Timmins, Ontario - Thursday, April 22, 2021. As the Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of your local hospitals we remain united in our commitment and determination to limit the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. However, we cannot do this alone.
Timmins, Ontario - Saturday, April 17, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is declaring a COVID-19 outbreak at Pope Francis Elementary School in Timmins and at Iroquois Falls Public School in Iroquois Falls.
Timmins, Ontario - Thursday, April 15, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is declaring a COVID-19 outbreak at St. Anne English Catholic School in Iroquois Falls.
Timmins, Ontario - Monday, April 12, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is declaring a COVID-19 outbreak at Iroquois Falls Secondary School in Iroquois Falls.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is pleased to announce that the PHU is now starting to book the first groups of Phase Two of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.
Timmins, Ontario - Thursday, April 1, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), states “With the recent surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases locally, we are seeing an increase in the number of close contacts and links to private social gatherings. We are very concerned about this trend, especially since variants of concern (VOC) are present in our region,” adds Dr. Catton.
Timmins, Ontario - Monday, March 29, 2021. As we approach the Easter holiday and spring break, the northern Medical Officers of Health are asking all community members in northern Ontario to work together to prevent another surge in COVID-19.
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, March 19, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is confirming that, beginning Monday, March 22, 2021 at 12:01 am, the Government of Ontario is placing the Porcupine Health Unit area in the “Yellow – Protect” category of the COVID-19 Response Framework.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The Opioid Emergency Response Task Force is issuing an alert. Through information received from emergency services, an increase in suspected opioid overdoses having fatal outcomes has been identified in Timmins and the surrounding area.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), announced “The Porcupine Health Unit was notified by the Public Health Ontario Laboratory that a local individual, previously announced on Friday, February 12, 2021, as a possible case of a variant of concern, has been identified as the second person in the region to be confirmed with the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 or 501Y.V2 first detected in South Africa.” The individual was a close contact of a case confirmed with the same variant.
Timmins, Ontario - Saturday, March 6, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), announced “The Porcupine Health Unit was notified today by the Public Health Ontario Laboratory that a local individual, previously announced on Friday, February 12, 2021, as a possible case of a variant of concern, has been identified as the region’s first person in the region to be confirmed with the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 or 501Y.V2 first detected in South Africa.”
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, March 2, 2021. COVID-19 immunization clinics in the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) region are underway. Following Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation plan, Ontario’s Ethical Framework for Vaccine Distribution and working with the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Task Force, the PHU is ensuring ethical and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the PHU region.
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, February 26, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), announced “Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA), the important decision has been made to issue a Class Order under Section 22.
Timmins, Ontario - Sunday, February 14, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is pleased to announce that the Porcupine Health Unit was notified by the Public Health Ontario Laboratory (PHOL) that there is no variant of concern (VOC) associated with the Kapuskasing Extendicare outbreak.
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, February 12, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), reports that the PHU has been notified that a second and third confirmed COVID-19 test result have screened positive for a possible variant of concern (VOC).
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, February 12, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), confirms “Beginning Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 12:01 am, the Government of Ontario is placing the Porcupine Health Unit area in the ‘Orange – Restrict’ category of the COVID-19 Response Framework.
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), confirms, “The Government of Ontario is extending the Province-Wide Shutdown and the Stay-at-Home order, along with all existing public health and workplace safety measures in a number of regions, including the PHU area, until at least Tuesday, February 16, 2021.”
Timmins, Ontario - Thursday, February 4, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) reports that the PHU has been notified that a confirmed COVID-19 test result has now screened positive for a possible variant of concern (VOC). Further testing is needed to confirm the screen, and identify the variant or mutation. Dr. Catton notes that the results are expected in the next few days.
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is confirming that the health unit has received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for the PHU region.
Timmins, Moose Factory, Ontario - Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Today, Lynne Innes, CEO of WAHA and Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), are pleased to announce that COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered in Moosonee this week, for those in congregate living settings.
Timmins, Ontario - Saturday, January 9, 2021. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), announced “The Government of Ontario is extending the provincewide shutdown for health units in Northern Ontario to at least Saturday, January 23, 2021.”
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), states “The Government of Ontario announced a province-wide shutdown that will come into effect Saturday, December 26th, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.” The shutdown is expected to last 14 days in Northern Ontario and 28 days in Southern Ontario.
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, December 22, 2020. As the Medical Officer of Health, First Nations Chiefs, CEO’s of your local hospitals and Municipal Leaders, we remain united in our commitment and determination to limit the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. With the holiday season approaching, we invite you to join us as we reaffirm our commitment to limit the spread and be vigilant with our actions throughout the season.
Timmins, Ontario - Monday, December 14, 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) will be conducting a telephone survey with community members across our region during the month of December.
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, December 4, 2020. On behalf of the Opioid Emergency Response Task Force, the Porcupine Health Unit is issuing a public safety alert. The Opioid Emergency Response Task Force are informing people who use substances, their friends, family, and the public that there has been an increase in rates of suspected opioid events within the Cochrane District.
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, November 24, 2020. The Porcupine Health Unit will be highlighting the availability of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) testing and other blood-borne illnesses during AIDS awareness week November 24 to December 1 on World AIDS Day.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, November 11, 2020. — A report released by The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario/Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Public Health Ontario, and the Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation highlights preliminary patterns between COVID-19 and opioid-related death in Ontario.
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is providing an update on the Government of Ontario’s new COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open.
Timmins, Ontario - After receiving the results of a recent fish sampling study done in June 2019 by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) at Porcupine Lake in Whitney Township, the Porcupine Health Unit has reviewed the data in consultation with experts at Public Health Ontario regarding public health recommendations.
