THUNDER BAY – Two new cases of COVID-19 are being treated at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Dr. Stewart Kennedy, who heads the hospital’s COVID-19 response team, on Wednesday confirmed the admissions.
The hospital had earlier this week dropped to no patients in its COVID-19 ward.
“As of yesterday we were all flying quite high after our return from the long weekend and we were down to zero cases in the hospital,” Kennedy said.
“As of this morning, unfortunately we’re up to two positive COVID-19 patients in the hospital. It’s always disappointing when you hear that, but not unexpected. We know there are COVID-19 cases out there and sometimes the way this virus presents itself you could have no symptoms one day and all of a sudden you could have significant symptoms the next day.”
Kennedy said that’s why it’s still important for the public to continue to follow public health guidelines and maintain physical distancing measures.
One of the two new cases resulted in exposure to hospital staff.
“We had to send some of our staff home because of the potential exposure that was experienced by one of the COVID-19 patients by our staff.”
Kennedy said he is concerned as the province reopens that more cases could arise. But it’s not keeping him awake at night.
“As long as we continue to restrict travel, I feel confident we can protect ourselves from any second wave. I was really appreciative of the federal government restricting travel from the United States to Canada and Canada to the United States,” Kennedy said.
“That’s our biggest risk right now, is travel. Northwestern Ontario, we’re still isolated, so I think it’s good news, restricting that travel.”
The federal government on Tuesday announced it was extending an agreement with the U.S. to keep the border closed to non-essential travel for 30 more days, until June 21.
