A ninth death related to COVID-19 has been reported by the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), the most deaths from the disease of any community in Northern Ontario.
It is a man in his 70s who was admitted to Timmins and District Hospital who tested positive July 19. The case had previously been reported as resolved.
In a news release, PHU medical officer of health Dr. Lianne Catton said his death was related to complications of the COVID-19 infection. The death isn’t related to an institutional outbreak.
“On behalf of the PHU, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends,” says Catton.
This is the seventh death in Timmins related to the virus since the start of the pandemic, and the ninth in the health unit’s region. The last death locally was reported June 13.
Across the North, Timmins with nine has by far the most number COVID-19 deaths of any community. Public Heath Sudbury & Districts has reported two deaths, while North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and Thunder Bay District Health Unit have reported one death each.
Meanwhile, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 148 new cases of COVID-19 today, the biggest single day increase in more than a month
There were no new deaths from COVID-19 reported today. Ontario also counted 103 new resolved cases today.
The province has now reported 2,809 COVID-related deaths in Ontario since March.
Of the 148 new cases confirmed today, 53 people are between the ages of 20 and 39 and another 37 are between the ages of 40 and 59.
According to a breakdown of cases provided by the province, 41 of today’s cases were reported by Toronto Public Health, 32 by Peel Public Health, 20 by Ottawa Public Health, and 19 by Windsor-Essex County Public Health.
Since March, the province has confirmed 42,083 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, with 38,126 of those now reported recovered.
In Northern Ontario, there are three known active cases and one probably case.
The breakdown for the health units is:
- Algoma Public Health: 27 cases, rate of 23.6 per 100,000 population. There are no known active cases.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 37 cases, rate of 27 per 100,000 population. There are no known active cases.
- Porcupine Health Unit: 73, rate of 87.5 per 100,000 population. There are no known active cases.
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 94 cases, rate of 47.2 per 100,000 population. There is one known active case.
- Timiskaming Health Unit: 19 cases, rate of 58.1 per 100,000. There are no known active cases.
- Northwestern Health Unit: 46 confirmed cases and one probably case, rate of 52.5 per 100,000. There are two known active case and one probable case.
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 103 cases, rate of 68.7 per 100,000.There is one known active case.
