MARATHON, Ont. — A patient in the chronic care wing in the hospital in Marathon has died after contracting COVID-19.
The North of Superior Health Care Group and the Marathon Family Health Team confirmed the fatality on Monday.
This is the 40th death attributed to COVID-19 in the Thunder Bay district since the onset of the pandemic just over a year ago.
"This is a very sad day for all of us, and especially for the loved ones of the individual who has passed away," said North of Superior Healthcare Group CEO Adam Brown.
He said the death unfortunately highlights the reality of COVID-19 and the need for everyone to take the virus seriously.
Wilson Memorial Hospital is still dealing with an outbreak of the virus in its chronic care wing, where two staff and three patients were infected, according to the latest available information.
Marathon also has two other active COVID-19 cases which are not connected to the hospital outbreak.
Brown said he's concerned about reports of numerous residents travelling to Thunder Bay for non-essential reasons, and reports of yard parties over the weekend where physical distancing was not practised.
"This is quite demoralizing," he added.
Brown said he hopes the tragic death of a town resident "snaps us back into reality."
