There are six patients in the intensive care unit at Health Sciences North today, the hospital’s daily bulletin stated today.

As of noon, the hospital has a total of 11 people admitted related to COVID-19. Two of those cases are confirmed positive, one of whom is in the ICU.

The remaining nine cases are under investigation. But of those nine, five patients are in the intensive care unit.

Across Northern Ontario, there are 199 cases as of this writing, of which four have died and 119 are reported to have recovered. 

District health units in the region have reported 10 more cases of the virus since Saturday, along with five recoveries and one death following the testing of 811 individuals.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD), Thunder Bay Regional Health Unit (TBHU), Northwestern District Health Unit,  and North Bay Parry Sound Regional District Health Unit have each reported two new cases since the last report from Sudbury.com. The Porcupine District Health Unit (PDHU) and Timiskaming District Health Unit have each reported one.

Of the recoveries, three have been reported by the PHSD and another by the TBHU. 

The most recent passing related to COVID-19 was reported by the PDHU on Sunday. 

Today, as the Ontario government released updated modeling of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts revealed the outbreak in the province has likely peaked — though that isn’t an indication it’s time to relax physical distancing or reopen businesses.

“The modelling clearly demonstrates that we are making progress,” said Premier Doug Ford today. 

While several hundred new cases are identified daily in Ontario, hospitals across the province have not been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 outbreak, the province said today, as a result of capacity planning and the public health measures currently in place. The key here is that the rate of growth in new cases day-over-day is declining.

The province said Ontario is now “trending toward a best case scenario rather than a worst case scenario,” based on modeling done in March. Total cases are now being forecast to be “substantially lower than the worst case or even moderate case scenarios.”

It’s not the time for the public to rest on their laurels though, the premier said today.

Despite the positive news “COVID-19 continues to be a clear and present danger, especially to our seniors and most vulnerable citizens,” Ford said. “That is why we must continue to follow the advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health and stay the course in order to keep people safe and healthy.”

In related hospital news, Health Sciences North is relocating its Violence Intervention Program to 127 Cedar Street until further notice. The program provides support to victims of violence. 

The hours of operation at the new office are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday. Call 705-688-6796 to speak with a nurse during those hours. After hours or on weekends, the public is encouraged to go to the emergency department.

Women age 16 and older who have experienced sexual assault can find support services through Voices For Women Sexual Assault Centre, even though the physical office is closed.

Staff from Voices for Women are working from home during this time and continue to provide intakes and supportive counselling, either by telephone or by video conferencing. Anyone looking to access those services is encouraged to call 705-671–5495 to make an appointment.