A potential COVID-19 exposure advisory has been issued for a Timmins flight.
The flight is the Tuesday, April 13 Air Canada flight AC8289 from Toronto to Timmins that was scheduled to depart at 6:55 p.m.
All passengers in rows five to nine must self-isolate immediately, according to the Porcupine Health Unit. People in these rows should also call their local health unit.
Other people on the flight are asked to self-monitor. If symptoms develop, self-isolate at home and call the Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line at 705-267-1181 or your local public health unit.
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
Today, 27 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the region. Nineteen of the new cases are in Timmins, seven are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, Smooth Rock Falls, and one is in the Hearst, Hornepayne area.
This week there has been a surge of cases in the region, with 68 new cases being confirmed since Monday. Twenty-three previously reported cases have also screened positive for a variant of concern. The health unit expects they are all the UK (B.1.1.7) strain.
To date, there have been 475 confirmed cases of the virus in the region since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 366 are recovered and 25 people have died. There are 84 known active cases.
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.
People eligible for a vaccine can register for upcoming clinics in the region here. Select pharmacies are also delivering the vaccine. Find a list of those and book an appointment here.
