COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update August 5, 2021

Reporting period: Thursday, July 29, 2021, to Wednesday, August 4, 2021.

August 5, 2021 — The following is a summary of how the status of COVID-19 has changed in Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ service area over the last seven days up to end of day August 04, 2021: 3 new cases were reported and 3 cases were resolved. To date, none of the 3 cases had a mutation profile that is commonly associated with a COVID-19 variant of concern (VOC). There were no COVID-related deaths nor active outbreaks this week. At end of day August 04, 2021, there were 7 active cases in our service area and no active outbreaks. The cases were self-isolating. There were no local cases in hospital.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 2 186 local cases of which 2 179 are resolved, and 31 people have died in our service area. Nine-hundred and ninety-nine (999) were confirmed or presumed to be COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC).

Trends in the past seven days

• Of the 3 new cases in our service area, one was a close contact of confirmed case, one had no known epidemiological link and one case is currently under investigation. This means that Public Health identified how these people were exposed to COVID-19 and was able to take quick action to prevent further spread. No cases were linked to an outbreak.
• Three (3) cases reported this week reside in Manitoulin District. There were no cases among residents of Greater Sudbury or Sudbury District in the past 7 days.
• Between July 29 and August 04, Public Health identified 23 people as having had high-risk close contact with a case of COVID-19. This represents an average of 7.7 high-risk close contacts per local case reported in the past 7 days, compared to 2.6 high-risk close contacts per case reported last week. Public Health follows up directly and regularly with every high-risk close contact to monitor them for symptoms, ensure they are self-isolating (usually not required for 14 days if fully vaccinated), and make recommendations for testing according to provincial guidance.
• The seven-day incidence rate was 1.5 new cases per 100 000 population, compared to 3.5 cases per 100 000 in the previous 7 days.
• The percent positivity was 0.24% for the period of July 28 to August 03, compared to 0.44% for the previous 7 days.
• For the period of July 28 to August 03, the effective reproductive number (Rt) was 0.8 for Northern Ontario, and 1.2 for Ontario overall.

Vaccination Program Update

NEW: Vaccination coverage rates are now being reported for the population 12+ instead of 18+.

• To date, a total of 268 421 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered to residents in Sudbury and districts. Thus far, 142 268 people have received their first dose of vaccine, and 126 153 people have been fully vaccinated (current as of 4 p.m. August 4, 2021). Note, this includes vaccines administered by Public Health, First Nation and Indigenous communities, primary care partners, and pharmacies.
• Over the last seven days up to end of day August 4, 2021, a total of 3 925 vaccine doses were administered.
• Overall, 81.0% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 12+ have received their first dose of a vaccine, compared to 80.7% for all Ontario residents aged 12+.
• Second doses have been received by 71.8% of those aged 12+ in Sudbury and districts compared to 70.5% of Ontarians of same age.
• The following is a depiction of vaccinations received by age for individuals 12+ in Sudbury and districts.

* Rates are now based on 2020 population projections from the Ministry of Finance (2018) to match provincial coverage calculations.

Stay COVID-safe

• During challenging times like a pandemic, it important to care for your well-being. Consider adding mindfulness to your wellness toolbox. Don’t know how to practice mindfulness? Check out Wellness Together Canada.
• Let’s continue to have COVID-safesummer adventures. Get vaccinated as soon as possible, keep up personal protective measures, and follow public health advice.
• While the Government Ontario is preparing to exit the Roadmap to Reopen, when we do so and what it will look like will depend on community wide vaccination coverage. Encourage family and friends to complete their vaccination series and continue to follow public health guidance and choose safer activities.
• Ready to hang out with friends and get back to school? Youth should get two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be protected before school starts. Learn more about upcoming vaccination opportunities. Remember, it takes two weeks for your body to develop a good immune response. Continue to follow public health measures such as keeping 2 metres even while outdoors.
• Going shopping to get the supplies you need for back to school? The return to in-person learning guidance states that students from grade 1 to 12 will need to wear masks indoors while attending school. Make sure you add masks and the COVID-19 vaccine to your school supplies list so you are ready for a healthy and safe school year. Check out Ontario’s COVID-19: Health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022).

What’s new

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts and COVID-19 vaccine program partners will begin winding down the COVID-19 mass immunization clinic sites and will focus on more flexible mobile and pop-up clinic approaches to reach vaccination goals. In addition, workplaces, community organizations, places of worship, and other groups can now request a mobile vaccination team from Public Health to administer first and second doses at their own location. For more information, see the August 3 news release at phsd.ca.
• In preparation for back-to-school, now is the time for students and post-secondary students to be vaccinated in order to be fully immunized upon return to class. It’s not too late to get a first or second dose. Youth aged 12 to 17 and adults can attend a mobile, pop-up, or walk-in vaccine clinic to receive their first or second vaccine dose. Youth are eligible to receive their second dose if their first dose was more than 21 days ago (Pfizer-BioNTech) and adults aged 18 or older are eligible for their second dose if their first dose was more than 21 days ago (Pfizer-BioNTech) or 28 days (Moderna).
• Congratulations, Chapleau! Chapleau has become the first region in Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ area to reach 100% of eligible individuals getting their first dose and is leading the way with 91% (so far) of residents well-protected by getting their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

The bar is set and we are aiming for 90% vaccine coverage in those aged 12 and older who are eligible to receive the vaccine. Since the start of our COVID-19 vaccination program, I am proud of the great work and success we have achieved but know we need to do more. We need to administer approximately another 47 800 doses to reach our goal. In order to hit this milestone, we are shifting our approach with our vaccination clinics. In the coming weeks, our vaccination clinics will focus on more flexible mobile and pop-up clinics as we begin to wind down our mass immunization clinic sites. We are bringing the vaccine to you and your family, offering convenient and timely opportunities to be vaccinated. With back-to-school in the near horizon, now is the time for eligible students, post-secondary students, and anyone working in a school setting to receive a first and second dose of the vaccine. The health of our classrooms, and our community as a whole, depend on it. I encourage you to make an informed decision, and please get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Regular updates

Visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/data for regular updates about COVID-19 testing, confirmed cases, as well as outbreaks and potential exposures in Greater Sudbury, the Sudbury District, and the Manitoulin District. In addition, a detailed epidemiology summary is posted on Monday that includes information about cases over time, case characteristics, probable exposures, case outcomes, testing, and outbreaks in facilities.

For more information or if you have questions, please visit phsd.ca/COVID-19 or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).