This week, new cases of COVID-19 in the province ranged between a low of 1,546 and a high of 2,380.
Ontario's top doctors said on Thursday that the province needs to impose stricter measures to curb the spread of more contagious COVID-19 variants.
Dr. Peter Juni of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table says even the strictest level of the province's current pandemic framework isn't enough to reduce current infection rates.
Somber federal modelling data was also released this week, as Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said this morning that daily cases have increased more than 30 per cent over the last two weeks, with an average of 29 deaths reported daily. Tam says we're in a 'very tight race' between vaccines and variants of concern.
Some good news in the fight of COVID-19 this week as Dr. Theresa Tam said on Twitter that vaccine rollout has resulted in a drop in the number of infections in people over the age of 80 across the country. She said this should reassure us that vaccines will bring more and greater benefits in the weeks to come.
Here's the latest on new cases in Algoma
The health unit reported a total of eight new cases of the virus since last Friday night.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated today at 2:17 p.m.:
- 112,355 tested
- 225 confirmed
- 14 active case
- 0 currently hospitalized
- 211 resolved
- 4 deceased
According to data on howsmyflattening.ca, a University of Toronto-led website which collects and analyzes data from Ontario's COVID-19 cases, 56 per cent of ICU beds in Algoma Public Health's jurisdiction are currently occupied.
The data also describes the community risk level for COVID-19 in our region as 'very low.'
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 159 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
- 46 in central and east Algoma
- 17 in Elliot Lake and area
- 3 in north Algoma
Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of Tuesday states:
- 1,888 cumulative positives
- 1,720 cumulative recovered
- 28 deaths
- 2 cases currently hospitalized
The Chippewa County Health Department reported an uptick in cases over the past few weeks. On Monday, CCHD sent out a news release that stated active cases doubled between March 2 and now.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring health unit, Sudbury, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas is calling on Premier Doug Ford to declare the region a COVID-19 hotspot.
Here's the latest on COVID-19 vaccinations in Algoma
Algoma Public Health is in Phase 1 of Ontario's 3 Phase Vaccine Distribution Program. As of today at 9:58 a.m.:
- 16,482 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered (15,395 Algoma residents, which is 15.9 per cent of eligible residents 16+ or 13.4 per cent of all residents)
- 14,308 people have received their first dose (This number represents 14.8 per cent of eligible residents 16+, and 12.5 per cent of all residents)
- 1,087 Algoma residents have been fully immunized with first and second doses (This number represents 1.1 per cent of eligible residents 16+, and 0.9 per cent of all residents)
On Wednesday, booking for COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the Sault for became available for those aged 75+, as well as healthcare workers, Indigenous adults 18+ and those who live in their households, faith leades who provide end of life care, care of the deceased, home visits to unwell persons, and pastoral care in hospitals/long-term care homes, and adult chronic home care patients.
The availability to book appointments for these priority groups became available for most of the province on Monday, however, APH advised then that they were not yet vaccinating people under 80. This changed on Tuesday when APH announced it would start the group listed above in the next week.
By Wednesday morning, COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for this weekend at GFL have already been booked solid. APH has said more appointments will be made available early next week for clinics being held April 3 and 6.
On Wednesday night, Algoma Public Health shed some light on why our region is behind in COVID-19 vaccinations. While regions in southern Ontario are vaccinating 60 and 65+ priority groups, we have just started to book vaccination clinics for 75+.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Loo explained, “At this point, the provincial allocations (of the COVID-19 vaccine) are proportional to population. That is how they are allocating doses to each health unit region. I think the disadvantage of a small health unit is that we can certainly get behind very quickly, and we have been, but the advantage is once it is provided we can actually catch up quite quickly.”
Inconsistent vaccination booking systems has caused confusion elsewhere in Northern Ontario, too. Read more on that here.
In an effort to increase vaccination knowledge locally, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and the STRIVE Young Professionals Group have partnered up to establish the Algoma Vaccination Support Council.
The council is made up of local businesses, organizations, and community stakeholder with the goal to share information about local vaccination efforts, ensure vaccination clinic staff and volunteers are fed, and to assist with transportation to clinics for those in need.
This approach has created some confusion for Northern Ontario residents who have been waiting to get their vaccinations, especially since it was announced that as of March 15, the province was kicking off a new booking system. Appointments were being accepted for residents 80 and older that day.
That caused consternation among residents who believed they could use the new booking system. Many tried and were rejected.
HR firm weighs in on whether employers can make employees get a COVID-19 vaccine
In most cases in Canada, employers will not be able to make vaccination a necessary requirement of employment, as this could amount to a human rights violation.
That’s according to Peninsula Canada, a human resources consulting firm operating out of Toronto.
