There have been no new local COVID-19 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, according to the Porcupine Health Unit.

So far there have been 50 positive tests in the health unit’s region. Of those, 30 are resolved and three people have died. 

The health unit is aware of 1,196 tests being completed, which is an increase of 55 from the last report. There are 404 cases under investigation.

For the local cases, 28 are in Timmins and 17 of those are resolved and two people have died, 21 are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls and 12 of those are resolved and one person has died, and one is in the area of Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland and is resolved.

There are currently declared outbreaks of the virus at Spruce Hill Lodge, St. Mary’s Gardens and Timmins and District Hospital. The outbreak at Extendicare Timmins has been declared over.

According to the health unit, the Hearst COVID-19 Assessment Centre opens today and will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

There are also assessement centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing and Hornepayne. They are by appointment only and you must be referred by your primary healthcare provider or the health unit.

The PHU COVID-19 hotline is open during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It can be reached at 705-267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.

The health unit is doing expanded testing on people with milder symptoms for a limited time.

The expanded list of symptoms include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing as well as sore throat/hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, loss of smell or taste, fatigue, muscle aches, runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting.