THUNDER BAY – A day after reporting the city’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has confirmed a second, unrelated case.
The case is travel-related and involves an individual in their twenties, who returned from the United States about two weeks ago. They developed symptoms while self-isolating at home, informed the health unit, and were tested at the hospital’s COVID-19 assessment centre.
The health unit says it immediately began an investigation to determine others who may have been exposed through contact with the individual while they were infectious, saying it has now contacted an unspecified number of people.
“The public health investigation and follow-up is ongoing, however, it is clear that people have been taking precautions including self-isolating,” said Janet DeMille, medical officer of health at TBDHU. “This is important as it helps contain the virus to a group of closely linked individuals and reduces the likelihood of spread in the community.”
The new case brings the total number of confirmed cases in Northwestern Ontario to four.
