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 4,855 and a low of 2,622 *note: not all symptomatic people are being tested in accordance with new Ontario guidelines.

Ontario will need to reassess the value of the vaccine certificate system in the coming weeks and months, the province's top doctor said Thursday, as he spoke of learning to live with COVID-19.

Masking will likely be the last public health measure to go, Dr. Kieran Moore said, as it offers a good amount of protection from the virus.

But with the Omicron variant so infectious and hard to control, and now that there are safe and effective vaccines as well as antiviral treatments to prevent hospitalization in high-risk individuals, it will soon be time to decide what restrictions are kept in place, he said.

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 Feb. 3:

• 229,662 tested
• 3,889 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.
• 568(2) active cases *Note: the number in brackets are cases in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
• 18(1) currently hospitalized *Note: the number in brackets is a case in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
• 3,321 resolved
• 27 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: 

• 3,223 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 390 in central and east Algoma
• 143 in Elliot Lake and area
• 133 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of Feb. 2 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):

• 2,590 cumulative positives 
• 819 cumulative recovered
• 15 deaths
• 11 cases currently hospitalized

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

As of 3 p.m. on Jan. 31:

• Population coverage

  % of total population that has received at least one dose	84.1%
  % of total population that have received at least two doses	79.3%
  % of eligible population (5+) that has received at least one dose	87.8%
  % of eligible population (5+) that have received at least two doses	82.8%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least one dose	90.5%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least two doses	87.8%
  % of youth population (12-17) that have received at least one dose	83.8%
  % of youth population (12-17) that has received at least two doses	79.8%
  % of child population (5-11) that have received at least one dose	57.7%

APH reported cases this week:

5 additional hospitalizations, 32 new cases reported on Jan. 31. 

Hospitalizations unchanged, active cases down 4 reported on Feb. 1. 

Hospitalizations decline, APH reports slight uptick of active COVID cases on Feb. 2. 

Region's 27th COVID-related death, 58 new cases reported on Feb. 3. 

Hospitalizations drop, active COVID cases rise in Feb. 4 report. 

COVID-19: Ontario to ease visitor restrictions in long-term care facilities

Number of designated caregivers per resident will increase from two to four starting Monday.

Indian Friendship Centre to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics every other Friday starting tomorrow (Feb. 3)

Clinics to run from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m..

CANADA: Ottawa police under pressure to take bolder action as COVID-19 protest strains city

Ottawa police have arrested three men after investigations related to the protest.

Walk-ins now being accepted at Algoma COVID vaccination clinics (Feb. 2)

Some vaccination clinics in Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River are included among those accepting walk-ins.

CANADA: Freedom Convoy shunned by South Asian truck drivers

ONTARIO: Science advisers say easing restrictions will increase COVID-19 cases

Extent of resurgence is difficult to predict because it will depend on factors such as vaccination and masking, and the spread of the Omicron variant, experts said.

One in five Canadian truckers are of South Asian descent, but that's not represented in the ongoing protest, say sources in the industry.

WATCH: Future lockdowns are not the goal, says premier

'We're ready to move forward, but we have to be cautious,' Ford said of Tuesday's science table modelling.

CANADA: Justin Trudeau says he's tested positive for COVID-19 (Jan. 31)

PM revealed last Thursday that he was going into isolation for five days after finding out the previous evening he had been in contact with someone who tested positive.

LETTER: Local doctor urges governments to maintain all vaccine mandates

The Canadian people have worked very hard to protect and care for each other during the Covid 19 pandemic, doctor says. 

Some urge vaccine certificates to require three doses as Ontario set for reopening (Jan. 30)

Dr. Gerald Evans, an infectious diseases physician and member of Ontario's science advisory table, said three doses should now be the definition of fully vaccinated.

CANADA: Ottawa girds for another day of gridlock as truckers' park-in protest rolls on (Jan. 30)

Condemnation came for protesters seen carrying Confederate flags, as well as flags and signs bearing Nazi symbols and slogans on Saturday.

BEYOND LOCAL: Comments from the front lines of the Parliament Hill protest against vaccine mandates (Jan. 29)

Thousands of truckers and their supporters and critics gathered in Ottawa on Saturday for a protest against vaccine mandates, COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government.

CANADA: Thousands gather at Parliament for protest against vaccine mandates (Jan. 29)

Several in attendance said the gathering wouldn't likely be a one day protest and promised to stay parked by Parliament until vaccine mandate and public-health restrictions are lifted.

COVID-19: Ontario extends booster deadline for long-term care staff until March 14 (Jan. 29)

Staff in the sector had initially been given until Friday (Feb. 4) to get booster shots

ONTARIO: Ford says to 'learn to live with' virus ahead of reopening Monday (Jan. 29)

Ford made the comments about COVID-19 in an interview that aired Friday on a local Peterborough, Ont., radio station.