An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared at St. Mary's Gardens.
It is the third outbreak in Timmins during the pandemic.
Earlier today, Porcupine Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton said a staff member at another retirement home had tested positive for the virus. It is now confirmed the case is at the retirement home on Pine Street North across from the 101 Mall.
The investigation into case is ongoing, and there is no known link to travel or other cases. The worker is in self-isolation.
"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," reads a news release from the health unit.
Three new cases of the virus were confirmed in the Timmins area today, bringing the total number of cases in the health unit's region to 45.
The Ministry of Health requires an outbreak to be declared when one positive case is confirmed in a resident or staff.
An outbreak at Spruce Hill Lodge was announced Saturday, April 11 after a woman in her 90s who is a resident tested positive. The first Timmins outbreak was at Extendicare after a staff member tested positive.
To date, the Porcupine Health Unit is aware of 874 tests submitted locally. Of the 45 positive tests to date, 22 cases are resolved and two people have died. There have been 601 negative tests, and the results of 228 tests are pending.
For the local cases, 26 are in Timmins and 11 of those are resolved, 18 are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls and 10 of those are resolved, and one is in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland and is resolved.
The health unit is doing expanded testing on people with milder symptoms for a limited time.
Up until now, the main COVID-19 symptoms have been cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. The expanded list now includes: sore throat/hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, loss of smell or taste, fatigue, muscle aches, runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing and Hornepayne. They are by appointment only and you must be referred by your primary healthcare provider or the health unit.
The PHU COVID-19 information line is open until 7:30 p.m. today. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
