COVID-19: Here's the situation in the Sault this week

New daily cases in the province ranged this week between a high of 530 and a record-low of 296.

Despite cases continually dropping, the federal government has announced that restrictions at the U.S. border will remain in place until the end of July.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the government will provide details next week regarding the plan to let fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents enter the country.

Here's the latest on new cases in Algoma

As of 2:45 p.m., Algoma Public Health has not reported any new cases of COVID-19.

The last case of the virus in the region was reported on Friday, meaning today marks one week since new cases have been reported in the region.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 1:15 p.m. yesterday:

• 149,792 tested
• 397 confirmed 
• 3 active cases
• 1 (1)* currently hospitalized
• 394 resolved
• 6 deceased
• 110 cases screened positive for variants of concern

Algoma Public Health is reporting that recent results from additional laboratory testing have detected the following variants of concern in Algoma:

• B.1.1.7 (Alpha), first detected in the UK
• B.1.617.2 (Delta), first detected in India
• P.1 (Gamma), first detected in Brazil

According to data on howsmyflattening.ca, a University of Toronto-led website which collects and analyzes data from Ontario's COVID-19 cases, 43 per cent of ICU beds in Algoma Public Health's jurisdiction are currently occupied, one of which is a COVID patient.

The data also describes the community risk level for COVID-19 in our region as 'very low.'

Total confirmed cases by area of residence: 

• 311 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 51 in central and east Algoma
• 31 in Elliot Lake and area
• 4 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of June 16 states:

• 2,504 cumulative positives
• 2,430 cumulative recovered
• 33 deaths
• 0 cases currently hospitalized

Here's the latest on COVID-19 vaccinations in Algoma:

Algoma Public Health is continuing in phase two of Ontario's 3 Phase Vaccine Distribution Program. As of 10:45 a.m. yesterday:

• 89,372 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered
• 58,686 people have received their first dose only (43.3 per cent of youth 12-17 have received at least one dose and 75 per cent of the adult population (18+) have received at least one dose)
• 15,343 people are fully vaccinated (15.1 per cent of eligible population)
• 74,029 people have received at least one dose (64.7 per cent of the population or 75 per cent of the eligible population)

COVID rapid test kids being made available to local small businesses

COVID-19 rapid screening tests will be made available to local small- and medium-sized businesses starting  Monday.

A news release issued by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce states that small businesses with less than 150 employees are eligible to receive Rapid Antigen Screening Kits, the tests can be performed anywhere, and results are ready in approximately 15 minutes. 

Kits may be ordered from the Chamber of Commerce with picked ups scheduled at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

City throws support behind locally developed COVID screening app

The City of Sault Ste. Marie has thrown its support behind the locally developed COVID-19 screening and contact tracing app, CommunityPass.

The free app includes a number of features, such as "helping people to self-screen for symptoms, check in to locations to assist with contact tracing, and store COVID-19 vaccine documents and test results," states a news release issued by the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

Developed by a group of local health care professionals, CommunityPass was originally announced to the public in February of this year.

North Shore Health Network updates visitor restrictions

The North Shore Health Network (NSHN) updated its visiting restrictions as the province enters step one of the Roadmap to Reopen plan.

A news release issued last week includes updates such as up to two essential caregivers are permitted to visit in collaboration with the Emergency Department workers at all NSHN sites.

Read more about the changes here.

Ontario shortens wait time for second shot after AstraZeneca vaccine, NACI recommends Pfizer, Moderna for second dose for AZ recipients

The Ontario government is shortening the amount of time residents who received an initial dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine should wait before getting their follow-up shot.

The government had previously said AstraZeneca recipients should wait 12 weeks before getting a second shot, despite shortening the interval for all other vaccines. 

But it amended the guidance over the weekend, saying residents can now get a dose of any type of vaccine as early as eight weeks after their first AstraZeneca jab. 

Meanwhile, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization says it is now recommending people who got the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine first should get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for their second shot.

Previously, NACI had said AstraZeneca recipients could choose whether to get a second dose of the same vaccine, or an mRNA vaccine. But in new guidance released Thursday, NACI says Pfizer or Moderna are now "preferred" as the second dose.

The guidance is based on growing evidence that a second dose of an mRNA vaccine produces a stronger immune response, and because of the low but serious risk of vaccine-induced blood clots associated with getting AstraZeneca.

The advice doesn't mean people can't still choose AstraZeneca if they want, or if they are allergic to the mRNA vaccines.

This week, Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott, along with Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, announced that Ontario is accelerating the vaccine rollout by expanding eligibility for second doses, ahead of schedule.

As of June 21 at 8 a,m., those who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) on or before May 9, will be eligible to book their accelerated second dose appointment. 

There is also an accelerated timetable for anyone living in an area considered a “Delta hotspot,” an area that is dealing with the Delta variant. Anyone living in a Delta hotspot health unit who received their first dose on or before May 30 can rebook their second dose for an earlier appointment time (as available) starting June 23 using the province’s online booking systems.  

Those hotspots include Simcoe-Muskoka, Durham, Hamilton, York, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, Waterloo, Toronto, Porcupine, Peel, and Halton health units.

Hospital committed to seniors, catching up on backlogged surgeries, president says

Hospital President Wendy Hansson has commended the Sault Area Hospital team for working during the pandemic over the last year.

At aboard meeting this week, SooToday learned that SAH Volunteer Resources and Geriatric Services teamed up to launch ASTOP by making weekly friendly phone calls to seniors suffering from isolation due to the pandemic.

Hansson reported that SAH volunteers have, so far, put in over 260 hours of service in the ASTOP program.

