News Release: Health Unit to Remain in Shutdown, Stay-at-Home Order Still in Effect

NORTH BAY, ON – Yesterday, the Ontario government announced the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) will remain in shutdown until February 16, 2021, and the Stay-at-Home Order will remain in effect.

In January, the Health Unit’s district saw its largest number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19. Recently, preliminary results of a COVID-19 Variant of Concern (VOC) has been confirmed in three individuals. The Health Unit has announced a COVID-19 Community Outbreak in association with a VOC. Due to the extension of the Stay-at-Home Order and the increased risk of transmission of the COVID-19 VOC, outdoor public skating rinks, skating trails and tobogganing hills will remain closed. Due to the threat of the COVID-19 VOC and the unessential travel between Health Unit districts, OFSC trails and snowmobile trails on crown land will also remain closed. The Health Unit will continue to monitor the local situation and re-evaluate the closures on February 16, 2021.

“With the significant increase of cases and the outbreak declared yesterday, this is a critical time for us. It’s up to everyone to take action, we need to stop the spread of COVID-19 before it’s too late,” stresses Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “The community outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation. We need to be vigilant as COVID-19 Variants of Concern are highly transmissible. By staying in shutdown, we are able to help stop the spread further into our district.”

If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek testing or further care. If you need further assistance, call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808. If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should call 911 and mention 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:

Catherine Levac-Lafond, Bilingual Media Relations Coordinator
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca