Get ready for another wave of COVID-19 in the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU).

Though officials haven’t made the official declaration of it being prevalent, it might just be a matter of time with hospitalizations, test positivity rates and wastewater signals across Ontario all on the rise.

“Within the next week or two, I think we’ll see more COVID-19 outbreaks, higher wastewater levels, along with increasing numbers of those who have to miss work or school due to a positive result on the rapid antigen test,” said Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

DeMille believes it’ll be a rapid increase in cases, with the wave lasting anywhere from six to eight weeks.

At this time there are mask mandates for high-risk settings, which many are calling on to be extended past April 27th, arguing that the protection is needed until the latest wave of COVID-19 wanes.

DeMille is encouraging you to wear a mask in all indoor settings, including where distancing is a challenge.

Heading into Friday, the TBDHU is reporting a number of active COVID-19 outbreaks and 127 active cases.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is treating eight of their 21 patients admitted for the virus in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).