The most recent local positive case of COVID-19 is a worker with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon is the Medical Officer of Health with the Northwestern Health Unit and says the worker is asymptomatic.
“Of the health care testing and the positive results in health care providers, generally they are asymptomatic. So that means they are less likely to transmit to others. I think a huge driver of these positive cases is just because of the large amount of testing that’s being carried out.”
According to Health Unit date from Tuesday, 20,371 tests have been done and 20,326 have come back negative.
The Sioux Lookout case was detected as part of routine testing done prior to travel to one of the community served by the Authority.
Officials say the individual is self-isolating in Sioux Lookout and there are no known implications for any of the communities served by the Authority.
Contact tracing is being done to determine if there are any high risk contacts.
Meantime, a coronavirus case reported in Kenora last week has been reclassified as a ‘probable’ case.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon says “A probable case is a bit different from a confirmed case, in that the symptoms, exposures and the type of lab result makes it a probably case. The lab result doesn’t necessarily confirm COVID-19, but we combine information about the case and their symptoms.”
She adds the Dryden-Red Lake area’s recent case most likely acquired the illness while travelling, and not in northwestern Ontario.
The public is being reminded to continue physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks and face coverings in public, staying in your bubbles and avoiding unnecessary travel.
