Ten additional COVID-19 cases are being reported by the Porcupine Health Unit. Potential exposure advisories have also been issued for an Ontario Northland bus and train.
These new cases are in addition to the 32 reported earlier today, bringing the total number of cases reported to 42. Today, an outbreak of the virus at Dailey's Your Independent Grocer was also reported.
For the new cases, five people are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls, four people are in Timmins and one case is in the James Bay region.
The exposure of seven cases is under investigation, two are related to an outbreak and one case is the contact of a case, according to the health unit.
There is a high-risk public exposure advisory for the May 18 Ontario Northland Polar Bear Express from Cochrane to Moosonee that was scheduled to leave at 9 a.m.
It especially affects people in car three, rows one to 10. People who sat in those rows are considered high risk and must self-isolate immediately and call the Porcupine Health Unit at 1-800-461-1818 or their local health unit.
Other passengers are considered low risk and are asked to self-monitor for symptoms.
There is also a low-risk exposure related to the May 18 Ontario Northland bus from Timmins to Cochrane that was scheduled to leave at 7:15 a.m.
As a precaution, the health unit is asking people who used the service during this time to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the potential exposure.
There is also a potential exposure advisory for the Thursday, May 27 Ontario Northland train from Moosonee to Cochrane. The scheduled departure time was 5 p.m. This advisory was released by the health unit yesterday.
Typical COVID-19 symptoms are:
- fever
- new or worsening cough
- shortness of breath
- loss of sense of smell or taste
- sore throat or hoarse voice
- difficulty swallowing
- runny nose or nasal congestion
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Atypical symptoms are:
- unexplained fatigue or malaise
- muscle aches
- delirium
- unexplained or increased number of falls
- acute functional decline
- exacerbation of current chronic conditions
- chills
- headaches
- croup
- conjuctivitis
To date, there have been 1,326 confirmed cases of the virus. As of yesterday, 933 people had recovered and 26 people died. While the health unit reports new cases on the weekend the number of known active cases and recoveries is not updated.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Matheson, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, and Hornepayne, as well as communities on the James Bay coast.
The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line can be reached at 705-360-4819 or 1-800-461-1818.
There is a provincial shutdown and stay-at-home order in effect until at least June 2.
