THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is disclosing the first two positive test results from two weekends of COVID-19 drive-through tests conducted last month in its Balmoral Street parking lot.
One of the patients was specifically requested to participate, however, and is not considered part of the TBDHU's special community surveillance initiative.
After initially reporting that all 260 individuals swabbed on April 18 and 19 tested negative, the TBDHU released additional data on Monday, including results from tests conducted on April 25 and 26.
Of the two people who tested positive for the virus, one was a close contact of a person already confirmed to have COVID-19.
The health unit said this individual had already been scheduled for precautionary testing, and was asked to attend the drive-through event to expedite the process.
Because the patient was already known to be at higher risk due to close contact, the person is excluded from the official results of the two weekends of community surveillance.
Between the two weekends, almost 500 people were tested.
The results of 39 swabs have not been received as yet.
With only one case identified so far under the community surveillance initiative, a TBDHU spokesperson said "Overall, the results received to date continue to paint a reassuring picture. Although there is still evidence of community spread, it is at a lower level and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant."
The TBDHU also announced Monday afternoon that it had confirmed the 75th case of COVID-19 in the district.
The latest person to test positive is a woman in her 40s, who was in close contact with another confirmed case.
The health unit said the individual is currently self-isolating.
Fifty-six of the cases in the Thunder Bay district have already been resolved.
There's been considerable frustration in some quarters over lengthy delays in obtaining test results, but the provincial government announced Monday that it has "significantly increased" both testing and contact tracing capacity.
