Sudbury Public Health reports five more cases of COVID-19

Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD) reported five new cases of COVID-19 on the same day that Ontario reported a record number of COVID-19 cases. The latest number of cases follows the PHSD record on Friday, November 6, where no fewer than 20 news cases were added to the tally.

PHSD said these more recent cases, numbers 163 to 167 are all in Greater Sudbury. Four of the cases are described as close contacts of confirmed cases and one case has no known epidemiological link (exposure unknown). Everyone is following the PHSD lead and self-isolating, a press release said Saturday night.

Travel, gatherings and families

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is reminding everyone that the safest options are avoiding non-essential travel, limiting indoor gatherings to your family and otherwise being outdoors or going virtual, practicing physical distances, masking and washing your hands and, of course, stay away if you have any symptoms.

To the extent possible, Ontarians are encouraged to limit trips to the essentials such as going to work or school, going shopping, attending a medical appointment or engaging in outdoor physical activity. For all outings, keep practicing COVID-safe behaviors like walking away and wearing a face cover.

Although up to 10 people are allowed indoors and 25 outdoors, in-person meetings of any size should be limited and should always include distance and masking when distance is not possible. Limiting our in-person contacts and interactions as much as possible is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Unless the people are from the same family, keep a distance of 2 meters (6 feet) and wear a face cover if you can’t get away. Face coverings must be worn in all indoor public spaces and must also be worn in other indoor spaces where distances are not possible.

As of October 3, 2020, the Province of Ontario is suspending social circles and advising that all Ontarians allow close contact only with people living in their family and maintain a physical distance of two meters from all others. People who live alone may consider having close contact with another family.