Since last week, over 70 people have been tested locally for COVID-19, according to Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lianne Catton.
In an update on the local pandemic situation, Catton said there are still no confirmed cases from the tests that started last week.
“We are prepared if and when we do end up with a positive case here, and that’s why really all of the other measures are exceedingly important to ensure that any potential transmission or spread of COVID-19 for any of our communities and community members is really limited as much as possible,” she said.
A COVID-19 Assessment Centre is opening tomorrow in Timmins.
It will be at the Intrepid Place, which is in the Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane Timiskaming Branch located at 330 Second Ave. The hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
It will be by appointment only. A referral is required from your doctor, public health, or Telehealth.
“We will be giving very clear instructions as to where individuals are going to go, we’ll be spacing out appointments so that we’re not having crowding and people waiting in that location,” she explained, adding the entrance being used is only for the assessment centre.
According to the health unit, the centre is to screen people with potential COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath and/or new or worse cough who have recently travelled internationally or who’ve been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days.
If you suspect you have symptoms, call the health unit at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818 for screening and advise. Eligible people will be referred for an assessment centre appointment.
Catton said the hotline has been incredibly busy.
“They have had hundreds of calls, they’ve had over 100 calls every day, it’s increasing on a regular basis and so we just encourage people to be patient, to check our website, to check the assessment tools,” she said.
