THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has reported a spike in new COVID-19 cases, with most connected to First Nations communities in the district.
The 21 new cases reported Friday is the highest single-day total since April 1.
The active case count in the district rose to 75, its highest level since April 14, with seven previous cases declared resolved.
Of the new cases, 13 were in First Nations in the district, seven were in district communities, and one was in the Thunder Bay area.
Sixteen cases were considered a result of close contact with a previously confirmed case, while an exposure category was unknown in one case, and pending in four others.
The health unit reported one new COVID-19 hospitalization Friday, with a total of seven residents now in hospital with the virus.
The TBHDU also reported 16 previously reported cases had screened positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern, bringing the district's total to 139.
Note: An earlier version of this article reported there were 14 new COVID-19 hospitalizations Friday, due to an error in health unit reporting that was later corrected. In fact, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations rose by one.
