TBDHU Reports 72nd COVID-19 Death, APH Sees Rising Cases

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region, with another death reported in the area.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting its 72nd death related to the illness - a day after its 71st - along with 32 cases in the Thunder Bay area and eight in district communities - while reducing its count by one, due to data quality checks - leaving it with 350 "active", including ten in hospital, one in an ICU.

More locally, Algoma Public Health's added twenty cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - that leaves it with 571 "active", including four in hospital.

Charges Laid Over Wawa Standoff Involving Barricaded Person

Several charges have been laid over last week's standoff in Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a domestic dispute on Mackey Street after 11 o'clock pm December 27th, finding the victim had already left the scene while the suspect was barricaded inside the residence.

Members of the OPP's Emergency Response Team and the Canine Unit were called in to assist with peacefully resolving the situation, while a Remotely Piloted Aerial System drone was also used to communicate with the barricaded person.

The incident came to an end around 9 pm December 28th, with the suspect voluntarily exiting the residence and surrendering to police without incident.

The 35-year-old has been charged with spousal assault with a weapon, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm - spousal, possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose, two counts of fail to comply with probation order, four counts of fail to comply with release order, and a charge of possession of a schedule I substance - methamphetamine.

They've been remanded into custody, pending a bail hearing.

TBDHU Reports 71st COVID-19 Death, Cases in Algoma & Sudbury Regions

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region, with another death reported in the area.

In its first report this year, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported its 71st death related to the illness on Monday - four days after its 70th - along with 256 cases in the Thunder Bay area, 37 in the district, and thirteen in First Nation communities in the region - it currently has 387 "active" cases, with six in hospital, but warns new limits on testing means the true number of cases are "significantly" underestimated.

More locally, Algoma Public Health's added 219 cases since Friday - 139 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, 43 in Central and East Algoma, 20 in the Elliot Lake area, and seventeen in North Algoma - leaving it with 561 "active", including three in hospital - it does not break "active" cases down to region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 135 in Greater Sudbury, 64 in the Sudbury District, and 39 in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with a record 976 "active", including twenty in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau.

It's also warning of "high risk" public exposure for those who attended a private gathering in M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island between December 22nd and 29th.

The Porcupine Health Unit - meanwhile - is warning of possible exposure on the Polar Bear Express from Cochrane to Moosonee December 27th - particularly Car Four - and on an Ontario Northland bus from Timmins to Watershed December 27th.