A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Extendicare Timmins after a staff member tested positive.
According to the Porcupine Health Unit, it is a Timmins woman in her 20s who was infected by community exposure. She is in self-isolation.
At this point, the health unit says it is the only positive result at the facility.
"While the individual is an employee at the facility, all infection prevention measures have been followed," reads the health unit news release.
This is the 69 confirmed cases of the virus in the region. Of those, 59 are resolved and eight people have died. There are two known active cases in the region.
The health unit is aware of 9,862 tests being done locally, which is an increase of 115 from yesterday's report.
Earlier today, a letter from Extendicare Timmins administrator Kelly Roy was shared its Facebook page. It confirmed an asymptomatic staff member had tested positive.
This is the second case within the past week that the ongoing screening of long-term care staff has identified a positive case in an asymptomatic person.
A case reported over the weekend, a man in his 20s, works at South Centennial Manor Long-Term Care Home in Iroquois Falls. An outbreak has not been declared at that facility.
According to the Extendicare letter, staff at the Timmins facility have been tested every two weeks since June 15.
Family members and non-essential visitors are not being allowed at this time.
"As well, all outdoor visits have been temporarily suspended; however window visits and virtual phone calls will continue to remain in effect," it reads.
This is the third COVID-19 outbreak at Extendicare Timmins since the start of the pandemic.
Extendicare Timmins was the first institutional outbreak in the health unit's region. It was announced in early April after a staff member tested positive, and declared over April 18.
The second outbreak was in May after a resident tested positive during the screening of all long-term care staff and residents.
The health unit has issued an order manadating masks in public indoor spaces starting Thursday, July 23.
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 PHU COVID-19 hotline is open weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
