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 4,295 and a low of 1,991 *note: not all symptomatic people are being tested in accordance with new Ontario guidelines.

Ontario residents aged 60 and older are eligible for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose as of yesterday (Thursday).

First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and above are also eligible for the second booster shot, which is being offered at the recommended interval of five months after the initial booster shot, the province says.

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 at 2:55 p.m.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 3 p.m. on April 7:

• 251,606 tested
• 7,061 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.
• 442 active cases 
• 19 currently hospitalized (5 of which are in the ICU)
• 6,619 resolved
• 46 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: 

• 5,793 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 700 in central and east Algoma
• 305 in Elliot Lake and area
• 263 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of April 6 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):

• 3,215 cumulative positives 
• 3,672 cumulative recovered
• 34 deaths
• 0 case currently hospitalized

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

As of 3:30 p.m. on April 7:

• Population coverage

  % of total population that has received at least one dose	84.9%
  % of total population that have received at least two doses	81.6%
  % of eligible population (5+) that has received at least one dose	88.7%
  % of eligible population (5+) that have received at least two doses	85.2%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least one dose	91.1%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least two doses	88.9%
  % of adult population (18+) that have received at least three doses	62.0%
  % 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	81.3%
  % of child population (5-11) that have received at least one dose	60.2%

APH reported cases this week:

Two new COVID-related deaths reported on April 4. 

APH reports 2 additional COVID-related deaths discovered during data cleanup in April 5 update. 

Slight uptick in hospitalizations, active COVID cases rise in April 6 update. 

Hospitalizations drop, active COVID cases up in April 7 update. 

Hospitalizations remain steady, active COVID cases drop by 1 in April 8 update. 

APH offers fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to individuals aged 60 and over

First Nation, Métis, and Inuit individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over are also eligible.

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