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.”
