The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU), reported no new cases for the region on Tuesday.
COVID-19 active case numbers have dropped significantly since last week. There are currently 14 active cases, with 12 in the Rainy River District, two in the Kenora region. Since March, there have been a total of 234 confirmed cases in the region and four probable.
In the last seven days from Jan.11 to 17, the region has had 13 new cases with five in Fort Frances, five in the Town of Rainy River, two in Kenora and one in Atikokan.
Of the 13 new cases, nine were close contacts of known cases, one was related to an outbreak and one was linked to travel. The source of exposure remains unknown for two of these cases.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon, medical officer of health at the NWHU, said numbers in the Fort Frances area and the region are improving but that it is still too early to tell whether numbers will continue to drop.
Young Hoon adds that many of the cases continue to be because of multiple households gathering rather than spread at a workplace, schools or while travelling.
By the end of the day on Jan. 17, contact tracing information was available for all 13 of the new cases and through the NWHU’s investigation, they identified 80 people who had high risk close contacts with cases which is an average of 6.2 high risk close contacts per case.
The percent positivity that week was 0.61 per cent compared to the 1.68 per cent.
There are no new hospitalizations and three people are currently hospitalized.
Young Hoon said they have received many questions about whether people can leave their homes for recreational activities. Young Hoon said the provincial government states that exercise is an essential reason and may include activities such as snowshoeing, walking or ice fishing.
“If you consider these activities essential to your health, you must follow public health measures while engaging in the activity, this includes no outdoor gathering over five people and if you’re getting within two metres of others, you must wear a mask outdoors,” Young Hoon said.
Schools in the Fort Frances area are currently online but Young Hoon said that they will be reviewing the data on Thursday along with looking at the provincial announcements on schools to determine how best to approach the situation. She adds that parents and students will be informed first, followed by the general public.
