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 3,519 and a low of 1,741 *note: not all symptomatic people are being tested in accordance with new Ontario guidelines.

Vaccinated travellers will no longer need a COVID-19 test to enter Canada as of today (April 1).

The change is a departure from Canada's policy since the early days of the pandemic, and the struggling tourism industry describes it as a major boon.

While no test will be required after April 1 for people who are considered fully vaccinated, Health Canada still requires that anyone arriving from outside the country wear a mask in public for two weeks.

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 p.m. on Mar. 31:

249,404 tested
6,696 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.
444(3) active cases *Note: the number in brackets are cases in a non-Algoma resident currently in the region.
13 currently hospitalized (4 of which are in the ICU)
6,252 resolved
42 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:

5,505 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
652 in central and east Algoma
284 in Elliot Lake and area
255 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of March 30 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):

3,197 cumulative positives
3,640 cumulative recovered
34 deaths
1 case currently hospitalized

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

As of 3:30 p.m. on Mar. 31:

Population coverage

% of total population that has received at least one dose	84.8%
% of total population that have received at least two doses	81.4%
% of eligible population (5+) that has received at least one dose	88.6%
% of eligible population (5+) that have received at least two doses	85.0%
% of adult population (18+) that have received at least one dose	91.1%
% of adult population (18+) that have received at least two doses	88.8%
% of adult population (18+) that have received at least three doses	61.7%
% of youth population (12-17) that have received at least one dose	84.4%
% of youth population (12-17) that has received at least two doses	81.1%
% of child population (5-11) that have received at least one dose	60.0%