SUDBURY -- The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is reporting a new case of COVID-19 on Saturday.  It is the region’s 80th reported case since the pandemic began.

The individual is between 40 to 59-years-old and the exposure is a result of contact with known case.

They were tested on Sept. 17 and are now self-isolating.

This brings to the total number of cases in the PHU district to six.

The new case was reported just hours before Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced new restrictions on social gatherings, reducing the number of people indoors from 50 to 10 and from 100 to 25 for outdoor gatherings.

To reduce the risk of exposure, PHU is asking that you 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 if you have any symptoms
  • practise two metres physical distancing
  • wear a mask in indoor public spaces and outdoors when physical distancing of two metres/six feet cannot be maintained

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.