**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), confirmed that an employee of St. Mary’s Gardens has tested positive for COVID-19. The investigation is ongoing, however there is no known link to travel or any other cases. The individual is in self-isolation.
The Porcupine Health Unit has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at St. Mary’s Gardens as per the Ministry of Health guidelines which deems that one positive case in a retirement home or long-term care facility is an outbreak. The staff at St. Mary’s Gardens continue to take all the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection and prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
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If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0) to see if you need to seek further care.
If you need further assistance, call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or your health care provider. You can also call the Porcupine Health Unit at 705-267-1181 or toll-free 1-800-461-1818.
The Ontario Government is asking all Ontarians to stay home unless absolutely necessary for essential reasons, such as accessing health care services, shopping for groceries, picking up medication, walking pets when required, or supporting vulnerable community members with meeting essential needs. If you must leave your home, stay at least two (2) meters apart from others.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

Filed under: Local News