start of the pandemic.
It is one of three active outbreaks in the health unit's area, with the others being at the Golden Manor in Timmins and South Centennial Manor in Iroquois Falls.
The three active outbreaks have each been declared since the health unit started the enhanced surveillance of long-term care staff and residents.
So far, more than 1,300 tests have been done at eight of the 10 long-term care facilities in the region.
The outbreaks at Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) and Spruce Hill Lodge have been declared over.
TADH president and CEO Blaise MacNeil said they are relieved to share that the outbreak is over.
“While this is positive news, it is important that as a community we don’t take this as a reason to relax on the public health measures in place. It’s important that we do everything we can to support our healthcare workers and physicians by making this pandemic as short as possible,” he said.
There are still precautionary measures in place at the hospital, however.
MacNeil said there is screening at all patient entrance, visitor restrictions, and masking of all patients attending the hospital.
For food security, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) CAO Brian Marks said anyone in need of an emergency food hamper can call 211 to register fo home delivery of a food box.
For grocery store home deliveries, he said to call the Anti-Hunger Coalition at 705-288-9701.
