**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

Daily COVID-19 Update for Friday, April 24, 2020

There have been no new positive cases in the PHU area in the last 24 hours.

The current number of confirmed positive cases is now 55. As of yesterday, over 1585 COVID-19 tests have been completed in our region and 34 cases have been resolved. For more information, visit phu.fyi/coronavirus.

The Ontario government is extending all emergency orders until May 6, 2020. This Emergency Order extension includes the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement home or long-term care home. (https://bit.ly/3bAXSZe)

The Ontario government is also taking immediate action and building upon previous measures to better protect our most vulnerable living in high-risk settings and the frontline staff who care for them. (https://bit.ly/3bvhFJv)

It’s critical that we all keep working together to stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay home as much as possible and avoid travelling between communities. Only go out if absolutely necessary. Maintain physical distancing. Do not visit loved ones or friends outside of your immediate household.

There are COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls and Hornepayne. Please note that you require an appointment. Call your primary care provider or the PHU. Our COVID-19 Information line is open today from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call the toll-free number, 1-800-461-1818, or the PHU office in your community. See phu.fyi/offices for local contact numbers.

Keep it up! Stay home, stay well, stay kind. We’re all in this together.

Filed under: Local News