THUNDER BAY — Federal health minister Patty Hajdu says the government expects to announce some support soon for the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the Thunder Bay area.
In an interview Tuesday, the Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay - Superior North said the measures will target the isolation centres in the city.
"We're just in the final stages of preparing support for the isolation centre that will be facilitated with the lead partner, the St. Joseph's Care Group," Hajdu said.
She said isolation centres are a key contributor to bringing the virus under control.
"Isolation is really important, especially in situations where you have one family member or one resident of a home that's infected. There is the potential that you can stop that spread if you can separate individuals and help people isolate safely away from their loved ones or their roommates."
Earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Theresa Tam – the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada – said the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in Thunder Bay over a short period of time shows how quickly any community can become a hot spot, and how important it is to support people living in vulnerable settings such as shelters.
Hajdu said she spoke last week with her Ontario counterpart, Christine Elliott, "about making sure that they keep Thunder Bay in mind as a hot spot. We are arguably the hot spot, at least we were last week in Canada and Ontario."
She said that, so far, "the province has been able to support the community, but if they need additional federal supports, we stand by ready to help."
Additional assistance, Hajdu said, could include more resources from the Red Cross, contact tracers and epidemiologists.
She said advocacy for Thunder Bay is happening "at many levels, including my voice."
After declining on Tuesday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in the Thunder Bay district rose again on Wednesday to 424, including 68 new cases.
