COVID-19: Here is the situation in the Sault this week

New COVID-19 cases in Ontario ranged between a low of 304 and a high of 492 between Oct. 17 and 22.

Premier Doug Ford announced on Oct. 22 that capacity limits for restaurants, gyms and casinos will be lifted on Monday, Oct. 25. He also announced the tentative plans for the province's complete reopening. 

While the non-essential travel advisory has been lifted, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, has said that Canadians should be aware that there are still risks to travel.

The Federal and provincial governments have agreed on a vaccine passport for international travel a vaccine passport for international travel. The passport will be digital and feature a QR code that includes the vaccination history. Paper copies will also be accepted.

The city of Sault Ste. Marie reimbursing some staff members for COVID-19 testing costs. The reimbursements are for those staff members who have started the vaccination process, but have not yet achieved full vaccination status.

When Parliament resumes on Nov. 22, no one can access the House of Commons without being vaccinated. Some Conservative MPs have voiced concerns about making vaccination mandatory.

Here is the latest COVID-19 information for Algoma

This week, Algoma Public health reported the region’s eighth COVID-19 related death since the beginning of the pandemic.

Three new cases were reported in the Algoma Public Health region with no new hospitalizations, which means there have been 486 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

An Oct. 18 flight, Air Canada AC 8317 from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie, had been identified as a potential exposure risk.

Passengers who sat in rows 3-9 and flight crew who served these rows should contact their local public health unit for further information.

Regions within Algoma reporting cases this week were Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma, North Algoma

Vaccine information for Algoma

The total doses of the vaccine that have been administered in the Algoma Public Health region is 177,758

79.1 per cent of the population has received at least one dose. 75.1 per cent of the total population are fully vaccinated.

That puts Algoma two per cent above the Ontario average of 73 per cent.

Between July 1, 2021 and Oct. 20, 2021 there were 86 cases of COVID-19 reported in Algoma.

Of these, 19 cases (22.1%) were in fully vaccinated individuals, and 67 cases (77.9%) were in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals.

Comparatively, Chippewa County in Michigan's data is as follows:

• Cumulative positive tests: 3707
• Cumulative deaths: 47
• Currently hospitalized: 7
• Percentage of eligible population that has received the first dose of the vaccine: 58.9 per cent
• Percentage of eligible population that is fully vaccinated: 54.5 per cent