With steps being taken to re-open the economy, Porcupine Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton says they'll continue working to make sure measures are in place to protect people against COVID-19.
Ontario has announced garden centres and nurseries will be allowed to open for in-store and curbside pickup Friday, May 8. The following day, hardware and safety supply stores can open for in-store and curbside pickup. Monday, May 11 retail stores facing the street can offer curbside pickup.
“There’s been some very measured decisions made in order to limit what we are opening and what we are allowing to happen across the province and we will continue to work with everyone to ensure the measures are in place to protect people. Part of opening up the province, as you’ve heard, is also really keeping a close measured monitoring of what the impacts are as we go forward,” said Catton.
Today, she reinforced that re-opening doesn't mean returning to business as usual.
She said the health unit is working with businesses and community partners on how to re-open and limit the potential spread of COVID-19.
The measures are the same steps that the health unit has been promoting.
It's making sure there are opportunities for staff and clients to wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer, and physical distancing for staff and customers, which includes limiting the number of people allowed in a space at one time.
As there are opportunities to be out in public more often, Catton said the risk of the COVID-19 infection spreading remains.
“The ongoing real requirement for absolutely every community member most importantly is if you are unwell, please stay home. Whether it is COVID or not we cannot afford individuals to be out in our communities potentially spreading infections at this point in time,” she said.
In the Porcupine Health Unit region, there have been 63 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those, 48 are resolved and four people have died. The health unit is following 11 known active cases.
The newest case was reported today and is a male between the ages of 10 and 19. He is a contact of a confirmed case and in self-isolation.
The health unit is aware of 2,589 tests being done locally, which is an increase of 113 from the last report. There are 334 cases under investigation.
Additionally, 851 tests have been done in five long-term care homes in the region as part of the provincial screening of the facilities. That includes 465 staff members, and 386 residents. There are 10 long-term care homes in the region, and the health unit has reported its on track for testing to be done at all of them ahead of the May 15 deadline.
An outbreak of COVID-19 was declared at the Golden Manor this week after a resident, who wasn't showing symptoms, tested positive.
Catton said the other results from the tests done over the weekend as part of the provincial surveillance have come back and are negative.
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 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
The health unit is doing expanded testing on people with milder symptoms for a limited time.
The expanded list of symptoms includes 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.
