The Porcupine Health Unit has reported two new COVID-19 cases and declared an outbreak at a Hearst nursing home.
The two new cases are in the Hearst, Hornepayne area. Both are contacts of a case and in self-isolation, according to the health unit.
An outbreak has been declared at Foyer des Pionniers Nursing Home. In the announcement, the health unit said it's "in accordance with the provincial guidelines which deems that one case in a long term care home is an outbreak."
"The staff at the long term care home are taking all the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection and prevent the transmission of COVID-19," reads the bulletin.
This is the second active COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care home in the region.
An outbreak at Extendicare Kapuskasing that was declared Jan. 7 includes 27 residents and eight staff at the 61-bed facility, according to provincial data. Four residents have died.
To date in the Porcupine Health Unit region, there have been 256 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those, 171 are recovered and 13 people have died. There are 72 known active cases.
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.
