NORTHERN ONTARIO

Evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts

Chelsea Papineau CTVNorthernOntario.ca Journalist

Published Thursday, April 2, 2020 1:44PM EDT Last Updated Thursday, April 2, 2020 1:59PM EDT

In this illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The government has made plans to release urgent funds to the research community to study the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-CDC via AP, File

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SUDBURY -- One of three newly reported confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus from Thursday afternoon indicates community spread according to Public Health Sudbury and Districts.

"Today’s news of an individual with COVID-19 with no travel or exposure history is evidence that we have been doing the right thing by taking these precautions. The indication of community spread reinforces the critical sacrifices we have all been making, such as staying home as much as possible and isolating ourselves when directed," said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, medical officer of health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

The case believed to be caused by community spread is a man in his 50's from Greater Sudbury who has been hospitalized.

Public health officials have been able to trace the exposure for two other people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the area on Thursday.

One of the new infections is a person under 19 from Greater Sudbury who has had close contact with another confirmed case and is in self-isolation.

The other is a man in his 60's from the Sudbury District who has recently travelled internationally. He is also self-isolating.

This brings the count within the Public Health Sudbury & Districts' service area to 16 positive cases, with two now in hospital.

More to come on this breaking news story...