**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is declaring a COVID-19 outbreak at the Extendicare in Timmins after one resident tested positive. All residents and staff were tested late last week as part of the COVID-19 surveillance testing in long-term care homes supported by the PHU across the health unit region.

“We are all committed to ensuring the supports are in place to protect residents and staff in this home and will continue to monitor the results as they come in,” says Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, for the PHU. The risk of infection in the long-term care home remains low.

As part of the previously announced province-wide surveillance testing initiative for long-term care homes, the PHU is working with all long-term care homes in the area to ensure testing of all residents and staff, including those without symptoms. At the same time, the health unit is collaborating with partners across the health care sector to create multidisciplinary teams to support long term care homes with outbreak management and resident care.

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) metres apart from others.

If you think you may have COVID–19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has, first self-isolate and then contact your primary care provider or the Porcupine Health Unit for referral to an Assessment Centre as appropriate.

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.

Filed under: Local News