The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting 12 new cases of the novel coronavirus Friday morning.
Nine of the new cases are from the Sioux Lookout area, two from the Kenora health hub and one from the Rainy River area.
As is the procedure, follow-up is now underway with the cases as well as their close contacts. If you are a known close contact of a confirmed case, the NWHU says they will contact you directly.
Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young Hoon says at this point they can’t say why there is a spike in the Sioux Lookout area.
“It’s a bit too early to say what’s going on, but I know we are monitoring the situation closely,” says Young Hoon, “In Sioux Lookout, we’re also trying to make sure supports are in place for cases and contacts so they are able to self-isolate.”
The regional health authority says there are now 50 active cases within their catchment area; 30 in the Sioux Lookout hub, 15 in the Kenora area, three near Dryden and one each in the Fort Frances and Rainy River health hub areas.
The number of resolved cases now sits at 692, up from 685 on Thursday.
There is only one hospitalization due to COVID-19 within the Northwestern Health Unit catchment area at this time, and there have been 14,056 doses of vaccine administered to date.
To the east, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is reporting 12 new cases and one COVID-19 related death.
