COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update January 13, 2022

Reporting period: Thursday, January 6, 2022, to Wednesday, January 12, 2022.

January 13, 2022 — 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 January 12, 2022.  Please note that confirmed cases are an underestimate of the true number of people with COVID-19, given that access to PCR testing is increasingly limited, positive rapid antigen test results are not reported to Public Health, and the likelihood that people with asymptomatic infections may not seek testing. New cases now reported to public health largely come from high-risk settings, such as the staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

In the past 7 days, 987 new cases were reported and 1 166 known cases were resolved. Note that routine screening for variants of concern (VOC) was discontinued by the province on December 30, 2021.  However, it is likely that a large majority of the cases reported this week are the Omicron variant. Twenty-one (21) COVID-19 outbreaks were active this week, including 8 in congregate living settings, 6 in long-term care homes, 3 in a retirement homes, 3 in hospitals, and 1 in a hospice. There were no outbreaks declared over in the past week. There were 10 COVID-related deaths. At end of day January 12, 2022, there were 993 known active cases in our service area and 21 active outbreaks. There were 20 local cases in hospital, while the rest were self-isolating.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 7 344 known cases locally, of which 6 351 are resolved. Sadly, 58 people have died in our service area.

Based on local data from the last 14 days, provincial data indicate that the risk of an unvaccinated individual currently being in hospital due to COVID-19 was 1.6 times that of a fully vaccinated person. Further, their risk of currently being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) was 4.0 times that of a fully vaccinated person.

Recent Trends

• In the past 28 days, the overall incidence rate of reported COVID-19 cases in our area was 1 418 new cases per 100 000 population. Residents 20 to 29 years of age had the highest rate at 2 458.6 new cases per 100 000 population. The rates among those aged 30 to 39 (1 980.8 per 100 000), and 40 to 49 (1 609.0 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 of reported COVID-19 cases in the past 7 days was 496.3 new cases per 100 000 population, compared to 549.6 cases per 100 000 in the previous 7 days.
• Of the 987 cases reported this week, 883 reside in Greater Sudbury while 49 reside in Manitoulin district, 14 in Sudbury North, 26 in Sudbury West, and 15 in Sudbury East. (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 12.9% for the period of January 4, to January 10, 2022, compared to 7.0% for the previous 7 days.

Vaccination Program Update

• To date, a total of 404 791 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered among residents in Sudbury and districts. Thus far, 170 189 people have received their first dose of vaccine and 158 447 people have been fully vaccinated (with two doses). A total of 76 155 people have received a third dose (current as of 4 p.m., January 12, 2022), including 45.0% of residents aged 18 and over. Note, this includes vaccines administered by Public Health, First Nation and Indigenous communities, primary care, pharmacies, and external authorities.
• Over the last 7 days up to end of day Wednesday, January 12, 2022, a total of 14 294 vaccine doses were administered.
• Overall, 90.0% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 12 and over have received their first dose of a vaccine, compared to 91.2% for all Ontario residents aged 12 and over.
• Second doses have been received by 87.1% of those aged 12 and over in Sudbury and districts compared to 88.5% for all Ontario residents aged 12 and over.
• Overall, 86.8% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 5 and over have received their first dose, compared to 87.8% for all Ontario residents aged 5 and over.
• Second doses have been received by 80.8% of those aged 5 and over in Sudbury and districts compared to 82.0% for all Ontario residents aged 5 and over.
• 82.9% of the total population of Sudbury and districts have received their first dose and 77.2% have been fully immunized. This means that there are over 46 000 residents who are not currently fully immunized.
• The following is a depiction of vaccinations received by age for individuals 12 and over in Sudbury and districts.

Stay COVID-safe

• With the announcement of in-person learning resuming Monday, January 17, education and child care staff are strongly encouraged to get their booster dose as soon as possible. The booster dose provides your immune system better protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. It remains important for everyone else to get their first or second dose if they have not already.
• Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant? With the highly contagious Omicron variant now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario, it is highly recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding individuals who are eligible get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (third) as soon as possible. Visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics to learn more about vaccination opportunities.
• Looking to get your booster dose? Online booking is simple. IMPORTANT: Available clinic dates are listed in the provincial online booking system based on geographic location and not by earliest date. Here are two helpful tips to get an appointment as soon as possible when using the online system, 1. Select “load more locations” and scroll through the list of clinics to find a venue with a sooner appointment time. 2. Try a different postal code near a clinic location to get more results.
• As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, it is important that we continue to follow public health measures. No single measure is 100% effective—that’s why you need to use multiple layers of protection to stay COVID-safe. Always use as many layers of protection as possible. Visit our COVID-safety page to learn more.
• Many children and youth have been struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and guardians may wonder if they should be concerned. Check out this tip sheet from School Mental Health Ontario’s to know what to look for, how to support your child, and where to access help.

What’s new

• The online COVID-19 school and child care screening tool has been updated to reflect recent changes.
• Today marks one year since the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was administered in our service area! Over the last the year, we have administered over 402 065 doses together with our local partners. We are thankful for the hard work and extraordinary dedication from our community partners helping us get doses into arms. The vaccine continues to play an important role in protecting our communities from the COVID-19 virus, reducing the risk of serious illness and hospitalizations
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts has updated the Section 22 Class Order for Sudbury and Manitoulin districts, which applies to individuals who either have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive, or have been exposed to a person who has symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19. Public Health has also amended the Letter of Instruction for anyone responsible for a business or organizations that is open in the districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

We start 2022 with difficult news of surging COVID-19 cases and very sadly, 11 individuals who have lost their lives to COVID-19 already this year. To those who have not been vaccinated yet or are still thinking about their second or third doses: What are you waiting for? Our Public Health staff are ready to welcome you at a local clinic – no matter which dose you need. Vaccination, combined with all the other layers of protection you know so well, protects against infection and very importantly, against serious disease and death from the Omicron variant. Do not wait to get your booster dose. At this time, we have lots of appointments available at mass clinics but please note that we are exploring switching over to more targeted approaches to best serve schools, congregate living, and people who are homebound. And to all the parents, caregivers and educators out there – a sincere recognition and hats off to your resilience and stick-with-it-ness as you support your young ones. Return to school is good news for our kids but I understand it may also be worrisome. This is understandable. Things will be different with schools this go around, with changes to testing, reporting of cases, and public health measures. Public Health is committed to supporting education partners and families with this important return to in-person learning.

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).