COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update February 4, 2021

Reporting period: Thursday, January 28, 2021, to Wednesday, February 3, 2021.

February 4, 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 February 3, 2021: 40 new cases, 58 cases were resolved, and 2 death occurred. Eleven (11) outbreaks were active, including 5 in schools, 3 in long-term care homes, 2 in retirement homes, and 1 in a community congregate living setting. Four (4) outbreaks were declared over in the past 7 days, 2 in schools and 2 in long-term care homes. At end of day February 3, 2021, there were 64 active cases in our service area, and 8 active outbreaks. Nine (9) cases were hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 522 local cases of which 458 are resolved, and 9 people have died in our service area.

Trends in the past seven days

• Of the 40 new cases in our service area, 21 were associated with an outbreak, while 16 were close contacts of confirmed cases. 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. The source of exposure was unknown for 1 case, while 2 were travel-related.
• All 40 cases reside in Greater Sudbury.
• By end of day on February 3, contact tracing information was available for all 40 of the new cases. Through our investigation, we identified 169 people who had high-risk close contacts with these cases. That is an average of 4.0 high-risk close contacts per case, which is the same as the average 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, and make recommendations for testing according to provincial guidance.
• The 7-day incidence rate was 20.1 new cases per 100 000 population (compared to 36.2 for the previous 7 days).
• The percent positivity was 1.17% for the period of January 26 to February 1 (compared to 1.39% for the previous 7 days).
• For the period of January 27 to February 2, the effective reproductive number (Rt) was 0.94 for Northern Ontario, and 0.90 for Ontario overall.

Stay COVID-safe

• Being physically active outdoors has many health benefits. If you plan on exploring a hiking trail or skating outdoors, remember to bring extra face-coverings or masks in case it is difficult to maintain physical distancing from those outside your household. Scarfs, ski masks, or balaclavas are not considered face-coverings as they do not seal around the nose and mouth and may not be made of the recommended material.
• Were you or a member of your household asked to self-isolate? Self-isolation (Public Health Ontario) means you do not go to work, school, public places, or visit friends or family.  Stay in a separate room away from other people in your home and use a separate bathroom if you have one. Self-isolation can be difficult but is very important to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Try keeping yourself busy with activities you enjoy, for example reading books.
• The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use are safe and effective. Looking to get the facts about the new COVID-19 vaccines? If you have questions about whether the COVID-19 vaccine is right for you, check out our vaccine web page or contact your primary care provider.
• Need to travel for essential reasons? Always follow the latest travel advice and advisories (Government of Canada). Starting on February 1, 2021, mandatory on-arrival COVID-19 testing is required for international travelers arriving to Ontario via the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Remember to stay home as much as possible and only travel if absolutely essential.

What’s new

• To date, we have administered 985 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 5 long-term care homes in our service area.
• In response to further reductions in COVID-19 vaccine shipments, Ontario continues to administer first doses to residents in each long-term care, high-risk retirement, and First Nations elder care home, with an updated goal for completion of February 10.
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts supported the Sudbury Catholic District School Board in its initiative to offer COVID-19testing in three schools in Greater Sudbury last week and this week. St. Charles College, Marymount Academy, and Pius XII Catholic School were selected for this targeted testing initiative which is part of the province’s targeted voluntary testing program for asymptomatic students and staff to enhance safety measures for schools.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

As we eagerly await more deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccines, we continue to prepare behind the scenes. To date, we have administered 985 doses of vaccine in 5 long-term care homes. Our commitment to keep the community informed is a priority and we will continue to share updates about the COVID-19 vaccine when available. Schools and the safety of in-person learning continues to be on the minds of Public Health, Boards of Education, school communities, and of course parents. I agree with the province’s Medical Officers of Health that the return to school and in-person learning is an essential priority. We are fortunate to be able to have in-person learning and our collective efforts to stay home unless essential, and to practise public health measures, can help protect  our whole community.

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 District of Sudbury, and the District of Manitoulin. In addition, a detailed epidemiology summary is posted Mondays and Thursdays 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).