**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

The Porcupine Health Unit is reporting no new cases. At this time, the current number of confirmed positive cases is now 81, six of which remain active.

We’re seeing a steep increase in cases in other parts of the province because of events like celebrations and parties. People are coming together but are not maintaining physical distancing or wearing face coverings. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen in the PHU area.

This is why the government took a proactive approach and reduced the number of people allowed to gather. Currently, a limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors are permitted to gather. Any event or gathering cannot combine these limits to equal to 35. We hope that by doing this, we can limit the spread of COVID-19 and continue to work, go to school and keep the businesses open. We still expect cases to rise, but we all play a role in protecting our safety and the safety of those in our community.

If you are hosting a celebration, ensure that the size of the location allows participants to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres, that people have access to wash their hands, have hand sanitizer available, and that no one attending is ill.

This week is Environmental Public Health week! We want to thank our Public Health Inspectors and staff for all the hard work they’ve been doing throughout this pandemic. Our Public Health Inspectors, management and staff also appreciate the efforts you’ve made over the past few months. And we encourage you to keep it up to keep the spread low. We can do it!

Our COVID-19 Information line is open today from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call the toll-free number, 1-800-461-1818 or the PHU office in your community. See our office listings for local contact numbers.

Filed under: Local News