The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has reported 33 new cases of COVID-19 in the region.
There are currently three NWHU residents in hospital with COVID-19, two of which are in local hospitals.
The health unit says the overall hospital occupancy in the region is 68.8 per cent, overall acute care occupancy is 78.9 per cent, and the overall Intensive Care Unit (ICU) occupancy is 14.3 per cent.
The health unit notes that there is no one with COVID-19 in local Intensive Care Units.
The health unit adds those who live or work in hospitals, LTC, First Nations communities, congregate living and shelters are being PCR tested.
NWHU recommends that everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, assume COVID-19 is in their community and practise preventive measures like physical distancing, wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is a challenge, good hand hygiene, and not touching their face. Anyone who has symptoms, or who has been in contact with a positive case, should visit www.ontario.ca/exposed for more information on what to do next.
The NWHU does want to note that the confirmed cases are an underestimate of the true number of people with COVID-19 in the Northwestern Health Unit region, given that access to PCR testing is increasingly limited, positive rapid antigen test results are not reported to Public Health, and the likelihood that people with asymptomatic infections may not seek testing.