News Release: First Person Confirmed Positive for COVID-19 in Long-term Care in the Health Unit's District

NORTH BAY, ON - The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) has declared a respiratory outbreak at Cassellholme - the causative agent is COVID-19.  Aligning with the Ministry of Health guidelines for an outbreak in the long-term care home, a COVID-19 outbreak is declared with a single laboratory-confirmed case in a resident or staff member of a long-term care home. As part of the enhanced testing of long-term care homes Cassellholme residents and staff were tested on May 1, 2020. The individual who tested positive is a resident male between 60-79 years of age who did not have symptoms. The individual is currently isolating in a COVID-19 isolation unit at Cassellholme.

“Our staff are working with Cassellholme toprovide public health direction as we wait for the remainder of the 205 residents and 330 staff test results to come back,” said Dr. Jim Chirico Medical Officer of Health. “We know that older individuals are vulnerable, and it is important that we do our best to keep this population safe.”

The Health Unit has tested symptomatic residents of long-term care homes in the district, prior to the release of the provincial plan, and all results came back negative.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. It is important to remember that most people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild symptoms. People who are mildly ill should isolate and care for themselves at home. Most will recover in one to two weeks by simply treating the symptoms.

If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care. If you need further assistance call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808. This will help keep the emergency room resources available for trauma and emergent care patients. If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should call 911 and mention your travel history and your symptoms.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

For more information please visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.

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Media Inquiries:

Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca