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NWHU warns of increased COVID-19 risk in Sioux Lookout

Northwestern Health Unit warns of rising case counts and at least one detected variant of concern in Sioux Lookout area.
COVID-19 1
The Northwestern Health Unit has warned of heightened COVID-19 risk in the Sioux Lookout area.

SIOUX LOOKOUT, Ont. – Health authorities are warning of increased COVID-19 risk in Sioux Lookout as the community confronts rising case numbers, with at least one variant of concern detected.

The Northwestern Health Unit pointed to those trends in a statement issued Saturday urging area residents to exercise caution and closely follow public health regulations.

“The case numbers and investigations indicate increased risk of the spread of COVID 19 in the health hub and in the municipality” said NWHU medical officer of health Dr Kit Young Hoon.

“With such a large number of cases and the risk of the variant of concern, things can change rapidly and Sioux Lookout area residents must follow public health restrictions to prevent broad spread of the virus.”

There are 16 cases in the municipality of around 5,000 people, and 34 in the larger Sioux Lookout health hub, the health unit said.

That’s more than twice the active case count in more populous health hubs including Kenora and Dryden, a trend that has continued for over two weeks.

Speaking Friday about the surge of cases in the community, Young Hoon said the health unit was working to better understand the spread through contact tracing.

“At this point it’s a bit too early to say what is going on but we are monitoring the situation closely,” she said.

In its Saturday statement, the health unit urged anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who has been in contact with a positive case, to self-isolate and get tested.

More details on symptoms and testing are available on the NWHU website.




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