Seven new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Porcupine Health Unit region.
Two previously reported cases have also screened positive for a variant of concern.
Of the new cases, five are in Timmins and two are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls. All of the people are the contact of a case and in self-isolation.
The variants of concern include a case from Timmins and one from the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls area. The health unit expects they are the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) strain. No further testing will be done, according to the health unit.
To date, there have been 383 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the health unit region. Of those, 326 are recovered and 25 people have died. There are 32 known active cases — 26 in Timmins, four in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls area, one in the Kapuskasing area, and one in the Hearst, Hornepayne area.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, and Hornepayne.
The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
