CORNWALL – The region has taken its first significant jump in recent days of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19.
After staying flat for a number of days, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit announced Thursday afternoon there were four newly diagnosed cases of coronavirus – three in the City of Cornwall and one in Prescott-Russell.
That brings the total to 75 cases (14 in Cornwall, 16 in SD&G and 45 in Prescott-Russell).
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis says this jump in Cornwall cases was expected. “I expected at some point Cornwall could catch up. I expected as we are going away from Ottawa more east that we would get more cases in Cornwall. It’s not a huge jump but it’s up consistently. I’m not surprised…this just shows that it’s in Cornwall.”
“It’s also a more densely populated area. So, I do expect at one point Cornwall to get more – I’m hoping not – but if you look at the numbers and the density of Cornwall is much more dense and we see the spread in a much more dense (densely populated) area.”
The number of people in hospital has got down by one to four cases and the number of people in intensive case has dropped by one from three to two.
There are 36 cases marked resolved.
The number of tests in the region has been 1,489 – 139 more than Wednesday.
The one case in Prescott-Russell is a health care worker at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Plantagenet, where an outbreak has been called as part of the protocol. An outbreak is declared as soon as one resident or staff member tests positive.
Roumeliotis says they are being vigilant and have tested the 59 people at the home as of this morning. Nobody is showing coronavirus symptoms. As for staff, 58 of 61 had been tested as of this afternoon.
On the same day of the uptick in cases, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit acknowledged people may be restless after a month of being cooped up but asked residents to continue staying at home, physical distancing and to self-isolate if you feel sick.