Additionally, she acknowledged that throughout the pandemic, SAH’s ICU has received patients from southern Ontario and Manitoba to relieve pressure on ICUs in those areas.

"Sault Area Hospital has received 19 patients from outside Algoma. Four patients are from Manitoba and 16 are from northwestern, northeastern or southern Ontario. Not all patients transferred to SAH were patients diagnosed with COVID-19. At this time five patients transferred from outside Algoma continue to receive care at SAH," wrote SAH spokesperson Brandy Sharp Young in a follow up email to SooToday.

As far as COVID-19 vaccinations among SAH staff are concerned, Hansson said “to date we have provided in house over 4,000 vaccines and it’s still unfolding, our teams currently receiving the second dose.”

Hansson said SAH will concentrate on beginning to recover the number of surgeries and procedures put on hold, as well as addressing other illnesses which may have worsened in patients, due to the pandemic.  

Meanwhile, the Ontario Medical Association is urging patients to step forward and speak up about their ailments and health needs now before things get worse, as has happened for too many patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Ontario Country Music Association Awards postponed for second time due to COVID

The 2021 Northern Ontario Country Music Association (NOCMA) Awards Celebration weekend has been postponed yet again due to COVID-19 pandemic, the NOCMA District Reps announced in a news release this week.

This event, pushed back for the second time, was to celebrate the 2020 NOCMA Great Northern Opry and NOCMA Hall of Fame inductees.

Science table finds pandemic school closures could affect students' lifetime earnings

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table has issued a report suggesting that Ontario children, more so than children in other parts of Canada, will find their education has been significantly disrupted by the pandemic.

One of the most recent reports focuses on how the multiple school closures have "profoundly disrupted" the education process. From March 14, 2020, to May 15, 2021, Ontario schools have been closed for 20 weeks total, longer than any other Canadian province or territory, said the report.

Another problem according to the report were the inequities that arose out of mass school closures in some areas and  localized closures in other places; multiple models of education and gaps in support for students with disabilities. 

Ontario opens borders with Quebec, Manitoba

Travellers can now once again drive freely across the border between Ontario and Manitoba, and between Ontario and Quebec.

The borders reopened on Wednesday.

In April, Ontario established checkpoints on Highway 17 and other roads to stop people from entering from neighbouring provinces except for essential purposes.

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board continues to plan for pandemic

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (H-SCDSB) trustees approved the board’s 2021-22 budget at its regular monthly meeting (the last of the current school year) held virtually Wednesday evening.

Justin Pino, H-SCDSB superintendent of business, said the $74,508,659 budget meets board and Ministry of Education guidelines in “enhancing student achievement and wellbeing, ensuring value for money and taking a conservative approach.”

Because of the continued extra expenses school boards are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry is allowing boards to run an in-year deficit budget of two per cent of their operating budgets without requiring the Minister of Education’s approval.

The government also states school boards must continue to offer remote learning options, meaning the Huron-Superior board will continue to offer instruction through its Holy Trinity Virtual Academy for elementary school students.

Central Algoma Secondary School delivers graduation ceremony to students by truck and trailer

Graduating students at Central Algoma Secondary School (CASS) may not have a ceremony this year, but educator and phys-ed teacher Ray Gowlett is making sure that the class of 2021 is able to dawn a gown and walk across a stage in order to receive their diplomas. 

He took it upon himself to build a 'tailgate grad' - a stage on a trailer that will be towed by pickup truck to the homes of all 72 graduating students from Echo Bay to Thessalon and all points in between. 

The mobile graduation will begin in Echo Bay June 26, and wrap up in Thessalon June 27.

Canada donating 13M surplus COVID-19 vaccine doses to poor countries

Canada is donating 13 million surplus shots to help poorer countries get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the pledge at the end of the G7 summit in England over the weekend.

Canada previously said it would offer the world up to 100 million vaccine doses to fight the spread of COVID-19, but was the only G7 country to not say how many of those would be actual shots rather than money.

Trudeau says the government will pay for 87 million shots to be distributed to poor countries, adding the donation of surplus jabs will not affect the domestic vaccination campaign.

Sudbury's Laurentian U plans fall return to campus, but won't require COVID-19 vax for residences

As COVID-19 infections go down and vaccination rates go up, Laurentian University is planning for a return to face-to-face classes in the fall.

The normal status for instruction at the university is face-to-face classes, Laurentian president Robert Haché reminded those attending the June 15 Laurentian Senate meeting.

He said the university is clearly hearing from students “the desire to return to campus,” and said applications for residence are well above what was expected.

Haché did acknowledge there are challenges for international students in particular when it comes to this plan, and said “we are going to be working through the summer” on issues such as these.

Virtual Supreme Court hearings to continue post-COVID, chief justice says

Canada's chief justice says the Supreme Court will continue to hold virtual hearings beyond the COVID-19 pandemic if participants agree to them.

At a news conference Thursday, Richard Wagner said video technology has improved efficiency, saving time and travel costs for those taking part in hearings.

The Supreme Court began holding hearings via videoconference, as well as hybrid sessions, last year to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Other courts across the country were also forced to quickly adapt, allowing use of audio and video technology for hearings as well as more digital documents.

 

Resilient Northern business owners are bouncing back better than rest of Ontario: Stats Canada

As vaccination rates improve and the province begins to open up, Northern Ontario’s economy is finally experiencing an economic uptick following the impacts of COVID-19.

The pandemic has had an “unprecedented effect on economic and labour activity in all regions of the country,” and yet Northern Ontario wasn’t hit as hard as other jurisdictions across the country.

That's according to Anil Arora, Statistics Canada’s chief statistician, who shared recently collected data on the region during a June 14 online presentation sponsored by Northern Policy Institute.