Have a sniffle? A cough? Starting to run a fever?

If so, Dr. Mustafa Hirji wants you to call Niagara's public health department without delay.

The data on COVID-19 cases in Niagara has been showing a levelling-off trend this week, something the Region's acting medical officer of health says is a positive development in the pandemic locally. It suggests that physical distancing and hygiene measures are working to slow the rate of new novel coronavirus infections in Niagara, following trends seen in some other jurisdictions.

It's what he cannot quantify that troubles Hirji.

There is certainly some number of undetected cases in Niagara, he said. How many is impossible to know. If the numbers are relatively consistent with the information about known cases, these undiscovered cases may have a relatively minor impact on the evolution of the pandemic in Niagara.

However, if there are a significant number of COVID-19 cases lurking in the community, the region's flattening curve might start to climb again.

Either way, Hirji wants to know.

"If there are a large number of cases, yes it would change the positive trend we are seeing in the last few days," he said Thursday. "But if we found those cases, it would be positive in the sense that we know and will work to limit the spread of the virus."

On Thursday, public health reported 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Niagara, bringing the region's total number of cases to 189 up from 180 Wednesday. (One case from earlier in the week counted by public health was a resident from another region and was removed from the local count and added to that municipality's data.)

Eleven more people recovered from the viral infection, bringing the total number of recovered residents to 66.

One new death was reported by Niagara Health Thursday afternoon, bringing the number of Niagara residents with COVID-19 who have died to 11.

There have been more than 5,700 COVID-19 confirmed in Ontario and and 200 people with the virus have died.

Hirji said most of the new cases in the last three days are directly related to six long-term care homes with COVID-19 outbreaks in the region. Forty-seven residents and staff at those residences comprise almost a full quarter of known cases in Niagara.

"Our top priority remains dealing with those local outbreaks," said Hirji, noting the residences are homes to people who, due to age and underlying medical conditions, are acutely vulnerable to the virus.

The large number of cases in the homes — which are six of 69 such outbreaks province-wide — could be obscuring the extent to which COVID-19 is present in the Niagara community at large, he said.

The only way to know how much is to have more Niagara residents tested.

With Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling for increased testing across the province, Hirji renewed his call for those exhibiting respiratory symptoms, even mild ones, to call public health for a COVID-19 assessment.

"What I am talking about here is someone who has the sniffles, or a bit of a sore throat or a cough they would normally not make a big deal about. Those are the people we want to contact us" he said. "If you have the sniffles, you'd qualify for a test."

Hirji said testing capacity has risen considerably recently. Although most tests are being done by Niagara Health's assessment centres in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, some larger health care providers in Niagara along with some family physicians doing tests.

A few local labs, along with labs in Hamilton and Toronto are processing local tests.

The public health department COVID-19 hotline can be reached at 905-688-8248, press 7, then press 2 or toll free at 1-888-505-6074.

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