When the shutdown and stay-at-home order lifts, the area's top doctor doesn't know where the Porcupine Health Unit will fall in Ontario's COVID-19 regional response framework.
Whatever colour the Porcupine Health Unit is, medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton said people "cannot be cautious enough."
“The most important thing for us to remember is that while we may see things open up more it does not mean that we should increase our activity or interactions substantially. And if we do, it needs to be done with extreme caution,” said Catton in a news conference yesterday.
So far in 2021, 169 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the health unit region. In 2020, there were 130 confirmed cases.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 299 cases in the district that stretches from Timmins to Hearst and includes Hornepayne, as well as communities on the James Bay coast. Of those, 237 are recovered and 22 people have died. There are 40 known active cases.
Ontario's state of emergency ended yesterday (Feb. 9). The stay-at-home order and shutdown measures remain in effect for all but three health unit regions. For Northern Ontario, the stricter measures are in place until at least Tuesday, Feb. 16. When the shutdown is lifted, the regions will return back to the provincial framework put in place last year.
The regional framework has five levels — green (prevent), yellow (protect), orange (restrict), red (control), and grey (lockdown). A region's classification depends on a number of factors such as the weekly incidence rate, positivity rate, outbreaks, and the capacity of hospitals and public health.
Catton said people should continue to limit close contacts to people you live with and limit the number of times you go out in the community. In public, the health measures remain the same. People should stay six-feet apart, wash or disinfect their hands often, masks are required indoors and are now suggested outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. If you're unwell or have symptoms, stay home and call for testing.
People with a runny nose for a day have passed on COVID, said Catton.
“People with a change in taste or smell only have passed on COVID to many people, that’s one of our common symptoms we’ve seen,” she said.
There are currently three outbreaks in the region.
The largest to-date is at Extendicare Kapuskasing, where almost 70 residents and staff have tested positive. There are also outbreaks in Hearst at Foyer de Pionniers and RYAM Lumber.
One of the confirmed cases at the Extendicare Kapuskasing is also a possible variant of concern (VOC).
The test has been sent for further genome testing and those results aren't available yet. If it's a VOC that testing will identify what strain it is. Currently in Ontario, the known variants are the UK strain (B.1.1.7.), South Africa strain, and Brazil strain.
Catton said the health unit is investigating how a potential variant could be in Kapuskasing, noting intraprovincial tranel is still allowed.
As of Feb. 3, all positive COVID-19 tests are being screened for the variants.
Ahead of that provincial change, Catton said a few positive tests from the region were screened. A total of nine swabs — six from the Kapuskasing area and three from other areas in the district — were sent for testing. All were negative.
Because of the potential variant, there are enhanced safety procedures at the Kapuskasing long-term care home.
These measures include extended isolation of cases, work cell isolation for staff to decrease secondary spread, masking residents when staff are within two metres to provide care, and increased frequency of testing. Catton said testing is now happening every three days and the most recent round indicated positive news.
Just under 30 residents at Extendicare Kapuskasing have now been vaccinated, including residents who have recovered from the virus.
Timmins and area long-term care homes, high-risk retirement homes and First Nations elder care residents have also been receiving their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, and Hornepayne.
The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
