Fifteen new positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed by Peterborough Public Health, bringing to 28 the total number of cases in Peterborough city and county, Hiawatha and Curve Lake.
During her daily media briefing on Monday (March 30), Peterborough Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said of the new cases, four are receiving care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Another four cases are under investigation in relation to travel history and/or community contacts while three of the new reported cases have been resolved.
Meanwhile, Dr. Salvaterra says the outbreak at St. Joe’s at Fleming reported last week is “under control” but test results are still awaited on one resident.
Asked if Peterborough could see a similar tragic outbreak such as that at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon where nine residents have died of presumed COVID-19, Dr. Salvaterra says she “wouldn’t be surprised.”
Meanwhile, the results of a Nanos poll released Monday (March 30) revealed 67 percent of Canadians believe the COVID-19 outbreak will become more severe in their respective communities.
Dr. Salvaterra agrees that poll result is an indication that most are clearly aware of the gravity of the situation and are preparing themselves for what’s ahead while following prescribed measures to keep themselves and theirs safe.
“We do expect this to get worse before it gets better and we’re preparing for that,” she says.
To date, 673 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the Peterborough area with results awaited on 224 of those tested. Another 422 cases have been confirmed negative.
For the area served by the other health unit in the Kawarthas (Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, which includes Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton), there have been 41 positive cases reported, including nine deaths (seven associated with the outbreak at Pinecrest Nursing Home).
Of the total positive cases, 33 are in the City of Kawartha Lakes (with nine deaths) and eight in Northumberland County. No positive cases have been identified in Haliburton County.
For the most recent information on COVID-19 in Ontario and the Peterborough area, visit ontario.ca/coronavirus or peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre is also providing news, updates, information and resources on its website at prhc.on.ca/cms/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.
This story has been updated to include the latest numbers for COVID-19 cases and deaths as of March 30, 2020 from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit.
