THUNDER BAY - Thunder Bay's third confirmed case of COVID-19 is the spouse of the city's first case, which was announced Friday. At that time, the health unit considered the spouse a probable case. The couple returned from a week-long trip to Florida earlier this month.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit announced the new case Sunday, noting the couple had followed guidance to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to Canada. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janet DeMille reiterated that, based on an investigation of the couple's contacts since returning to the city and their period of infectiousness, there was little risk they had spread the virus.
"We look at how they travelled, who was with them, and the timelines of the travel," DeMille said Sunday. "We're still investigating the first case and following up."
The health unit currently assumes a patient's period of infectiousness can begin up to 48 hours before the onset of symptoms. That guideline was updated from a benchmark of 24 hours prior to symptoms earlier this week as health authorities learn more about the virus. DeMille said the couple's return flight into Thunder Bay was not within that period.
The couple remain at home in self-isolation.
The total number of confirmed cases in northwestern Ontario now stands at five. All have been travel-related, and there has so far been no evidence of community spread.
