**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

Daily COVID-19 Update for Thursday, April 23, 2020

The Porcupine Health Unit is reporting 1 new COVID-19 case among residents in the health unit area. The current number of confirmed positive cases is now 55. As of yesterday, over 1481 COVID-19 tests have been completed in our region and 34 cases have been resolved. For more information, visit phu.fyi/coronavirus.

The new case is a female in her 30s from the Timmins area who is a staff member at Timmins and District Hospital not identified as part of the outbreak, and currently following guidance in home isolation, however a thorough review is being done to determine if there are any potential linkages.

The Ontario government has introduced more aggressive testing, screening, and surveillance, deployed specialized teams from hospitals, public health and the home care sector, recruited additional frontline staff, and increased personal protective equipment in the province’s long-term care homes. (https://bit.ly/3aADcit)

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lianne Catton urges everyone, “it’s critical we all keep working together to stop the spread of COVID-19.” Stay home as much as possible and avoid travelling between communities. Only go out if absolutely necessary to pick up groceries, prescriptions or go to a medical appointment. Maintain physical distancing. Do not visit loved ones or friends outside of your immediate household.

There are COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls and Hornepayne. Please note that you require an appointment. Call your primary care provider or the PHU. Our COVID-19 Information line is open today from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call the toll-free number, 1-800-461-1818, or the PHU office in your community. See phu.fyi/offices for local contact numbers.

Keep it up! Stay home, stay well, stay kind. We’re all in this together.

Filed under: Local News