Staff
Northwestern Health Unit has received reports of six new positive COVID-19 test results in the Rainy River District and two new positive test result in the Kenora region over the weekend. Four of Rainy River’s cases were announced on Friday, with the remaining two announced yesterday.
There was also one positive test result from the Dryden / Red Lake region for a person who has a permanent residence outside of the NWHU region, but is currently located within our catchment area. This last case is not counted as part of NWHU’s confirmed case count, as they will be recorded within the region of their home address.
Follow up with the persons involved and their contacts has started according to protocol. Anyone who is identified as a contact for these cases will be contacted directly.
For reasons of privacy, NWHU minimizes sharing the information about the location of COVID-19 test results. Information about gender, age and method of transmission will be posted to the Ontario COVID data website when it is available.
Please also note that the COVID-19 outbreaks at Atikokan General Hospital Extended Care and Riverview Manor in Rainy River have been declared over. Enough time has passed with no linked cases to show that spread of the virus in these facilities has stopped.
The outbreak at Rainycrest Long-term care continues. A total of three residents have tested positive at the facility, with one case resolved. Testing continues at the facility, and visitors are strictly limited to palliative. Pathways Atelier daycare is also in an outbreak, with two active student cases. The facility has been temporarily closed.
COVID-19 remains a risk in all communities and NWHU recommends that you continue to follow precautions to protect yourself and your friends, family and community from infection. Currently, the entire province of Ontario is subject to a Stay at Home order, which means you should only go out when necessary for essential needs like food, medication and exercise, and you should not visit with others who are not in your household. If you live alone, you should only visit with one household outside of your home.
Anyone who has symptoms, or who has been in contact with a positive case, should get tested. For information about getting tested, please visit the NWHU website www.nwhu.on.ca for instructions on how to schedule an appointment at an assessment centre.
For information on COVID-19, you can also call the NWHU hotline at 1-866-468-2240.
If you have symptoms, regardless of how mild, or believe you were exposed to COVID-19, you can book a test directly with the Assessment Centre. It can be reached at 274-3261 ext. 4913 for Fort Frances and Emo or 274-3261 ext. 6500 for Rainy River.
