Article content
A number of false positive tests recorded at area long-term care homes are being blamed for a discrepancy in COVID-19 cases recorded by the province and local health unit.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit was asked why there is such a difference between its numbers and those posted on the province’s COVID-19 webpage.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. False positive COVID tests reported at area long-term care homes Back to video
“As announced yesterday (Monday) morning in our public service announcement, staff members of long-term care homes (within the North Bay Parry Sound region) undergoing routine screening initially tested positive for COVID-19. But upon further testing, they tested negative,” the health unit stated in an email.
SHARE ON: Photo from Health Unit s Twitter @NBPSDHealthUnit
The local health unit will be doing COVID-19 surveillance testing of long-term care residents at Au Château and Cassellholme.
According to a release sent Monday, some staff tested positive in a routine screening but then came back negative upon further examination. As such, no outbreak was declared at either facility.
Officials also confirmed that as of Monday, the UK variant has not been found in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit’s region.
Long-term care homes are being monitored for the highly contagious variant after several outbreaks were reported in similar settings in Southern Ontario.
Article content
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit reported one new confirmed case of COVID-19 in the district, Friday.
That brings the total case count since the pandemic was declared in March to 164.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. One new confirmed case of COVID-19 reported Back to video
There are 23 active cases in the two districts – 14 in Nipissing and nine in Parry Sound.
The most recent confirmed case is in Nipissing. It involves a person aged 20 to 39 who was exposed to the coronavirus from community exposure.
The individual is self-isolating.
Health Unit issues Class Order
SHARE ON: Illustration of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2, the cause of COVID-19 (Alissa Eckert, MS, Dan Higgins, MAMS)
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health Jim Chirico has made the important decision to issue a Class Order under Section 22 of the
Health Protection and Promotion Act.
The Order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until Chirico determines the Order is no longer required.
The Order enables North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit to enforce self-isolation requirements for the group of individuals to whom it applies.