64 new cases of COVID-19 reported by APH

Algoma Public Health (APH) has confirmed 64 new cases of COVID-19 across the district today.

Of these cases, 58 are located in the Sault area, three are in Central and East Algoma, one is in the Elliot Lake area, and two are in North Algoma.

Two of these new cases are related to area outbreaks, APH states on its website. There are outbreaks currently reported at Hand in Hand Daycare (first declared on Dec. 25) and Child Care Algoma Pinewood Extended Day Program (declared on Dec. 16).

Exposure categories for the remaining cases reported today are 14 due to close contact of a confirmed case, 10 unknown, and 38 under investigation.

APH is currently monitoring 307 active cases in the Algoma region. Three people are currently in hospital due to the virus.

"The COVID-19 variant of concern, omicron, has been detected in positive cases of COVID-19 in the health unit region," states a notice issued today by APH. "Omicron is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario, which was expected based on provincial modelling.

"We continue to monitor the number of cases determined to be Omicron to determine if and when it is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in our region, similar to our approach to reporting the presence of the Delta variant.

"To mitigate transmission of Omicron and severe health outcomes from COVID-19, case and contact management in Ontario has shifted to treat all cases of COVID-19 as suspect Omicron."

For more information about COVID-19 in Algoma, please click here.