Second & Third Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in Thunder Bay District
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has confirmed 2 additional cases of COVID-19 in the district.
The afternoon of March 27, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) received a report of a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in the TBDHU region. This is travel-related and unrelated to the first case of COVID-19 reported earlier on that day. TBDHU provided the following information about this case:
The individual in their twenties who returned from the United States approximately two weeks ago developed symptoms while self-isolating at home. They phoned TBDHU and were referred to the COVID-19 Assessment Centre of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre where they were tested. A public health investigation and follow-up began immediately on receipt of the positive result. As part of this, public health nurses work with the individual to determine others who may have been exposed when the individual was infectious and potentially transmitting the virus. Follow-up is done with those individuals as well.
March 29, 2020, Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU), confirmed the third case of COVID-19 in the TBDHU region.
“This was not unexpected. This person is the spouse of the first case that was reported on Friday and was considered a probable case at that time.”
said Dr. DeMille.
The TBDHU shared that the couple was tested at the same time at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre operated by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and the second set of results was received late on Saturday. The couple remain in isolation. TBDHU added that they will continue to monitor and follow up with the couple until they are fully resolved.
Recommendations for the public on how to stay healthy during this time remain the same:
- Wash your hands frequently for at least twenty seconds with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or into your arm, not your hand
- Stay home if you are sick
- Practice social (physical) distancing by avoiding close contact with other people. This means staying at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart from others.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces around you, especially high touch surfaces, for example phones and doorknobs.
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 individuals in self-isolation develop symptoms, they should contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at (807) 625-5900 or toll-free: 1-888-294-6630. For additional information about COVID-19 and the TBDHU area, please see the TBDHU Website.
RELATED LINKS
- First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Thunder Bay District
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit website
- ALL COVID-19 related articles
