COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update January 20, 2022

Reporting period: Thursday, January 13, 2022, to Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

January 20, 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 19, 2022.  Please note that as of December 31, 2021, eligibility for publicly funded PCR testing is limited to people who are associated with highest risk settings or who are at high risk of severe disease if they become infected.  Counts of new and active cases therefore underestimate the true number of people with COVID-19 in Sudbury and districts. As of December 31, 2021, positive rapid antigen tests associated with highest risk setting outbreaks are included in case counts.

In the past 7 days, 934 new cases were reported, and 912 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-nine (29) COVID-19 outbreaks were active this week, including 13 in congregate living settings, 6 in long-term care homes, 5 in hospitals, 2 in a retirement homes, 2 in correctional facilities, and 1 in a hospice. There were 2 outbreaks declared over in the past week, 1 in a long-term care home and 1 in a hospice. There were 4 COVID-related deaths. At end of day January 19, 2022, there were 993 known active cases in our service area and 27 active outbreaks. There were 27 local cases in hospital, while the rest were self-isolating.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 8 256 known cases locally, of which 7 263 are resolved. Sadly, 62 people have died in our service area.

Provincial data indicate that, between December 24 and January 6, the risk of an unvaccinated individual being admitted to hospital due for COVID-19 was 1.9 times that of a fully vaccinated person, and 4 times higher than someone with a third dose booster shot. Further, their risk of currently being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) was 3.1 times that of a fully vaccinated person, and 7.8 times higher than someone with their third dose booster.

Recent Trends

• The local incidence rate of reported COVID-19 cases in the past 7 days was 469.6 new cases per 100 000 population, compared to 496.3 cases per 100 000 in the previous 7 days.
• Of the 987 cases reported this week, 96 were children and youth aged 0 to 19 years, 318 were age 20 to 39, while 208 cases were age 40 to 59.  One-hundred and sixty-seven (167) cases were 60 to 79 years, and 144 were 80 years of age or older.
• Of the 987 cases reported this week, 809 reside in Greater Sudbury while 62 reside in Manitoulin district, 8 in Sudbury North, 37 in Sudbury West, and 18 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 12.8% for the period of January 11, to January 17, 2022, compared to 12.9% for the previous 7 days.

Vaccination Program Update

• To date, a total of 417 114 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered among residents in Sudbury and districts. Thus far, 172 300 people have received their first dose of vaccine and 160 326 people have been fully vaccinated (with two doses). A total of 84 488 people have received a third dose (current as of 4 p.m., January 19, 2022), including 49.9% 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 19, 2022, a total of 9 730 vaccine doses were administered.
• Overall, 90.9% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 12 and over have received their first dose of a vaccine, compared to 91.5% for all Ontario residents aged 12 and over.
• Second doses have been received by 88.0% of those aged 12 and over in Sudbury and districts compared to 88.8% for all Ontario residents aged 12 and over.
• Overall, 87.9% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 5 and over have received their first dose, compared to 88.3% for all Ontario residents aged 5 and over.
• Second doses have been received by 81.8% of those aged 5 and over in Sudbury and districts compared to 82.5% for all Ontario residents aged 5 and over.
• 83.9% of the total population of Sudbury and districts have received their first dose and 78.1% have been fully immunized. This means that there are over 44 000 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

• Are you an education or child care worker? Protect yourself and those around you by getting your booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This dose boosts your immune system to better protect you against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Book an appointment or attend a walk-in clinic.  Visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics to learn more about vaccination opportunities.
• Don’t delay, get your COVID-19 booster dose. Once you are eligible for your dose, it is recommended that you get the first available mRNA vaccine for your age group.  The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are interchangeable with the same mechanism of action. Either option (PDF) for your booster dose is safe and effective against COVID-19 and variants of concern.
• With the return to in-person learning this week, remember that your actions outside of school also matter. Continue to follow public health measures. Monitor and screen for symptoms of COVID-19 (Government of Ontario) and get tested if eligible (Government of Ontario). You must isolate if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have tested positive for COVID-19. You may also need to isolate if you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19.
• Attention parents and guardians: To support in-person learning and keep staff, children and communities safe, Public Health along with local School Boards are adding some in-school vaccine clinics during the school day as well as other school and child-focused clinics. Keep an eye out for vaccination opportunities.  Parental consent is required for in-school clinics. The CARD system and our conversation guide can help prepare your children for their vaccine appointment.
• Bell let’s Talk Day is January 26. Download a toolkit to help you spread the word about mental health in your workplace, school or community.  If you find yourself needing to talk to someone, reach out to a friend, kids and teens can text TALK to 686868, post secondary students can text GOOD2TALKON to 686868, and adults text WELLNESS to 741741.

What’s new

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts continues to work closely with school boards to promote COVID-19 prevention measures, preserve and support in-person learning. Parents and guardians will be notified by a letter from Public Health, through their school or child care setting, if and when a school or child care setting experiences an increase in absenteeism due to illness associated with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Today, the Government of Ontario has outlined steps to cautiously and gradually ease the time-limited public health measures starting Monday, January 31, 2022. These measures were originally put into place on January 5, 2022, to blunt the spread of Omicron and protect hospital and health care capacity.
• Fourth doses of an mRNA vaccine are now recommended for residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and older adults living in other congregate settings who received their third dose more than 3 months (84 days) prior. Planning is underway with local long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other congregate living settings to help coordinate vaccination for these residents.
• The Class Order currently in effect was updated on January 19 to align with provincial guidance for cases and contacts of COVID-19. It applies to those who have tested positive, have symptoms, or are a household member or close contact of a person who tested positive or a person with symptoms. It also applies to those who have been identified to self-isolate and for those who are a parent or guardian of a person under 16 years of age. The updates amend and replace the Class Order effective January 17.
• Effective January 20, 2022, all mass immunization clinics previously scheduled at the Manitoulin Tourist Information Centre (Little Current) will take place at the Four Directions Complex, in partnership with Noojmowin Teg Health Centre, Mnaamodzawin Health Services, and local Family Health Teams.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

“This week’s return to in-person learning has led to a variety of emotions for many families across our service area. We understand that the Province’s decision was made with much consultation and deliberation. And, while the decision to return to in-person school may worry some, we also know families see the benefits of in-person learning for our kids’ mental, emotional, and social health. With the COVID-19 Omicron variant’s extraordinarily high transmissibility, the previous approach to testing is no longer feasible, so it is true that we have access to less information about cases. Public Health will continue to support education partners in the protective measures they have in place. Staff, students, and parents alike have championed the adoption of public health safety measures. Keep it up! I also can’t overstate the importance of consulting a trusted health care provider for guidance and choosing to protect school aged children who are eligible with immunization. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to get their booster dose as soon as eligible. We have had to adapt to new realities since March 2020, and at times, I feel it is getting harder and not easier—for everyone. However, I remain hopeful that we are headed for a better place with improved immunity, treatments, knowledge . . . and resilience.”

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).