**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
The Porcupine Health Unit is reporting no new cases. At this time, the current number of confirmed positive cases is now 81, five of which remain active.
There has been an update regarding when an individual is required to stay home and self-isolate. If a child has symptoms of COVID-19, they must stay home and self-isolate. But this does not mean other people in the household, without symptoms, must self-isolate. Because there is not a high level of COVID-19 spreading in the Porcupine Health Unit area at this time, other household members can self-monitor, unless otherwise directed by public health.
This direction may change if we see increased spread of COVID-19 in our region. Read Dr. Catton’s media release for more details: https://bit.ly/32VppTg.
To arrange testing, call your local Assessment Centre (https://bit.ly/3hU6EDT). If you do not have an assessment centre in your community, call the PHU or your health care provider.
Local assessment centres are experiencing an increase in demand for testing. Please be patient. They are working hard to get people tested. At this time, we are asking that priority be given to people with symptoms and referrals from public health. Please only leave one message and they will call you back as soon as they can.
Take steps to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19. Continue to wash your hands often, practice coughing and sneezing etiquette, maintain physical distancing, and wear a face covering in indoor public spaces and outdoors when physical distancing is a challenge.
Our COVID-19 Information line is open today from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 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.
Filed under: Local News