Back to SearchPARRY SOUND, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is seeing an increase in the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 in the West Parry Sound area. On December 19, 2020, the Health Unit identified eight (8) new individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, seven (7) from the District of Parry Sound and one (1) from the Nipissing District. This is the single highest daily number of COVID-19 cases in the Health Unit’s district, since the start of the pandemic.
“COVID-19 is in our district and we need to act now to slow the spread and save lives,” emphasizes Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “When you feel unwell, no matter how small the symptom might be, you need to self-isolate immediately and arrange to be tested. By self-diagnosing symptoms as something other than COVID-19 you are potentially putting your loved ones and the community at risk of COVID-19. We need to think about the bigger picture and make the decision to stay home.”
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and individuals who have been contacted by the Health Unit and identified as a high risk close contact are required to self-isolate and follow the instructions given by the Health Unit. These individuals are not to leave their location of self-isolation, with the exception to go directly to and from an assessment centre to be tested for COVID-19 - no additional stops along the way.
The Health Unit urges the public to follow public health measures including:
- Avoid socializing for now.
- Limit travel outside the home to:
- Attending school or work - if unable to work from home.
- Essential trips for groceries, medication and medical appointments.
- Assume everyone has COVID-19 outside your home and take precautions.
- Keep a distance of two (2) metres between yourself and anyone outside of your home. However, if you live alone, you may consider having close contact with another household.
- Wear a face covering if you need to be closer than two (2) metres from someone outside your home during essential trips. Being in close contact to someone has the highest risk of transmitting COVID-19, along with being in closed or crowded spaces.
- Wash or sanitize your hands often, cough or sneeze into your sleeve and if you feel unwell stay home and arrange to be tested.
- Limit exercise and recreation to outdoor spaces where physical distancing is possible.
- Avoid travel outside of our district, especially to areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, unless for emergencies or urgent medical appointments.
“Now is not the time to host family gatherings or socialize with individuals who live outside your home. We need to prioritize the health and safety of our community,” explains Dr. Chirico.
For more information on COVID-19 visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19 or visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/index.html.
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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
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