No new positive cases of COVID-19 are being reported by Peterborough Public Health for the second consecutive day, with the number of positive cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha holding at 28.
During her daily media briefing on Wednesday (April 1), Peterborough Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said four COVID-19 patients are being treated at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, with two of those in intensive care.
To date, 757 COVID-19 tests have been conducted locally with results awaited on 296 of those tested.
Another 433 cases have been confirmed negative with four positive cases now resolved.
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, recommended on Wednesday (April 1) that current physical distancing measures and other safeguards remain in place for another three months until the end of June.
Her recommendation comes on the heels of a province-wide increase of 426 positive cases — the largest one-day increase in Ontario since the outbreak began.
“It is encouraging we didn’t have an increase again today but I don’t expect that to hold,” said Dr. Salvaterra, noting “We’re playing a bit of catch-up” in terms of results awaited on close to 300 tests.
She suggested that once those results come in, the number of positive cases will likely rise.
Also sitting in on Wednesday’s media briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, Curve Lake First Nation Chief Emily Whetung, and Peterborough Public Health board chair Andy Mitchell.
Each provided an update on local measures in place in their respective municipalities, as well as reinforcing the central message that all remain diligent and follow public health instructions to the letter.
As 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), the latest numbers from Tuesday (March 31) indicate there have been 52 positive cases reported and 11 deaths (with nine associated with the outbreak at Pinecrest Nursing Home). Of the total positive cases, 41 are in the City of Kawartha Lakes and 11 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.
