The province is reporting 153 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total to 35,370 in Ontario. This represents an increase of 0.4 per cent since the last report.
There have also been four more deaths attributed to coronavirus since the last provincial report. Of the total number of cases, 30,730 have been resolved, which accounts for 86.9 per cent. This includes 204 recoveries since the last report.
A little over 15 per cent of all cases — or 5,488 — are residents of long-term care homes.
Additionally, there are 2,290 cases found among health-care workers associated with outbreaks in long-term care facilities. This represents 6.5 per cent of all cases.
There have now been 2,680 deaths attributed to the virus. Of those, 1,712 have been in long-term care facilities, representing almost two-thirds of all fatalities. Six health-care workers in those facilities have also died from the coronavirus.
Across Ontario, more than 1.45 million tests have been completed, including 24,322 on Wednesday. There are currently 13,922 cases under investigation.
There are 119 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 40 patients currently in intensive care, with 26 of those on a ventilator. However, provincial officials say the number of hospitalizations is likely low as many hospitals did not report information for June 30. Those numbers are expected to rise on Friday.
The last case in Algoma was reported on June 19. There are currently no known active cases in the region. There are currently over 1,000 pending cases in Algoma.
Here's the latest local, provincial, and federal news regarding COVID-19 cases and funding that you need to know:
No new cases in Algoma region today
As of July 2 at 8:30 a.m., there are no active cases of COVID-19 in the region. Algoma Public Health's website indicates that there are currently 1,063 tests pending.
To date, there have been 14,292 tests conducted in the region and 13,205 of those have been negative. Algoma Public Health has reported a total of 24 confirmed COVID-19 cases, all of which are resolved.
There have been no COVID-19-related deaths in the Algoma district.
Inpatient visitors now permitted at Sault Area Hospital
Starting today, the Sault Area Hospital will permit visitors to inpatient areas. Patients are allowed one visitor at the scheduled time with visits restricted to the patient's room only. More information on the restrictions in place at the hospital can be found here.
No, you still can't travel across the border into the U.S.
Canada Border Services Agency reminds residents that travel restrictions are still in place.
Travel for tourism, recreation and entertainment across all points of entry in all modes of transportation is restricted.
More about the cross-border travel restrictions can be found here.
The situation across the river
The Chippewa County Health Department (CCHD) has identified a possible exposure site for COVID-19. Anyone who was at Lynn Auto Parts in Kinross, Michigan between June 20 and June 30 is asked to monitor themselves for symptoms. If you visited the exposure site, you are asked to contact the Chippewa County Health Department at (906) 635-1566.
CCHD has also reported that a county resident who tested positive for COVID-19 flew into Cherry Capital Airport on Wednesday.
Passengers on Allegiant Airline Flight 994 from St. Petersburg, Florida to Traverse City, Michigan are asked to monitor for symptoms and call their local health department.
In other across the border news, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that she was closing indoor seating in bars in parts of the state, including a college town where one brewpub has been linked to about 140 infections. The Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan are excluded from the mandate due to low numbers of reported virus case.
Whitmer also signed a bill allowing bars and restaurants to sell to-go cocktails in an effort to help those businesses. All bars may still keep open their outdoor patios. The order takes effect at 11 p.m. Wednesday.
More information on Whitmer's order can be found here.
COVID-19 mobile tracing app delayed
A new mobile app meant to help with contact tracing of COVID-19 cases won't roll out across Ontario today as planned.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health says the province is still working with the federal government and the app is expected to launch soon.
The province didn't give a new date for the app's launch.
Read more about the app here.
Reports say Toronto, Edmonton close to being named NHL hub cities
Toronto and Edmonton are on the verge of being picked as hub cities for the NHL's resumption of play, according to multiple reports.
The league is poised to pick two Canadian cities as sites for the 24 remaining teams to resume play later this summer, with the NHL attempting to crown a Stanley Cup champion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full story here.
280 elementary-level students will take online courses this month
ADSB has reported that 280 elementary level students will be taking part in online summer learning from July 6 to 24, involving instruction from 34 teachers, using 102 devices.
268 secondary level students will be taking part in summer learning from July 2 to 29, involving instruction from 15 teachers, using 23 devices for five and a half hours each school day using Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) from Microsoft Teams.
The board calls this unprecedented.
Doing a quick switch from classroom instruction to online instruction due to the COVID-19 shutdown, which began in March and continued to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, has shown many Algoma District School Board (ADSB) students and educators how accessible summer school can (and will be) during the board’s summer 2020 summer learning program.
Read more about ADSB's summer plans here.
Minor baseball season cancelled in the Soo
The Soo Minor Baseball Association announced Tuesday that the 2020 minor baseball season locally has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
In a statement, the Association called it “a very difficult decision to make.”
