People with flu symptoms encouraged to test for COVID-19
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For the third consecutive week there were no new cases of COVID-19 to report by the Northwestern Health Unit.
However, NWHU acting medical officer of health Dr. Ian Gemmill, advises people to continue exercising caution as the province begins to relax restrictions allowing certain business to reopen for deliver and curb side pickup.
“We’re not finished yet and we need to watch the progress of this pandemic and be guided by the recommendations of the Ontario government that are in effect across the province,” he said.
The northwest district has recorded a total of 16 positive cases, which are attributed to travel, occupational exposure or family contact. All 16 cases are designated as resolved.
“There’s no evidence of community spread in our area,” Gemmill said. “I’m cautiously optimistic we may have dodged the first wave.”
As of May 11, the NWHU reports nearly 3,000 people have been tested for COVID-19, with 1,750 people testing negative and approximately 1,250 test results yet to come back.
“Negative test results are important as it tells us we don’t have a local spread of coronavirus in Northwestern Ontario,” he said.
Dr. Gemmill attributes the backlog on results to the large number of tests being administered in long term care homes across the district, which he says will be completed in the coming days.
On Thursday, May 7, Dr. Gemmill related how COVID-19 testing has ramped up in the Northwest over the past month following the opening of local Assessment Centres in Kenora, other district communities, long term care facilities and child care centres across the district.
At that time he noted that testing of staff and residents for coronavirus has been completed by seven of the nine long term care facilities and four of the five child care centres across the district. Testing is expected to be completed at the remaining locations well before the provincial deadline later this week.
Dr. Gemmill said that testing of the general population can only proceed if people come forward and request a test. People are advised to self-isolate if they have flu symptoms, following testing and people who test positive are required to go into 14 days quarantine.
“Anyone with symptoms should come forward,” he said.
Following clinical observations over recent months, the spectrum of COVID-19 symptoms has also been expanded from fever, cough and difficulty breathing to include aches and pains, sore throat, congestion and gastrointestinal disorders.
Anyone can take the self assessment online at www.nwhu.on.ca/covid-19. People with concerns, questions or want to make an appointment for testing to contact the NWHU COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-468-2240.
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