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Porcupine Health Unit: Updates to COVID-19 Information

Issued: Friday, May 13, 2022

BULLETIN: Updates to COVID-19 Information

Effective May 16, 2022, the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is changing the information it reports about COVID-19, including the frequency of public COVID-19 updates. This does not signal that COVID-19 is less of a concern in the region. The virus continues to circulate in PHU communities and there is still ongoing risk of spread of COVID-19.

The changes follow recent Ministry changes to case and contact management. Individuals who are eligible for PCR or rapid molecular testing and test positive will continue to receive notification of their positive results and instructions for isolation. Once notified, the file will be closed in the provincial database before the end of the individual’s isolation period, even though they are still considered an active case.  This means that the number of active cases currently being reported is even less meaningful than it has been since the change in testing strategies announced by the province in December 2021. 

What is staying the same:

  • Updates will continue to be reported on the website and will include:
    • Total cases
    • Hospitalizations and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions
    • Deaths attributed to COVID-19
    • Testing rates
    • Vaccination rates
  • Testing data, vaccine rates, and positivity rates will still be updated on the PHU website every Wednesday.
  • Outbreaks in the highest-risk settings will continue to be reported as appropriate. Highest-risk settings include long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals, and other congregate living settings, like group homes, correctional facilities and shelters.
  • Timely updates on changes in guidance and messaging about public health measures.

What is changing:

  • The frequency of reporting the data for total cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths attributed to COVID-19 on the PHU website will be decreased to 3 times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, excluding holidays.
  • The number of active confirmed cases will no longer be reported.
  • The daily COVID-19 updates on Facebook and on the PHU website will be discontinued.

The PHU continues to closely monitor local data, including wastewater surveillance results, to inform decisions and ensure necessary action is taken to reduce transmission and protect communities.  This may include changing reporting of COVID-19 data to keep the public informed of the increased risk of COVID-19.

Stay tuned to the health unit’s website (phu.fyi/covid-19), Facebook page and Twitter feed for more information.

There are significantly more active cases than what is being reported.  Before going out, assess your risk of exposure to COVID-19 and follow the public health measures:

  • Stay home if you have symptoms.
  • Wear a mask in all indoor public places.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Cough or sneeze in your sleeve.
  • Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.