COVID-19: Here's the situation in the Sault this week

New COVID-19 cases ranged between a low of 1,873 and a high of 2,290, the highest number of new cases reported in a single day.

This week saw record-breaking days consecutively.

As cases continue to rise, Ontario has asked hospitals to prepare surge capacity plans. A statement from the Ontario Hospital Association says a wave of hospitalizations after the holidays risks disrupting acute care and other services in the new year.

In the midst of an increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions due to COVID-19, Education Minister Stephen Lecce has told school boards to prepare for the possibility of fully remote learning next year. Lecce said board chairs should encourage staff and students to bring essential learning materials home over the holidays.

The good news is that Premier Doug Ford has deemed Santa Claus, as well as his reindeers and team of trusty elves, an essential service.

Here's the latest local, provincial, and federal news regarding COVID-19 cases and funding that you need to know:

One new case of COVID-19 reported by Algoma Public Health this week

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated on Friday at 12:30 p.m.:

68,172 tested
62 confirmed
0 active case
62 resolved
0 deceased

Total confirmed cases by area of residence:

57 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
3 in central and east Algoma
2 in Elliot Lake and area
0 in north Algoma

Canada's first COVID-19 doses distributed

A positive milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic was reached this week, when Canada received its first vaccines from Pfizer.

A personal support worker from a Toronto nursing home received Canada's first COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, kicking off a massive national immunization campaign.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised the workers who got the shot for their dedication to their jobs and called it a historic day.

In other vaccine news, Canada's foreign-aid budget swelled noticeably Monday with International Development Minister Karina Gould's announcement of $485 million in new money toward the global effort to provide COVID-19 medicines to poor countries.

Gould and Procurement Minister Anita Anand also left open the possibility Monday that if Canada has any surpluses of vaccines it has already pre-bought, they could be shared with poorer countries.

Despite these huge steps forward in vaccine procurement, Canada's Health Minister Patty Hadju has said the public should be patient. She said the rollout won't take place overnight, however, the plan is to eventually have up to 200 sites across Canada where the vaccines can be administered.

Moderna vaccine on track for approval

On another positive note, Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at Health Canada, advised that things are on track for her department to approve a second vaccine for COVID-19 'very soon.'

She said there are still some manufacturing documents needed before the decision can be made.

Meanwhile, the head of Ontario's vaccine distribution task force General Rick Hillier has said this vaccine will be 'key' to immunizing the province's long-term care residents. This is because the vaccine can be moved more easily than the one manufactured by Pfizer, which requires deep cold storage.

Sault will not be a distribution point for COVID-19 vaccines in the north

Sault Area Hospital told SooToday's Darren Taylor this week that there will be a single distribution point for the north. However, it won't be here, as the Pfizer vaccine has very strict temperature storage requirements that local freezers do not meet.

Algoma Public Health says it will provide updates on vaccine roll-out locally 'as it becomes available.'

It is still uncertain when the vaccine will be available to the general population after prioritized groups receive the vaccine.

While SAH will not be a distribution hub for the vaccine, Sudbury's Health Sciences North has been identified as one.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre announced on Dec. 15 that it had been selected as the Pfizer vaccine distribution site in Northwestern Ontario.

Province changes COVID-19 testing guidelines for international travellers

People heading out of the country are no longer eligible for a publicly-funded COVID-19 test.

The Ontario government updated its testing guidelines this week for outbound travellers.

Learn more about the guidelines here.

Government makes it a little easier to claim expenses for those working from home due to COVID-19

On Tuesday, National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthiller announced the government was making changes to simplify the process to claim work from home expenses.

You can read more details on who is eligible and how the percentage of funding available has changed here.

Don't bring COVID-19 home for the holidays, Algoma Public Health urges

Algoma Public Health has some recommendations on how to celebrate the holidays safely this year.

The health unit reminds residents that people who do not currently live in your housing unit (that includes college students returning home for the holidays) should be considered part of a different household. Celebrating with those from out of town pose an increased level of risk, APH says.

You can read more from APH on the upcoming holiday season here.

Residents from outside Algoma no longer permitted to visit Sault Area Hospital

As of Tuesday this week, residents from outside of Algoma district, or those who have had close contact with someone outside of Algoma, are no longer permitted to visit patients at SAH.

More details on the hospital's visiting policy can be found here.

Calls to Kids Help Phone soar amid pandemic

Young Canadians have reached out to Kids Help Phone more than four million times in 2020, signalling a sharp uptick in calls for help compared to previous years and a growing chorus of youth who continue to struggle under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more on how the crisis line has responded during COVID-19 here.

Ontario to spend $695M on municipalities to cover more pandemic expenses

The funding announced Wednesday is part of a joint provincial-federal agreement reached earlier this year to help address pandemic expenses.

Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark says the new funding will ensure municipalities do not carry operating deficits into 2021. Clark says the province is continuing talks with communities about pandemic costs that they will incur in the months ahead.

Province plans travel tax credit for tourism within the province due to COVID-19 impacts

Ontario's minister of tourism says the provincial government is creating a tax credit to help reinvigorate the travel industry in the wake of COVID-19.

Lisa MacLeod says that her ministry is in discussions with the finance ministry about the logistics but that it will be a 20 per cent return on every dollar spent. Read more on that here.

The Sault gets a transport full of masks

Sault Transit drivers and passengers will soon have access to free face masks, thanks to a generous donation from United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District.

The masks will be distributed to city departments that need them, and as long as supplies last, will be made available to bus drivers and passengers, and also to members of the public entering city-owned community centres.

Read more from SooToday's David Helwig here.

Adjournment of criminal court dates comes to an end

As of Nov. 30, any accused individuals are required to attend scheduled criminal case management court appearances, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service reminds the public in a news release issued today.

Since March, these court matters had previously been adjourned to alternate dates due to the ongoing pandemic.