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

New daily cases in the province ranged this week between a high of 10,732 and a low of 5,774 *note: not all symptomatic people are being tested in accordance with new Ontario guidelines.

Restaurants and gyms can reopen Jan. 31 as part of Ontario's plan to gradually reopen the province, Premier Doug Ford announced yesterday.

Ontario has been at a modified Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen since Jan. 5. Under the measures, restaurants are closed to indoor dining and gyms are closed. Schools returned to in-person learning on Jan. 17.

Each step will last at least 21 days.

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 latest cases of the virus in the region were reported today.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20:

• 223,400 tested
• 3,193 confirmed *Note: As of Dec. 31, 2021, the province has limited COVID-19 PCR testing to the highest risk populations. Furthermore, some people with mild or asymptomatic infection may not seek testing. Algoma Public Health states that the numbers of confirmed cases are an underestimate of the actual number of people with COVID-19 in the Algoma region.
• 576 (4) active cases *Note: the number in brackets is a case in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
• 16 (1) currently hospitalized *Note: the number in brackets is a case in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
• 2,617 resolved
• 22 deceased

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
• B.1.1.529 (Omicron), first detected in South Africa 

Total confirmed cases by area of residence: 

• 2,665 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 301 in central and east Algoma
• 124 in Elliot Lake and area
• 103 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of Jan. 12 states (note: case counts have been reset to reflect new reporting format. Cases from March 2020-Dec. 31, 2021: 5,275 total, 4641 recoveries, 69 deaths):

• 1533 cumulative positives 
• 281 cumulative recovered
• 7 deaths
• 9 cases currently hospitalized

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

As of 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 17:

• Population coverage

  % of total population that has received at least one dose	83.5%
  % of total population that have received at least two doses	77.9%
  % of eligible population (5+) that has received at least one dose	87.2%
  % of eligible population (5+) that have received at least two doses	81.3%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least one dose	90.1%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least two doses	87.3%
  % of youth population (12-17) that have received at least one dose	83.4%
  % of youth population (12-17) that has received at least two doses	79.1%
  % of child population (5-11) that have received at least one dose	53.4%

APH reported cases this week:

Hospitalizations up two, active case count drops by 90 reported on Jan. 15. 

Hospitalizations unchanged, 60 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Jan. 16.

No new hospitalizations, 39 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Jan. 17. 

Two new hospitalizations, region's 22nd COVID-related death reported on Jan. 18. 

71 new COVID cases reported by APH, hospitalizations remain the same reported on Jan. 19. 

Hospitalizations rise by three, active COVID case count drops reported on Jan. 20.

One new hospitalization, 55 new cases reported on Jan. 21. 

Local paramedics mostly got COVID from each other, not from patients

At the suggestion of DSSMSSAB chief executive office Mike Nadeau, two ambulance crews were moved to community hubs at Goulais and Second Line, and at Chapple Avenue.

Walk-in vaccine clinic coming to former Wal-Mart site in Station Mall

Algoma Public Health is also planning walk-in clinics for children during the upcoming PD day on Feb. 4.

WATCH: Premier announces reopening plan

Restaurants, gyms reopening with limited capacity, social gathering sizes increasing.

Sault and area school boards holding vaccination clinics; APH says vaccine safe for children

Some parents are hesitant about the vaccine for children five to 11 years old.

Testing of wastewater for COVID-19 has begun in Sault

Algoma Public Health's wastewater surveillance is still in a very limited and developmental phase, said APH spokesperson Leo Vecchio.

Ontario starting to see 'glimmers of hope', says Elliott

Top officials give an update on COVID-19 data ahead of details of how the province will reopen. 

WATCH: Elliott, top doc give COVID update

Omicron expected to peak this month, with hospitalizations peaking after.

Many public school students still learning remotely; high schools back to semesters in February

53 per cent of children from five to 11 years old in Algoma received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 79 per cent from 12 to 17 years received two doses.

COVID-19: Health Canada approves Pfizer antiviral treatment

Paxlovid uses a combination of drugs to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from replicating once it has infected a patient.