First COVID-19 related death in the area

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is reporting the first COVID-19 related death in the area.

Officials say a woman in her 50s passed away in the last 24 hours.

The Health Unit is working collaboratively with the hospitals involved and community stakeholders on contact tracing activities to identify and follow-up with close contacts.

Out of respect for the family, no further information is being shared.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the individual’s family and friends and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” said Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “This loss stresses the seriousness of the situation we are facing. We owe it to our loved ones, our friends, neighbours and the community as a whole to stay home as much as possible, physically distance when you need to go out for essentials, wear a facial covering when physical distancing is hard or unable to maintain while in public and follow public health measures.”

As of Friday, at 1 pm there have been 21 cases in the health unit’s coverage area.

In that total are one death, two cases are of patients self-isolating and 18 resolved cases.
15 of the 21 cases are in Nipissing and the other six in Parry Sound.

(Photo by station staff)