Back to SearchNORTH BAY, ON – The Ontario government announced this afternoon that the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) will stay in shutdown until at least February 22, 2021, at which point the situation will be re-evaluated.
“The COVID-19 situation can change in an instant. Our district experienced this over the past week with the recent COVID-19 Community Outbreak in relation to a COVID-19 Variant of Concern. We now also have two individuals who have preliminary positive results for a COVID-19 Variant of Concern who are not associated to the outbreak,” explains Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “I have repeated this many times, and will repeat again, we must stay home and follow public health safety guidelines. This is the only way we can slow the spread of the virus. I know these are difficult times for everyone, but when we work together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19. We must act now.”
Due to the extension of the Stay-at-Home Order and the increased risk of transmission of the COVID-19 Variant of Concern, outdoor public skating rinks, skating trails and tobogganing hills will remain closed. Due to the threat of the COVID-19 Variant of Concern, community spread of the COVID-19 Variant of Concern and the unessential travel between Health Unit districts, OFSC snowmobile trails and snowmobile trails on Crown Land will remain closed. The Health Unit will continue to monitor the local situation and re-evaluate the closures on February 22, 2021.
“Our district is in shutdown with Peel, Toronto and York, areas that have had large rates of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. I hope this shows how serious our local situation is, especially with the Variant of Concern spreading rapidly. We need the community on board more than ever to be able to address it,” states Dr. Chirico.
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
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