Timmins man home from Texas tests positive for COVID-19

SUDBURY -- The Porcupine Health unit says a fourth case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the Timmins area, the third on Monday.

Timmins Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Lianne Catton, says a man in his 70s is the latest confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Porcupine Health Unit region.

She says the case is travel-related and not related to other local cases.  

“Anyone who sat in the rows identified below should self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for any symptoms (cough, fever and/or shortness of breath)," says Catton.

• March 12: Houston into Toronto Pearson International Airport on Air Canada flight AC594. Passengers in rows 20-24 and flight crew that may have served these rows. are considered close contacts of the confirmed case. 

• March 12: Toronto Pearson International Airport to Timmins on Air Canada, flight AC8291. Passengers in rows 5-9 and flight crew that may have served these rows. 

The health unit says these individuals are directed to self-isolate for 14 days from their arrival in Canada, and contact their local public health authority if any symptoms develop.

Health officials say the man was assessed and tested at the Timmins COVID-19 Assessment Centre on March 20 and remains in self-isolation at home with monitoring from the Porcupine Health Unit. 

“Seeing a travel-related case in our community is an important reminder that it is critical for every individual who has travelled outside of Canada to self-isolate for 14 days to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” says Dr. Catton.