Peterborough Public Health is updating the information on this website every business day.

The local COVID tracker is not updated on Saturdays, Sundays or statutory holidays.

The time of the last update is always shown in the top right corner of the webpage.

Viruses are known to mutate over time. The new strains that develop can be different from the original virus. To be considered a variant of concern (VOC), the new strain of the virus must have clinical or public health significance that affects one or more of the following: transmissibility (how quickly it spreads), severity of disease, vaccine effectiveness, and/or diagnostic testing.

• Who is tested for a VOC?
When a person tests positive for COVID-19, the sample may also be screened for known VOC mutations. Screening tells us that a sample has a mutation that is common for a known variant of concern, screened (+). However, only through sequencing are samples confirmed as a VOC, sequenced (+), this tells us the specific variant lineage. As of March 18th 2021, only samples screened and found to have E484K or E484K and N501Y mutations will be sequenced. All samples screened positive for just N501Y mutations are presumed linage B.1.1.7 VOC. Please see PHO screening link for more information.
• VOC FAQ
• VOC Screening

A Close Contact is a person who is known to have had close contact with someone who was infected with COVID-19. People who are Close Contacts are at high risk of getting infected with COVID-19.

People who are Close Contacts have to self-isolate for 14 days from the last time they had contact with a person infected with COVID-19. Peterborough Public Health follows up with every person who is a Close Contact and who is staying in our area while they are self-isolating.

Public health agencies in Ontario keep track of all deaths of people with active COVID-19 infections. When someone who was a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 dies, the death is attributed to COVID-19 unless there is a clear alternative cause of death, such as trauma, poisoning, or drug overdose. However, based on the information available, a Medical Officer of Health, relevant public health authority, or coroner may use their discretion when determining if a death was due to COVID-19, and their judgement will supersede the above-mentioned criteria. A death due to COVID-19 may be attributed when COVID-19 is the cause of death or is a contributing factor.

• Community spread
• A person is said to have acquired COVID-19 from community spread if public health isn't able to pinpoint how the person acquired the virus. When public health can link a case to a known source of the virus, it is assumed that the person picked up the virus somewhere in the community.


• Travel
• A person who likely acquired COVID-19 from travelling outside of Ontario.


• Close Contact
• A person who had close contact with a known case.