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Northwestern Health Unit

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UPDATE: Three New COVID-19 Cases In Dryden

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The Northwestern Health Unit is confirming three new travel related cases in Dryden.

The Health Unit says they have completed quarantine and are no longer infectious.

The cases followed self-isolation protocols, have no known contacts and there is no evidence of risk to residents in Dryden.

There are now nine confirmed cases in the region, none in First Nations communities.

As of noon Thursday, the Health Unit has received nearly 350 tests that have come back negative.

Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill says that’s an encouraging sign, noting about 230 cases remain outstanding.

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UPDATE: Two New Regional Cases Of COVID-19

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There are two more cases of COVID-19 being reported by the Northwestern Health Unit.

Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr Ian Gemmill says the two people were in the same family and got the virus while travelling.

“These are people who I understand it, live in Red Lake and had international travel and became unwell following that travel,”

“So this is two people in the same family and we are assuming they were both exposed together as their date of on-set were very similar. So this is not a new situation. It is not an indicator of local transmission.”

Gemmill says there is a third person who contracted COVID-19 in that group, but they are living in Manitoba.

One of the cases being reported in the area has a primary residence in southern Ontario and has not been to the region since contracting the virus while travelling internationally.

Officials note there’s another 136 test that still pending.

 

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Travel Not Recommended During COVID-19

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The Ontario/Manitoba boundary remains open.

On Friday, Manitoba set up information check points to give out information about COVID-19.

Dr. Ian Gemmill is the Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit and he says he wasn’t notified about the move.

However, Dr. Gemmill says he strongly supports the move stressing officials on both sides share the same ideas about spreading the virus.

Dr. Gemmill notes according to federal legislation, anyone exhibiting signs of the coronavirus is not recommended to travel.

He is urging local residents to stay at home to reduce the spread of the virus.

 

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Local Medical Officer Warns COVID Storm Clouds On The Horizon

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The Northwestern Health Unit is preparing for a spike in local COVID-19 cases and difficult times ahead.

Right now the northwest has five positive transmission cases related to travel; three in the Thunder Bay district and two in the Rainy River district.

Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill says “Watching the storm clouds continuing to mount on the horizon. It won’t be long before there’s local transmission in the northwest as well. Because there is transmission in the South and we need to be prepared for that.”

He says there will be a point in time when they will require anyone who is suffering from a respiratory illness to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

Dr. Gemmill says he can’t say when local transmission will happen given the strict measures being put in place by both levels of government.

“If they work than we may be able to push this farther into the future. And it may be even longer before we have local transmission here. That’s what we are prepared for as the next phase. Right now we are just identifying the people who have travelled.”

 

 

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Health Unit Staff/Leadership Praised By Board

A vote of confidence for the Northwestern Health Unit as the war against COVID-19 wages on.

Members of the Board of Health have individually and unanimously expressed their appreciation and support for the efforts of all Health Unit leadership and staff during unprecedented times.

In a statement on behalf of the entire Board, Chair Doug Lawrance thanked the health unit team for their courageous and diligent work.

Lawrance states “We will not be able to prevent this virus from impacting our residents, but the actions of Northwestern Health Unit leadership and staff are significantly slowing and limiting the spread of COVID-19.”

He added “The value of public health, investments made in public health, and the staff who work in the public health sector are now front and centre in the effort to fight COVID-19. Our public health staff are taking actions that protect the health of our population.”

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Local Health Unit Updates Case Numbers

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There is still only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in northwestern Ontario and that was reported in Fort Frances a couple of weeks ago.

Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill says they have tested more than 130-people and 45 test results have come back negative.

The other results are pending as Ontario works to clear a backlog across the province.

In terms of the statistics, Dr. Gemmill says “That’s actually good news at this point in time. It let’s us have a tiny bit of breathing space. But as I mentioned before we are in a situation where we have to assume there will be local transmission in our area.”

He continues to stress the importance of self-isolation, stating the best way to stay safe and stop the spread of the virus is by staying home.

Dr. Gemmill is supporting a federal move to enforce a mandatory 14-day self-isolation for Canadians who are returning home.

He’s urging everyone to abide by the rules.

“I will say that I hope we can blunt this curve, if everybody takes it seriously.”

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Local Influenza Cases On The Rise

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The Northwestern Health Unit warns both gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses are circulating local communities at a higher rate than usual,

Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps as well as flu like symptoms including a cough, fever, runny nose and extreme tiredness.

However, Manager of Infectious Diseases Donna Stanley assures the public that COVID-19 doesn’t pose any significant risk in our area.

Stanley notes what we are experiencing right now is high rates of influenza.

She recommends washing your hands often, cover your cough, and stay home when ill.

 

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Health Unit Urges Attention To Stay Healthy

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Area hospitals are seeing a spike in patients with both respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Northwestern Health Unit says because of the bug going around, you should stay home from work or school if you’re sick.

If you’re not sick, they recommend that you wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your elbow, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.

One other step you can take is to get your flu shot if you haven’t gotten around to that yet.

They add if you are sick, you should not visit people in the hospital or long-term care homes until you’re feeling better.

Schools, workplaces and other businesses have been impacted in recent days.

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Syphilis Cases On The Rise In Northwestern Ontario

The Northwestern Health Unit says they’re seeing an increase in syphilis cases in the region.

The Health Unit is reporting the rise in reported cases has been linked to an ongoing outbreak of S-T-I in Winnipeg.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young-Hoon says rates will continue to be higher than normal until the numbers in Winnipeg come down.

To prevent the infection, Young-Hoon is urging everyone to use protection and to seek testing if you think you may have contracted the illness.

She says that syphilis is easily cured with antibiotics if treated early, but can result in severe and irreversible damage if left untreated.