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 2,125 and a low of 1,074 *note: not all symptomatic people are being tested in accordance with new Ontario guidelines.

A re-examination of fatal cases of COVID in Ontario has prompted some changes in reporting from the province and updates to the total number of people who have died after contracting COVID-19.

The province is now only going to report deaths where COVID was the underlying cause, contributed to the death, or the cause was unknown or missing, but the person was positive for COVID-19. 

Deaths unrelated to COVID will be excluded from provincial reporting. 

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 at 3:10 p.m. today.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 3:25 p.m. on Mar. 3:

• 242,566 tested
• 5,641 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.
• 375(1) active cases *Note: the number in brackets are cases in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
• 8 currently hospitalized 
• 5,266 resolved
• 38 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: 

• 4,621 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 567 in central and east Algoma
• 221 in Elliot Lake and area
• 232 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of March 9 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):

• 3,120 cumulative positives 
• 3,223 cumulative recovered
• 29 deaths
• 1 case currently hospitalized

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

As of 3:30 p.m. on Mar. 10:

• Population coverage

  % of total population that has received at least one dose	84.8%
  % of total population that have received at least two doses	81.2%
  % of eligible population (5+) that has received at least one dose	88.5%
  % of eligible population (5+) that have received at least two doses	84.8%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least one dose	91.1%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least two doses	88.7%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least three doses	61.5%
  % of youth population (12-17) that have received at least one dose	84.3%
  % of youth population (12-17) that has received at least two doses	81.0%
  % of child population (5-11) that have received at least one dose	59.7%

APH reported cases this week:

Drop in active cases reported on March 7.

Region's 36, 37th COVID-related deaths reported on March 8. 

Region's 38th COVID-related death reported on March 9. 

32 new cases reported on March 10.

Region's 39th COVID-related death reported on March 11. 

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