COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update December 2, 2021

Reporting period: Thursday, November 25, 2021, to Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

December 2, 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 December 1, 2021: 259 new cases were reported and 225 cases were resolved. (Note: Due to recent changes in laboratory practices, Public Health will no longer be reporting on the variant of concern (VOC) profiles of cases.) Thirty-six (36) COVID-19 outbreaks were active this week, including 18 in schools or on school buses, 7 in workplaces, 2 in daycares, 2 in hospitals, 4 in community settings (2 sports teams, a dance studio, and a public park), and 1 each in a long-term care home, a retirement home, and a congregate living setting. Sixteen (16) outbreaks were declared over in the past 7 days, 10 in schools and school busses, 3 in workplaces, and 1 each in a daycare, a retirement home, and a congregate living setting. There was 1 COVID-related death. At end of day December 1, 2021, there were 285 active cases in our service area and 20 active outbreaks. There were 19 local cases in hospital, while the rest were self-isolating.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 3 888 local cases of which 3 603 are resolved. Sadly, 39 people have died in our service area.

Of the 1 766 local cases of COVID-19 reported since June 1, 2021, 547 cases (31%) have been among fully vaccinated individuals. There have been 1 219 cases (69%) in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated residents (those having received one-dose only). During that same period, there have been 65 local hospitalizations of which 45 cases (69%) were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Twenty (20) hospitalized cases (31%) were fully vaccinated. Interpreting vaccine status data: please note that data on case counts by vaccination status are preliminary—and highly subject to change. Comparing cumulative numbers from week to week may lead to incorrect estimates of case counts by vaccination status for the previous 7 days.

Based on data from the last 14 days, the risk of contracting COVID-19 for unvaccinated residents of Sudbury and districts was 6.6 times the risk for fully vaccinated residents.

Recent Trends

• In the past 28 days, the overall incidence rate of COVID-19 in our area was 464.8 new cases per 100 000 population. Residents who were 19 years of age and younger had the highest rate at 820.2 new cases per 100 000 population. The rates among those aged 30-39 (548.0 per 100,000), 40 to 49 (545.8 per 100 000) and 20 to 29 (501.2 per 100 000) were also higher than the overall rate in our area. Rates among all other age groups were lower than the overall rate.
• The local incidence rate in the past 7 days was 130.2 new cases per 100 000 population, compared to 122.7 cases per 100 000 in the previous 7 days.
• Of the 259 new cases in our service area in the past week, 125 were a close contact of confirmed case and 33 were associated with an outbreak. 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. Fifty-five (55) had no known epidemiological link. No cases were travel related. Forty-six (46) cases remained under investigation
• Of the 259 cases reported this week, 222 reside in Greater Sudbury while 18 reside in Sudbury West, 6 in Sudbury East, 1 in Sudbury North and 12 in Manitoulin district. (Note: for information on the definition of these geographic regions, please refer to the daily COVID-19 case update at phsd.ca/COVID-19/data)
• The percent positivity was 4.1% for the period of November 24 to November 30, compared to 4.1% for the previous 7 days.
• For the period of November 24 to November 30, the effective reproductive number (Rt) was 0.94 for Sudbury and districts, 1.06 for Northern Ontario, and 1.12 for Ontario overall.

Vaccination Program Update

• To date, a total of 327 951 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Sudbury and districts. Thus far, 161 707 people have received their first dose of vaccine and 155 053 people have been fully vaccinated, of which 11 191 people have received a third dose (current as of 4 p.m. December 1, 2021). Note, this includes vaccines administered by Public Health, First Nation and Indigenous communities, primary care, and pharmacies.
• Over the last 7 days up to end of day Wednesday, December 1, 2021, a total of 6 388 vaccine doses were administered.
• Overall, 86.7% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 12+ have received their first dose of a vaccine, compared to 89.9% for all Ontario residents aged 12+.
• Second doses have been received by 83.7% of those aged 12+ in Sudbury and districts compared to 86.4% for all Ontario residents aged 12+.
• Overall, 81.1% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 5+ have received their first dose and 77.5% have received their second dose of a vaccine.
• 77.5% of the total population of Sudbury and districts have received their first dose and 74.0% have been fully immunized. This means that there are over 53 300 residents who are not currently fully immunized.
• The following is a depiction of vaccinations received by age for individuals 12+ in Sudbury and districts.

