Weeneebayko Area Health Authority: 4th positive case confirmed with 3 remaining active cases and 1 resolved case.

Press Release

To our community members:

The Weeneebayko Area Health Authority is confirming a fourth positive case of COVID19. As of 10 a.m. (Friday, September 25), there are now three active cases of COVID19 in the region and one resolved.

WAHA is working with Porcupine Health Unit and the community public health department to ensure that the individuals are isolated, and that the contact tracing investigation is ongoing WAHA has received authorization from Moose Cree First Nation leadership to confirm that the fourth case is in Moose Factory, Ontario.

Public Health is currently following up with anyone identified as close contacts. In general, for COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 2 metres or 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes during the time of infectivity. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. Passing a person in the hallway or in a store is generally not considered close contact and has an extremely low risk of spreading the virus. Public Health will contact you if you are considered a close contact.

At this time, we recommend that everyone continue to monitor for symptoms. If ANY symptoms develop, isolate immediately and call your local assessment centre or your health care provider to arrange testing.

Symptoms can include:
• Fever
• Sore throat/hoarse voice
• New or worsening cough
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting
• Runny nose/nasal congestion
• Diarrhea

In some cases, atypical symptoms could develop, such as, unexplained fatigue or malaise, muscle aches, delirium, unexplained or increased number of falls, acute functional decline, exacerbation of current chronic conditions, chills, headaches, croup, conjunctivitis.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact WAHA or the Porcupine Health Unit for more information.

To reduce the risk of exposure, please continue to follow public health measures:

• wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• sneeze and cough into your sleeve
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• stay home and isolate for 14 days if you have any symptoms
• practice 2 m physical distancing
• wear a mask in indoor public spaces and outdoors when physical distancing of 2 metres/6 feet cannot be maintained.

Should you have questions, please contact WAHA at 705-658-4544 or check our website for continued updates.

Thank you,
Dr Elaine Innes, Chief of Staff, WAHA
Lynne Innes, President & Chief Executive Officer, WAHA

IHT5