SUDBURY -- Health officials in the Sault Ste. Marie area are confirming multiple new COVID-19 cases, with eight new infections being reported.

According to the Algoma Public Health Unit, all are now in self-isolation. Out of the eight new infections, seven are said to have contracted the virus as a close contact of a known infection. Officials are unsure how the last person contracted the virus.

This is the most number of cases confirmed by the health unit at one time since the onset of the pandemic. Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano took to twitter to implore vigilance. 

With the new cases, there have now been a total of 55 since the onset of the pandemic. There are currently 12 active cases in the region.