There are six new COVID-19 cases and seven resolved cases in the Porcupine Health Unit region today (June 23).
Some of the new cases are part of a data cleaning process and are no longer active.
While the region remains under the emergency brake restrictions, an announcement is expected this afternoon on if and how the restrictions could loosen on Friday, June 25.
For today's new cases, four people are in the James Bay area and two people are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls.
The exposure of four cases is under investigation and two people are the contact of a case.
"Today the health unit is reporting a higher-than-expected number of cases because of a normal process called 'data cleaning'. This process happens regularly and includes reviewing information to ensure it is accurate. The added cases are no longer active, but the total number of cases has been revised to reflect the accurate number of cases," reads the health unit bulletin.
To date, there have been 1,978 confirmed cases of the virus. Of the confirmed cases, 1,804 are recovered and 29 people have died. There are 145 known active cases — 10 in Timmins, 128 in the James Bay region, and 7 in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls.
So far, at least 47,306 people have been vaccinated, which is an increase of 25 from Monday when the number was last updated. There have been 71,680 doses of the vaccines administered.
A second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is now available for some 12 to 15-year-olds in the region who received their first dose at least 28 days ago. A
There is a drive-thru clinic today at the South Porcupine Ambulance Base (at the Northern College emergency services complex) from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. A pop-up, drop-in clinic is also being held in Smooth Rock Falls at Ecole secondaire George Vanier, 120 Ross St., from 2-7 p.m. Both clinics are using Pfizer. A list of other upcoming drop-in clinics and clinics requiring appointments is available here.
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.
