The Porcupine Health Unit is reporting 22 new COVID-19 cases today (Dec. 18).
There are 11 people in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls, eight people in Timmins, two in the Kapuskasing area, and one in Hearst and Hornepayne.
This is the biggest single-day spike in local cases since mid-June when the region was being hard hit during the third wave.
To date, there have been 2,355 cases of the virus in the region. Of those, at least 2,252 are recovered and 31 people have died.
To slow the spread of the Omicron variant, new public health measures such as capacity limits for indoor public spaces and social gatherings are being reinstated tomorrow.
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.
