Every day at noon for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, a group led by Mayor George Pirie called the Timmins Health Table will issue an update. Here are details from today’s update.
PHU SAYS IT’S DOING ENOUGH TESTING
The Porcupine Health Unit is dismissing any belief that it’s not doing enough testing for COVID-19.
Chief nursing officer Chantal Riopel responded to a reporter’s question about it.
“We are testing at a rate comparable o the province and actually Canada. We are testing about the same or more than the province or Canada.”
“Some are happening through assessment centres,” she adds, “and others are happening with the support of EMS, so our paramedics.”
The health unit has tested just over 500 people, confirming 31 cases so far. Eleven have resolved and there have been two deaths.
There are assessment centres in Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Cochrane and Kapuskasing.
NEWMONT CORP. CONTRIBUTES MONEY
The corporate sector has stepped up again to help the local fight against COVID-19.
Timmins mayor George Pirie again noted a contribution at today’s update from his health table.
“Newmont Corporation has announced that they’re donating $100,000 to the Cochrane District Social Service Administration Board, who is working with the Timmins emergency management group, and $50,000 to the community of Chapleau.”
In Timmins the money will go towards food security for the needy.
Meanwhile, the United Way has announced community response funding for Project Love at Mountjoy United Church. It’s getting $2,500 dollars for grocery gift cards. The First Baptist Church food bank is getting $750 to buy supplies,and Centre Passerelle – the francophone women’s shelter gets $3,000. It goes towards supplies for displaced women and their children.
Here is the raw audio of today’s update: