Ontario reported a record 3,328 new COVID-19 cases today.
This week, cases ranged between a low of 2,005 and today's high of 3,328.
Today is New Year's Eve, and as cases continue to rise alarmingly high, Dr. Barbara Yaffe is urging Ontarians to celebrate within their own households.
This week, an Ontario-wide shutdown came into effect. It is set to last until at least Jan. 9 in Northern Ontario, closing non-essential businesses in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Local schools will participate in remote learning until Jan. 8. Additionally, access to the local OPP detachment is limited during lockdown. Read more about the lockdown here.
Locally, Algoma Public Health has extended a cross-border travel advisory due to high COVID-19 case numbers in Chippewa County, Mi. This applies to Algoma residents who regularly cross the border for work.
Here's the latest local, provincial, and federal news regarding COVID-19 cases that you need to know:
One new case of COVID-19 reported by Algoma Public Health this week
On Boxing Day (Dec. 26), Algoma Public Health reported one new case of COVID-19 in the district, bringing the region's total to 65.
Currently, there are three active cases in the Algoma region.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated on Dec. 31 11:45 a.m.:
- 71,731 tested
- 65 confirmed
- 3 active cases
- 62 resolved
- 0 deceased
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 59 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 3 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
Vaccines not likely for the north until the spring
While some First Nations communities in Northern Ontario can expect to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the first three months of the New Year, it will likely be April, May or June before most citizens of Northeastern Ontario can expect to see vaccination clinics in their communities.
Over the next few weeks, Ontario is expected to lay out a timeframe for immunization. The government released their ethical framework for the COVID-19 vaccines. The principles listed in the framework include equity, fairness and transparency, and stress the need to protect those who face the greatest risk of serious illness and death due to "biological, social, geographical, and occupational factors."
Read more about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario here.
War Memorial Hospital employee dies of COVID-19 complications
War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Mi has lost one of its own to complications of COVID-19, says its Facebook page. Sarah Weber was a 25-year employee of the hospital.
Learn more about COVID-19 in Sault Michigan and the death of Sarah Weber here.
Ontario confirms cases of COVID-19 variant first discovered in the UK
On Dec. 26, Ontario confirmed its two first Canadian cases of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 first identified in the United Kingdom in a couple from Durham.
The new variant is believed to spread easier and faster than the original version of the disease but is not believed to be more deadly.
A third individual with the COVID-19 UK variant was also detected on Dec. 27, this time in Ottawa with recent travel recent travel from the UK.
Air travellers will soon have to test negative before arrival in Canada
The federal government says it plans to require air travellers to test negative for COVID-19 before landing in Canada in response to concerns that people vacationing abroad could bring the novel coronavirus home with them.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said all passengers on flights entering Canada will soon be required to have a negative PCR test three days before their arrival. PCR tests are designed to detect minute amounts of the virus that causes COVID-19, usually through a swab up the nose or in the mouth.
Read more here.
Ontario Northland continues to operate despite lockdown
Ontario Northland buses will continue to operate for essential travel during the current province-wide COVID-19 lockdown, a notice issued to customers states.
Read more about the company's health and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic here.
Locked-down-Manitoba-based basketball program brought players to the Sault
A Winnipeg-based basketball program travelled to Sault Ste. Marie for training recently while their own city was in a code-red lockdown according to a report in the Winnipeg Free Press on Monday evening.
The newspaper is reporting that Northstar Preparatory Institute was in Sault Ste. Marie for two weeks before returning to Winnipeg on Dec. 21. While in the Sault, the team trained in a local facility that wasn’t named.
APH's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Marlene Spruyt said the training session was done by the book. Spruyt also said that APH can’t prevent events that are in compliance with provincial regulations and recommendations.
Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigns after taking a 'personal trip' outside Canada
Despite his own government’s insistence that Ontarians stay home and refrain from non-essential travel, Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips admits he travelled outside of Canada for personal reasons in December, before the provincewide lockdown was announced.
His office confirmed that Phillips and his wife departed on Dec. 13, and that he has not yet returned to Canada and will quarantine for 14 days when he does.
Premier Ford had a blunt message for his jet-setting finance minister: Get your butt home, ASAP. He expressed displeasure and disappointment at Phillips' decision to leave the country.
Today, Phillips returned to Canada and will isolate for 14 days. Phillips also resigned from his cabinet position today.
Ever wonder why face masks make it so hard to hear?
Different face mask materials impact speech more than others, according to audiologist Debra Wilson, who explained that people don't realize how much they rely on lip-reading.
Since masks also muffle speech, it is no wonder people, especially those hard of hearing, are struggling to communicate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tips on how to cope with mask-wearing can be found here.
