This week, new COVID-19 cases reported by the province have ranged between a low of 990 and a high of 1,631.
Thursday marked one year since WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
A sombre and surreal milestone, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared the date, March 11, a National Day of Observance for COVID-19. Our mayor here in the Sault acknowledged the date, and the four lives lost to COVID-19 over the last year.
Canada has seen more than 800,000 infections in the past year and more than 22,000 deaths. This week, Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo said the country had seen more than 2,000 cases and more than 30 deaths every day this week.
In Ontario, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams and Dr. Adalsteinn Brown presented modelling numbers suggesting that the province is ahead of the curve. He indicated that the next four months are of critical importance in terms of vaccine distribution and social distancing.
In terms of vaccines as we pass the one-year mark, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today that based on new delivery schedules, Canada will receive at least one million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine every week from March 22 to May 10.
There have been 2.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered to date, and in the past week 600,000 doses have been administered, the highest number in a single week.
Here's the latest in the Algoma region this week
APH has reported one new case in the last week. The COVID-19 case is in the Sault area, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 201.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 1:20 p.m.:
- 104,770 tested
- 201 confirmed
- 5 (2)* active case
- 1 currently hospitalized
- 196 resolved
- 4 deceased
* There are currently two active cases in non-Algoma residents temporarily in the region.
According to data on howsmyflattening.ca, a University of Toronto-led website which collects and analyzes data from Ontario's COVID-19 cases, 64 per cent of ICU beds in Algoma Public Health's jurisdiction are currently occupied, and one COVID patient is in the ICU in the region.
The data also describes the community risk level for COVID-19 in our region as 'very low.'
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 148 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
- 35 in central and east Algoma
- 15 in Elliot Lake and area
- 3 in north Algoma
Algoma Public Health is in Phase 1 of Ontario's 3 Phase Vaccine Distribution Program. As of this morning at 11:00 a.m.:
- 6,420 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered
- 5,358 people have received their first dose (5.5 per cent of people)
- 1,062 people are fully vaccinated (1 per cent of people)
Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of Tuesday states:
- 1,780 cumulative positives
- 1,697 cumulative recovered
- 27 deaths
- 1 cases currently hospitalized
Algoma residents in priority groups continue to receive COVID-19 vaccinations
Area health teams are vaccinating priority populations over the next couple weeks.
Elders and caregivers were administered the Moderna vaccine at the Indian Friendship Centre on Thursday.
In Garden River First Nation, elders and frontline healthcare workers started to receive the vaccine at a curbside vaccination clinic.
Algoma Public Health advises that urban Indigenous people ages 55 and over can access either the COVID-19 Community Vaccine Hub at GFL Memorial Gardens or the clinics being held by the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre and Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services.
According to Indigenous Services Canada, more than 113,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in 480 First Nations, Inuit and territorial communities as of Feb. 25 - an immunization rate six times greater than the rest of Canada.
As vaccinations become more widely accessible to Ontario's populations, a province-wide booking system is about to launch which could mean job opportunities for Saultites with work-from-home skills.
Compugen, one of Canada’s largest IT services providers, is hoping to fill 300 customer service representative positions across Ontario to help run the program.
Learn more about upcoming clinics and who is eligible in the central and east Algoma area here.
Province lays out who will be vaccinated in Phase Two
The next group to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Ontario government, will be those aged 60 to 79, those living in congregate settings such as shelters and community living, people with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers, and people who cannot work from home.
The president of the Ontario Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is applauding the province's move to include pregnant women on its priority list of recipients in the next phase of its COVID-19 vaccination plan.
Phase Two is expected to come into play in April.
COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affecting women
In proclaiming Monday the 110th International Women's Day, Mayor Christian Provenzano warned that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting women.
A report released Monday by the Labour Market Information Council found that employment among women had dropped 5.3 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic started in February 2020, compared to a 3.7 per cent drop among men.
Women in low-earning occupations have been especially hard-hit, with their employment levels down 14 per cent.
Air traffic still down in the Sault due to the pandemic
The Sault Ste. Marie Airport continues to report a downward trend in air passenger traffic.
A press release issued by the development corporation today states air passenger traffic dropped 93 per cent from last February.