Stay COVID-safe

• Public Health strongly recommended that participants in the Sudbury Silver Stick Tournament adopt additional protective measures to reduce disease transmission during the tournament. These additional measures include, but are not limited to, avoiding gatherings with individuals outside of your team cohort, not lingering in arenas after your team has participated in a game, and wearing masks and physical distancing when indoors. For a complete list of recommendations, read the letter (PDF) on phsd.ca. Your commitment to these strongly recommended actions, combined with additional protective measures already in place locally, will help in reducing COVID-19 transmission.
• Children can get COVID-19 and spread the virus to others, even if they don’t show symptoms. The COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of age is critical to protect children and our communities. Visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics to book a vaccination appointment for your child as soon as possible.
• The legally enforceable Letter of Instruction updated November 26, 2021, includes a new requirement. Workplaces in the City of Greater Sudbury must ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace. Though not required by law for the rest of Public Health Sudbury & Districts service area, it is strongly recommended that all workplaces ensure that any person who performs work for a business or organization conducts their work remotely.
• Are you feeling increased anxiety as we move through the pandemic? Try these quick strategies (Mental Health Commission of Canada) to reduce your anxiety: breathe, turn your attention to your senses, remember feelings are temporary, move your body. If your anxious thought patterns become an ongoing concern talk to your primary health-care provider or adults text WELLNESS to 741741 and youth text 686868.

What’s new

• On November 26, Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Medical Officer of Health issued work-from-home Instructions under the Reopening Ontario Act, strong recommendations to area schools, businesses, and organizations, and implemented stricter protocols for contacts of COVID-19 cases. For more information, read the Letter of Instruction at phsd.ca.
• Last Friday, Public Health Sudbury & Districts held the first COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children 5 to 11 years of age in Greater Sudbury. This was an important milestone in our COVID-19 response. For more information on vaccination clinics, please visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.
• On November 28, Ontario confirmed the 2 two cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the province. All eligible COVID-19 positive samples across Ontario have been and continue to go to Public Health Ontario’s laboratory for whole genome sequencing. No cases of Omicron have been reported locally to-date; however, Public Health Sudbury & Districts will inform the public if it is.
• Starting December 2, certain clinics will not offer walk-in appointment: they will only accept individuals with a scheduled appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-in opportunities are available at select vaccination clinics. Details can be found at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.
• The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is accelerating COVID-19 vaccine booster dose eligibility to Ontarians aged 50 and over and additional high-risk individuals, providing an extra layer of protection against COVID-19 and its variants. Public Health Sudbury & Districts will share more local details once available. For more information about the provincial announcement, please read the news release on news.ontario.ca.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

Public Health’s service area, along with many other regions across the province, continues to deal with COVID-19 surges. To date, no cases of the new Omicron variant have been detected locally. This variant is concerning given its high transmissibility and as yet, unknown severity. What we do know is that public health measures, such as maintaining physical distancing, washing your hands, wearing a mask, getting vaccinated when eligible, staying home if ill and getting tested, and working remotely unless required to be on-site, are effective in limiting spread. Until we see cases in our area start to level off and show signs of declining, we remain in a very precarious situation. With December’s arrival and the snow on the ground, many of us are looking forward to the holiday season, and we’re all hoping for enjoyable and safe celebrations. Please continue to do your part to help our communities to reduce COVID-19 in our communities by diligently following public health precautions.

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.  A detailed epidemiology summary is posted on Tuesday that includes information about cases over time, case characteristics, probable exposures, case outcomes, testing, and outbreaks in facilities. In addition, a detailed vaccination report is produced on Tuesdays that includes information about vaccine administration over time, by regions, by brand, by dose, and by age groups. The report also provides additional context by comparing our data to Ontario.

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).