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, October 30, 2020. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit is updating the public about the increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases in our area. “The Porcupine Health Unit is concerned about an increased risk of community exposure in the town of Hearst,” says Dr. Catton.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, October 28, 2020. The Porcupine Health Unit is declaring an outbreak of COVID-19 at their Hearst office. Two employees of the office have tested positive for COVID-19. As a result of the outbreak, the Hearst office is temporarily closed.
Timmins, Ontario - Monday, October 19, 2020. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is offering guidance and clarification on steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during Hallowe’en.
Timmins, Ontario - Thursday, September 17, 2020. Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), out of an abundance of caution, and in line with Ministry guidance, is declaring an outbreak of COVID-19 at Glencore’s Kidd Operations Mine Site.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, September 9, 2020. After a Labour Day weekend that saw an unnaturally high number of overdoses, the Timmins and Area Drug Strategy (TADS) wishes to remind the public, people who use substances, and their friends and family, that powerful opioids and other toxic substances continue to be circulating in the area.
Timmins, Ontario - Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Today, the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) announced the launch of a Facebook page dedicated to serving the francophone population of the area.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, September 2, 2020. On March 13, 2020, schools across Ontario closed their doors without us knowing when they would reopen. Almost six months later, school doors are beginning to re-open to welcome students back for the 2020-2021 school year.
Timmins, Ontario - Wednesday, July 15, 2020. The Porcupine Health Unit welcomes the move into Stage 3 in the Ontario government’s COVID-19 reopening plan.
Timmins, Ontario — Tuesday, April 28, 2020: Dr . Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is reporting of the fourth death attributed to COVID-19. This individual, a male in his eighties, was identified during the outbreak investigation at Timmins and District Hospital, tested positive on April 22, 2020, and was admitted to hospital. “We would like to extend our most sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones."
Timmins, Ontario — Sunday, April 19, 2020: The Porcupine Health Unit, together with the Timmins and District Hospital, has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at TADH after one patient tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, states, “We’re declaring this COVID–19 outbreak at TADH as per the Ministry of Health guidelines.”
Timmins, Ontario - Sunday, April 12, 2020: Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is announcing that there will be an increase in the number of tests conducted for the COVID-19 virus, as part of a targeted Northern Ontario surveillance opportunity.
Timmins, Ontario - Saturday, April 11, 2020: Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit, confirmed that a resident at Spruce Hill Lodge has tested positive for COVID–19. Dr. Catton said, “At this point in time, the investigation is ongoing, however there is no known link to travel or any other cases. The resident is in self-isolation at the residence.”
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, April 3, 2020 - Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit is announcing “the tragic loss of another life related to COVID-19. Having to share the death of anyone related to COVID-19 is terrible, and to do this twice in one day is incredibly sad.”
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, April 3, 2020 - Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, Porcupine Health Unit today stated that, “It is my unfortunate duty to report that we've had our first death from COVID-19 in the Porcupine Health Unit region.”
Timmins, Ontario - Friday, March 27, 2020 - Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is reporting that a male in his thirties is the seventh positive case of COVID-19 in the PHU area.
Cochrane, Ontario - Friday, March 27, 2020 - Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is reporting three more cases, for a total of 10 cases, of COVID-19 in the PHU area. She indicated that "We believe the cases are linked to international travel or contact with another case we are investigating."
Cochrane, Ontario: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 — Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is reporting that a female in her 50’s the sixth positive case of COVID-19 in the PHU area and first outside of Timmins.
Timmins, Ontario: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 — Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), is reporting that a female in her forties is the fifth confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) region. Dr. Catton said, “We believe the case is linked to international travel, but have no concerns about an exposure of others on the international and domestic flights.”
Timmins, Ontario - Monday, March 23, 2020 — Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, is reporting that a man in his 70s is the fourth confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) region. The case is travel-related and not related to other local cases.
Timmins, Ontario - Monday, March 23, 2020 - Today, Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), reported the PHU is investigating the second and third cases of COVID-19 in the area.
Timmins, Ontario — The seven public health units in northern Ontario will be working together on climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation reports over the next two years with funding support from Health Canada.
Timmins, Ontario - The Porcupine Health Unit is hosting a drop-in “Car Seat Safety Blitz” on Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board Ambulance Bay, 500 Algonquin Blvd East, Timmins.
Timmins, Ontario - Every year on August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day is recognized globally as a day to take a moment of silence to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose.
Timmins, Ontario - The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is asking pet owners to ensure their pet’s rabies vaccinations are up-to-date. As of July 1, 2018, rabies vaccination has become mandatory in the Province of Ontario under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA).
Timmins, Ontario - The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is issuing a public safety alert. Through the Opioid Surveillance and Early Warning System an increase in suspected opioid overdoses has been identified in Timmins.
Iroquois Falls, Ontario - The Porcupine Health Unit is hosting a drop-in “Car Seat Safety Blitz” on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Iroquois Falls Fire Hall, 184 Devonshire Avenue.
Timmins, Ontario - The Porcupine Health Unit and Timmins Police Service are issuing an alert. The potentially lethal opioid Fentanyl is showing up in other drugs, specifically Heroin.
Timmins, Ontario - The Porcupine Health Unit is reminding employers and employees that it is illegal to smoke or hold lighted tobacco in the workplace, this includes work vehicles.
Contact
For media inquiries please contact:
Gary Schelling Communications Specialist Porcupine Health Unit 705-267-1181 ext. 2413 media@porcupinehu.on.ca
Please note: Requests submitted outside of regular office hours will be reviewed on the next business day.
