As the economy slowly starts re-opening, Timmins Mayor George Pirie says it's up to individuals to keep practicing everything they've learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yesterday, a number of businesses were allowed to re-open. The list includes garden centres and nurseries with curbside pickup and deliver, lawn care and landscaping businesses, and automatic and self-serve car washes. Car dealers can open by appointment only, and golf courses and marinas can also start prepping for the upcoming season.
“It is definitely up to every individual as we transition through this period of closure into a more open economy that they keep practicing all the lessons that they’ve learned over the last number of months with COVID-19,” said Pirie.
When people are out, they should still practice physical distancing and wash their hands often.
"Remember when individuals are out there and they’re not doing the proper thing, it’s within your right to say ‘please step back’. If you don’t feel safe, walk away. If someone is making it unsafe for you’ve got the right, of course to tell them that. It’s a safe environment to do that,” he said.
At today's daily health roundtable for the pandemic, Pirie said the vast majority of people have been folowing the rules.
He said they have had comments about young people getting together in parking lots and such.
“Remember that one positive case that we’ve announced this week is in that age group from 11 to 19. Beware of the fact that of course anybody can get this and you can get it at any time,” he said, noting there are asymptomatic people not aware of it.
Today, the Porcupine Health Unit reported no new COVID-19 cases and two new recoveries in the region.
To date, there have been 61 positive cases of the virus. Of those, 48 are resolved and four people have died. The health unit is following nine known active cases.
“We are working closely with community partners across our district to complete the surveillance testing in long-term care home,” said Chantal Riopel, PHU chief nursing officer.
There are 10 long-term care homes in the Porcupine Health Unit district. Staff and residents at two of those homes have been tested already. Riopel said three are in progress and two are scheduled for later in the week. The remaining three will be completed next week before the May 15 deadline set by the province.
As progress is made to slow the spread of COVID-19, Timmins and District Hospital president and CEO Blaise MacNeil is asking people to keep doing their part to make the pandemic as short as possible.
"This can only be accomplished by staying the course and adhering to public health measures that are currently in place. This is not going to be an easy transition, but it is one that we are all making together,” he said.
“Through measured, evidence-based changes being made we hope to slowly transition into what will be our new normal.”
At the City of Timmins, CAO Dave Landers said tax bills have been sent out.
He reminded people that city hall is closed to the public. People who want to negotiate a deferral of payment can contact Service Timmins online or by calling 705-264-1331.
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.
