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Statement from Porcupine Health Unit

To our community members:

In light of the recent bulletin from Porcupine Health unit we wish to inform all community members that there is a positive case of COVID-19 isolating in the town of Moosonee. The case is not counted in our numbers as the individual is from out of our region.

We strongly urge those who were on the listed flights to adhere to the recommendations of the Porcupine Health unit as well as your local public health department. If you were on the flights listed and have not been contacted, please contact your local public health department.

In general, for COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 2 metres or 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes during the time of infectivity. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. Passing a person in the hallway or in a store is generally not considered close contact and has an extremely low risk of spreading the virus. Public Health will contact you if you are considered a close contact.

At this time, we recommend that everyone continue to monitor for symptoms. If ANY symptoms develop, isolate immediately and call your local assessment centre or your health care provider to arrange testing.

Symptoms can include:

• Fever

• Sore throat/hoarse voice

• New or worsening cough

• Loss of sense of taste or smell

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea, vomiting

• Runny nose/nasal congestion

• Diarrhea

In some cases, atypical symptoms could develop, such as, unexplained fatigue or malaise, muscle aches, delirium, unexplained or increased number of falls, acute functional decline, exacerbation of current chronic conditions, chills, headaches, croup, conjunctivitis.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact WAHA or the Porcupine Health Unit for more information.

To reduce the risk of exposure, please continue to follow public health measures:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Sneeze and cough into your sleeve

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

• Stay home and isolate for 14 days if you have any symptoms

• Practice 2 m physical distancing

• Wear a mask in indoor public spaces and outdoors when physical distancing of 2 metres/6 feet cannot be maintained.

Should you have questions, please contact WAHA at 705-658-4544 or check our website for continued updates.

Thank you,

Dr. Elaine Innes, Chief of Staff, WAHA

Lynne Innes, President & Chief Executive Officer, WAHA