Increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Peterborough region a direct result of increased testing

Peterborough Regional Health Centre's Dr. Lynn Mikula says 'we're now getting a better sense of prevalence of COVID-19 in our region'

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). Assessment centres are also available in City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County (Cobourg and Trent Hills), and Haliburton County. (Photo: PRHC staff)
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). Assessment centres are also available in City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County (Cobourg and Trent Hills), and Haliburton County. (Photo: PRHC staff)

While the dramatic increase in positive COVID-19 cases reported in the Peterborough area over the weekend could be seen as discouraging, Dr. Lynn Mikula of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) says it’s a positive sign that stepped-up testing is doing its job.

“We have a lower threshold for symptoms and we are testing more people,” said Dr. Mikula, PRHC’s Chief Medical Executive and Chief of Staff, during a media briefing held on Tuesday (April 28).

“With an increased testing strategy, we expected to find more cases in the community. We’re looking harder and we’re finding them. We’re now getting a better sense of the prevalence of COVID-19 in our region.”

“I understand it’s really easy to look at the curve and see it going up all of sudden and feel discouraged,” Dr. Mikula says. “I’m not discouraged. We wanted to be doing more testing and we know it’s the first step to being able to get a handle on COVID-19.”

“I’m quite pleased that we’re starting to do this number of tests and getting a deeper understanding of what’s going on in our region. I would like to see us do even more testing.”

Since opening, the PRHC Assessment Centre has tested more than 2,600 people, but more than half of those tests have been conducted since April 16th.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

As of Tuesday (April 28), PRHC is treating one COVID-19 patient in its intensive care unit. The case of a second patient who was admitted with a COVID-19 diagnosis has been resolved.

“We have not identified any new cases among PRHC staff members,” says Dr. Mikula, adding “We continue to actively screen for symptoms in all patients, visitors and staff.”

An appointment with the PRHC Assessment Centre can be made by calling 705-876-5086. The centre is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

As of Tuesday morning (April 28), Peterborough Public Health was reporting 83 positive COVID-19 cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha — a dramatic increase since late last week when 61 cases were reported. The latest local numbers also show 713 test results are still pending.

To date, 2,317 tests have come back negative. Another 40 cases have been resolved. There has been one local COVID-19 related death: Peterborough photographer and retired psychologist Dr. George Dimitroff, 68, died April 12 at PRHC.

Across Ontario, again as of Tuesday morning (April 28), the total number of positive cases stood at 15,381 with 8,964 of those resolved and 951 deaths linked to COVID-19. A total of 253,040 people have been tested with results awaited on 6,282 tests.

Dr. Mikula noted PRHC’s Mobile Assessment Plus Response Team continues to support long-term care and retirement homes via on-site clinical assessments and testing as well as education and training on the use of Personal Protective Equipment. The team, she adds, will be on site at several homes this week.

Dr. Mikula again stressed that PRHC remains open for emergency care, noting “We have enhanced measures in safe to keep people safe.” Non-urgent tests, appointments, and procedures remain on indefinite hold.