KENORA – The Northwestern Health Unit reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, with the number of active cases reaching 68.
It’s an increase of 14 active cases from two days ago, though it remains slightly below numbers seen at other times in the NWHU in recent weeks.
“We are seeing increasing cases throughout the region,” noted medical officer of health Dr. Kit Young Hoon at a press conference Friday.
The NWHU’s Kenora health hub now accounts for the largest number of active cases, with 24. Elsewhere, there were 16 active cases in the Sioux Lookout hub, 14 in the Emo hub, 9 in the Fort Frances hub, 3 in the Red Lake hub, and 2 in the Dryden hub.
Of the 11 cases reported Friday, three each were in the Kenora and Emo hubs, two each in the Dryden and Fort Frances hubs, and a single case was in the Red Lake hub.
Young Hoon confirmed the NWHU was “investigating a case situation” at the Evolution gold mine in the Red Lake health hub, but was not able to offer a specific number of confirmed cases.
The health unit had a testing positivity rate of 4.04 per cent on 1,261 tests for the most recent week reported, April 12 to 18.
The health unit had an incidence rate of 52.5 cases per 100,000 people for the most recent week reported, April 13 to 19. That compares to incidence rates of 25.3 in the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and 203.1 province-wide, for the same period.
Three NWHU residents were in hospital with the virus as of Friday.
A total of 21,827 vaccine doses had been administered in the NWHU as of Friday, when eligibility opened for those with high-risk health conditions, as defined by the province.
That now includes individuals who are pregnant, as well as those with a BMI over 40, those receiving treatments causing immunosuppression, and those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
NWHU residents can find more information on how to book a vaccine appointment at the health unit’s website.
The health unit has reported a total of 861 cases since the pandemic began, with 68 active and 793 considered resolved. That includes seven deaths, though the health unit notes the virus may not have been the cause of death in all cases.
