Officials with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health say a patient, who was the eighth lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 locally , is the first person to die from the virus in the area.

They also say it’s also the first lab-confirmed case that has been classified as community-transmitted in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.

In a release this (Tuesday) afternoon Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza offered his condolences to the patient’s friends and family and says the unfortunate death “reinforces the reality of COVID-19 in our community”.

He is urging everyone to do as much as they can to prevent the spread of the virus.

Oglaza says assessments are available for anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the virus, with testing available to anyone who qualifies, and that hundreds of tests have been collected from residents in Hastings and Prince Edward.

Those tests have been sent to the provincial lab and are being sorted through on a priority basis.

He says those who are probable, or lab-confirmed are getting the same instructions, to self-isolate for at least 14 days away from others in your home, to monitor symptoms and to let public health officials know if anything changes.