Employers would be wise to avoid pressuring their staff into getting a vaccine because they may not be able to for medical reasons, religious beliefs or due to a disability, the company said. Kiljon Shukullari, a team lead with Peninsula Canada, said there might be certain scenarios “where there might be a contract in place” for high-risk positions where a COVID-19 vaccine may be required.
Read more from Penninsula Canada here.
COVID-19 spending dominates Ontario budget
On Wednesday, the Ontario government tabled the 2021 budget and spending priorities.
Highlights include pandemic-related spending:
- $2.3 billion on COVID-19 testing and contact tracing
- $50 million boost for a grant program launched last year for manufacturing personal protective equipment and other supplies
- $69.8 billion for health funding
- $1.8 billion for hospitals to help ease pandemic-related pressures
- $650 million for pandemic-specific relief for the long-term care sector
- New rounds of payment for Ontario families with children, aimed at relieving pressures related to the pandemic
- The government is offering a second round of grants – ranging between $10,000 and $20,000 – to small businesses hit hard by the pandemic
- $100 million for the Ontario Tourism Recovery Program, to help 'historically successful businesses' get back on their feet
- The government is further setting aside $150 million for a tax credit to encourage Ontarians to explore their home province once public health experts say it's safe to travel
- $1 billion in funding to support municipalities in their COVID-19 response.
- $50 million for community and faith-based organizations affected by COVID-19 and associated costs
The Sault Chamber of Commerce said that it believes the budget provides support for the sectors and communities hardest hit by COVID-19.
Possibility of unbalanced budget 'very high' for Sault Area Hospital
Sault Area Hospital's board of directors has said the organization has continued to show a deficit of approximately $9.3 million, which is causing an 'unfavourable budget variance' of $9.8 million, $8 million of which is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more from the board meeting here.
Ford says Ontario is funnelling more than $1.2B to hospitals to help meet pandemic crunch on revenues
The Ontario government said on Monday it would spend more than $1.2 billion on the province's public hospitals to help the facilities "recover from financial pressures created and worsened by COVID-19."
Of the funding, $696.6 million will help cover the significant working funds deficits qualifying public hospitals have accumulated, with a focus on small and medium hospitals, as well as specialty and rehabilitation hospitals "that carry a large fiscal strain due to their unique situations and historical funding challenges."
Ontario health minister says she will take the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to combat hesitancy
MPP Christine Elliott has publicly said that she will take an Oxford-AstraZeneca shot on camera to encourage others to get the vaccine.
Reports of blood clots among recipients in Europe had sparked concerns about the vaccine, but the European Medicines Agency has since concluded that the vaccine did not raise the overall risk of clots. On Tuesday, Health Canada said the benefits of the shot outweighs the risks, however, the agency will add a warning on clots.
Local barbershop reopens after year-long closure due to pandemic
After being closed for more than a year, a new barber's pole has been installed and the 'open' sign is once again illuminated at Big Guns Barbershop.
The East Street shop closed last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and owner P.J. D'Agostino kept it that way out of concern for the health and safety of their clients and themself.
Now, there's a new masked face at Big Guns and a slightly different business model in place, as Courtney Larocque takes over barbering duties while D'Agostino will continue to run the barbershop answering calls and booking appointments.
In order to make Big Guns Barbershop a bit more accessible, D’Agostino also introduced a 'pay-what-you-can' payment system.
Read more about Big Guns Barbershop's reopening here.
Sault bicycle shops almost sold out largely due to COVID
Jan Roubal, owner and operator of Velorution, told SooToday that outdoor recreation gear is in high demand as consumers try to get outside amid shutdowns and lockdowns.
Roubal said with the purchasing boom, the availability of bikes and parts has been sparse and wait times are up.
Read more from local bike shop owners on the demand during COVID-19 here.
Province investing $3.7M to help seniors, people with disabilities get their COVID-19 vaccinations
On Tuesday, the Ontario government announced it would help seniors and people with disabilities get their COVID-19 vaccinations where transportation is a barrier.
In a pre-budget announcement, Peter Bethlenfalvy, minister of finance and president of Treasury Board, said the province will invest $3.7 million as part of the 2021 budget toward this initiative, removing barriers to ensure that anyone who wants a vaccine is able to get a vaccine.
Group says pandemic has shone a harsh light on the realities of de-hospitalization and chronic underfunding
The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and the Advocacy Centre for Elderly (ACE) are asking Ontarians to add their voice to a call for a “ground-breaking human rights inquiry into systemic discrimination based on age against the elderly in the provision of hospital and long-term care."
The group said that bad policy during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a 'ghastly' death toll, and that while a commission into Ontario's response to COVID-19 in long-term care homes is underway, its set of questions are narrow and a broader systemic inquiry is needed.
Read the full story by Sudbury.com's Arron Pickard here.