The Porcupine Health Unit is reporting four new COVID-19 cases and no recoveries today (Dec. 15).
Two people are in Timmins, one person is in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, and one person is in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam and Fauquier-Strickland.
Yesterday, Ontario announced changes for staff and visitors at long-term care and retirement homes. It includes regular rapid testing for fully vaccinated visitors and staff.
Today, Premier Doug Ford is expected to make an announcement about vaccine boosters. It's taking place at 3:30 p.m. TimminsToday will carry the live stream.
To date, there have been 2,322 cases of the virus in the region. Of those, 2,251 are recovered and 31 people have died. There are 40 known active cases in the region — 3 in Timmins, 23 people in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls area, 8 in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam and Fauquier-Strickland, and 6 in Hearst and Hornepayne.
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.