A new national report suggests in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada's tourism industry is facing a crisis greater than the combined impacts of Sept. 11, 2001, the SARS outbreak and the global financial crisis.
Long-term care commission hears that government rejected proposals that could've helped protect vulnerable residents during second wave of COVID
An infectious disease specialist and member of the province's science advisory group told the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission that proposals were made to the Ministry of Health, and some may have gone before the Ministry of Long-Term Care, that included mechanisms for hospitals to support the long-term care sector, and to ensure seniors wouldn't be housed three or four to a room during the second wave.
In a recently released transcript, the doctors say the province "chose" not to hire thousands of additional long-term care staff, or place infection-control practitioners in homes, as officials in Quebec did.
The province's long-term care sector has been devastated by the pandemic, where thousands of residents have died and staffing levels have declined dramatically.
The province has created financial and educational incentives in a bid to recruit and retain thousands of PSWs to staff the nursing homes. Sue VanderBent, CEO of Home Care Ontario, said those measures, when coupled with the wage gap, are enticing workers to leave home-care jobs.
She said her association has been raising the concern with Premier Doug Ford's government, stressing the "unintended consequences" of the new policies.
Canadian health authorities say there is no sign Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine causes blood clots
Canadian health authorities are keeping a watchful eye on European investigations of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of blood clots following inoculations, but say there is no evidence they were caused by the vaccine.
Late Thursday, Health Canada issued a release saying it is aware of the reports out of Europe and would like to reassure Canadians "that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh its risks."
Statistics Canada considered delaying this year's consensus until 2022
Newly released documents show Statistics Canada considered delaying this year's census until 2022 over pandemic-related health concerns that could erode the quality of data relied on by policymakers across the country.
The agency ultimately decided to forge ahead with the census for this year using a plan that relies more heavily on Canadians filling out census forms online than on face-to-face interactions.
Premier Doug Ford accuses Indigenous MPP of jumping vaccine line
Ontario opposition politicians are demanding an apology from Premier Doug Ford for accusing an Indigenous NDP legislator of "jumping the line" for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Sol Mamakwa, who represents the northern Kiiwetinoong riding, had publicly discussed his vaccination when he received his first dose last month. He said he was invited by community elders to take the shot to help combat vaccine hesitancy among Indigenous residents in Ontario.
Mamakwa said on Thursday that he had not heard of the complaints Ford referenced, and that he was vaccinated because his constituents asked.
The leaders of the NDP, Liberal and Green parties all condemned Ford's comments.
New York congressman urges President Joe Biden to consider easing Canada-U.S. border restrictions
One Capitol Hill lawmaker is ramping up the pressure on President Joe Biden to begin reopening the Canada-U.S. border.
New York congressman Brian Higgins wants the White House to prioritize easing border restrictions by the Memorial Day long weekend at the end of May.
Higgins is chairman of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, a group of lawmakers from northern states whose regional economies have been hit hard by the border closure.
New motion proposes internet rate relief during pandemic in northern, rural communities
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha introduced a motion on Monday which aims to address potential cost relief when it comes to broadband internet for northern and rural communities during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Read the full motion here.
New virtual youth hub launches in the Sault
The Northern Outlet is looking to connect youth virtually in a bid to foster their mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new website looks to provide youth ages 13 to 24 with an opportunity to have something to do in virtual ‘bored rooms’, which will host an activity or event for young people to participate in.
Sault Thunderbirds, Blind River Beavers find competitive way to end an unprecedented season
On Thursday afternoon, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced the dates of the next seven schedule games between the two clubs.
The teams will be turning the seven games into the COVID Cup.
The Thunderbirds and Beavers are two of just four teams remaining that are playing games in the NOJHL.
The Timmins Rock and Cochrane Crunch are also facing each other in the lone other NOJHL cohort.
What Saultites have learned during one year of COVID
Saultites shared with SooToday what life lessons they've learned over the last 365 days.
The overall consensus was that Saultites learned to take the hardship in stride, becoming more empathetic and compassionate both as individuals and within the broader community.
In commemorating and reflecting on one year since coronavirus started to impact our lives, Saultites also told us what they were doing this week last year. For many, this was the last 'normal' week we had before months of uncertainty.
