Media Releases

The eligibility for 2nd doses at Northwestern Health Unit’s (NWHU) walk-in clinics this week has expanded. First dose: Anyone aged 12 or older Second dose: Anyone born in 1951 or earlier (70+ in 2021) First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people, and their household members Those who live in a long-term Read more…

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) advises the public that technical issues due to an upgrade to the COVID-19 vaccine Provincial Booking System caused some local clinics not to show up in the system, and some people were able to book appointments on dates when there are no clinics planned. The booking Read more…

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) notifies the public that anyone in the area who worked at the Mary River Mine Site at Baffinland Iron Mines in Nunavut between April 15th and May 27th is at risk for COVID-19. Baffinland Iron Mine employees and contractors in our area should immediately self-isolate and Read more…

Due to active forest fires in the region, some communities in Northwestern Ontario are experiencing smoke in the air. An air quality alert has been issued today for the Kenora, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout areas. Forest fire smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and very small Read more…

In response to a concerning trend in the region, Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has issued Instructions from the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) specific to workplaces under the Reopening Ontario Act. “We have seen an increase in the number of workplace-related COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in our area over the Read more…

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) urges the public to book their COVID-19 vaccine appointment if they are eligible. There are spots available in clinics this week in many local communities. Starting May 11, 2021 at 7:00 a.m., workers at grocery stores and restaurants, along with transportation workers and people with diabetes, Read more…

Currently, there is increased risk of COVID-19 in both Lac Seul First Nation and Sioux Lookout and prevention measures need to be strictly followed. Be assured that many local partners are working together to ensure public safety. The situation is serious, but we must remain calm, careful, and kind. What Read more…

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has been notified of more COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) in the region, including both the UK and Brazil variants. This is the first Brazilian variant result in the NWHU area and was found in a sample from a resolved case in the Dryden area. Cases Read more…

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has declared a workplace outbreak at KFC in Dryden. There appears to be no additional risk to customers of the restaurant. The workplace is following all outbreak control measures as instructed by NWHU and case and contact management is well underway. Anyone who is considered a Read more…

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) region has reached an unfortunate milestone. 1 in 100 people in the area have now been infected with COVID-19. Furthermore, the region’s percent positivity rate is currently 6.5 times higher than it has been for much of the pandemic. With variants of concern (VOC) circulating Read more…