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 6,473 and a low of 3,424 *note: not all symptomatic people are being tested in accordance with new Ontario guidelines.

Ontario is prioritizing older, unvaccinated residents and immunocompromised individuals for a new antiviral COVID-19 treatment, as limited supplies become available across the province.

Ontario received its first shipment of Paxlovid last week, and Health Minister Christine Elliott had said the drug would be directed toward adults at the highest risk.

The province has now released its guidelines for who is eligible for the treatment. Those who qualify include:

• immunocompromised adults,
• unvaccinated people aged 60 and over, and
• unvaccinated people aged 50 and over if they are First Nation, Inuit or Metis individuals or have one or more risk factors.

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. 27:

• 226,530 tested
• 3,561 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.
• 595 active cases
• 18(1) currently hospitalized *Note: the number in brackets is a case in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
• 2,966 resolved
• 26 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: 

• 2,952 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 356 in central and east Algoma
• 136 in Elliot Lake and area
• 117 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of Jan. 26 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):

• 2,291 cumulative positives 
• 507 cumulative recovered
• 11 deaths
• 12 cases currently hospitalized

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

As of 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 26:

• Population coverage

  % of total population that has received at least one dose	84.0%
  % of total population that have received at least two doses	78.9%
  % of eligible population (5+) that has received at least one dose	87.7%
  % of eligible population (5+) that have received at least two doses	82.4%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least one dose	90.4%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least two doses	87.7%
  % of youth population (12-17) that have received at least one dose	83.7%
  % of youth population (12-17) that has received at least two doses	79.6%
  % of child population (5-11) that have received at least one dose	57.1%

APH reported cases this week:

One additional hospitalization, region's 23rd COVID-related death reported on Jan. 22. 

Hospitalizations, active case count down slightly as reported on Jan. 23. 

No new hospitalizations, 43 new cases reported on Jan. 24.

Three new hospitalizations, region's 24th COVID-related death reported on Jan. 25. 

One new hospitalization, 61 new cases reported on Jan. 26. 

41 new cases, region's 25th and 26th COVID-related deaths reported on Jan. 27. 

Five new cases, hospitalizations decreased by 4 on Jan. 28. 

COVID-19: Rapid test, medical note OK for COVID workplace claims during Omicron, says WSIB

Individuals should still try to get a medical opinion or rapid test to confirm their infection.

VIDEO: Great Northern Road lined with supporters as 'Freedom Convoy' rolls through Sault

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the target of local flag-wavers.

Hundreds welcome convoy in the Sault (14 photos) (Jan. 27)

The western contingent of what's been called Freedom Convoy 2022 rolled into Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday evening after some weather delays.

CANADA: Prime Minister says he is isolating after learning of COVID exposure (Jan. 27)

Justin Trudeau says the result of a rapid antigen test was negative, but he is following local public health rules and isolating for five days.

ADSB elementary school parents now have until March to commit to in-class or remote learning for kids

Previous deadline to choose was Feb. 3.

Absenteeism is up among staff and students at Central Algoma Secondary School

The school is working with Algoma Public Health to ensure COVID-19 measures are being followed.

Trucker convoy decides to split in two due to weather (Jan. 27)

Half the convoy took Hwy 17 to Sault Ste. Marie and the other half took Hwy 11 to Cochrane, overnighting there.

What do those school absentee numbers mean? Daily updates don’t specifically mention COVID

APH sends out cautionary information if a school’s absenteeism rate hits 30 per cent.

Supporters to feed and accommodate convoy of truckers when they arrive in Sault (Jan. 25)

A rally in support of the truckers was planned for 6 p.m. Thursday. 

Algoma still within Omicron surge but there are signs of it slowing: Dr. Loo

The number of local COVID-19 cases has not completely plateaued in recent days, said Loo, but they aren’t increasing exponentially, either.

ONTARIO: More than 330 schools report absences of 30 per cent or higher

Data includes all absences, not just those that might be related to COVID-19.

Downtown library offers free printing, lamination for your vaccine passport

"Due to the high demand for the service, a temporary vaccine printing and lamination station has been established in the administration office from Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.," chief executive officer Matthew MacDonald informed a meeting of the local library board on Monday night.

COVID-19 outbreak declared over in Sault Area Hospital emergency department (Jan. 24)

The outbreak was contained to two staff members.

COVID-19: Ontario to start sharing data about school absences amid Omicron

Province's website will share information about how many schools were closed, and will also have a searchable table showing the combined absenteeism rate for staff and students by school.

Freedom Convoy heads to Ottawa; some truckers oppose government’s vaccine mandate

Though vaccinated, Sault truck stop drivers say vaccine should be personal choice.

Bum slides out, hybrid event planned for Bon Soo this year

COVID-19 restrictions in place mean bum slides will not be a part of Bon Soo this year and the annual opening-night celebration will also not take place.

Truckers should have done more to prepare for vaccine mandate, experts say

Up to 26,000 of the 160,000 drivers who make regular trips across the Canada-U.S. border would likely be sidelined as a result of the vaccine mandate in both countries.

Chamber CEO encouraged by Ontario's plan to lift public health restrictions

'It’s positive to see that there’s a plan that businesses can reference and start to begin their own planning process to get themselves back open,' says SSMCOC head Rory Ring.