COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update July 15, 2021

Reporting period: Thursday, July 8, 2021, to Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

July 15, 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 July 14, 2021: 1 new case was reported and 6 cases were resolved. There were no COVID-related deaths reported this week. No new cases screened positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern. One (1) outbreak (in a daycare) was active in the past week. At end of day July 14, 2021, there was 1 active case in our service area and no active outbreaks. The case was self-isolating. There were no local cases in hospital.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 2 172 local cases of which 2 171 are resolved, and 31 people have died in our service area. Nine-hundred and eighty-five (985) have screened positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern (VOC).

Trends in the past seven days

• The new case reported this week resides in Greater Sudbury and was travel-related.
• (corrected) Public health contacted 6 people who had high-risk close contact with cases identified, from July 8 to July 14, both locally and in other regions. This represents an average of 6 high-risk contacts per local case, compared to an average of 2 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, and make recommendations for testing according to provincial guidance.
• The seven-day incidence rate was 0.5 new cases per 100 000 population, compared to 2.5 cases per 100 000 in the previous 7 days.
• The percent positivity was 0.17% for the period of July 7 to July 13, (compared to 0.25% for the previous 7 days).
• For the period of July 7 to July 13, the effective reproductive number (Rt) was 0.6 for Northern Ontario, and 0.9 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 243 857 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered to residents in Sudbury and districts. Thus far, 138 517 people have received their first dose of vaccine, and 105 340 people have been fully vaccinated (current as of 4 p.m. July 14, 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 July 14, 2021, a total of 11 561 vaccine doses were administered.
• Overall, 78.9% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 12+ have received their first dose of a vaccine, compared to 78.3% for all Ontario residents aged 12+.
• Second doses have been received by 60.0% of those aged 12+ in Sudbury and districts compared to 57.0% 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

• The journey to COVID-safe summer adventures continues! With Step 3 of the Roadmap starting tomorrow, July 16, restrictions will continue to lift and new amenities can open. As things open up, continue to be COVID-safe this summer and follow personal protective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the delta variant.
• With Ontario reopening, it is okay to be happy, excited, and anxious. Kids Health Phone (kidshelpphone.ca) is there for you. Young people can text TALK to 686868 and adults can text 741741 if support is needed.
• This summer encourage family and friends to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to make it a two-dose summer. To ensure maximum protection against COVID-19 and the delta variant, if you are 12 years old or older, get your second dose within the recommended time (minimum of 21 days for Pfizer-BioNTech or minimum of 28 days for Moderna). Vaccinationsin Sudbury and districts are available at mass immunization clinics, walk-in clinics, pop-up clinics, and mobile clinics to make it as easy and convenient as possible.
• Did you know that the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are considered interchangeable? This means, if you received Pfizer for your first dose, you can receive Moderna for your second dose and vice versa. Either option for your second dose is safe, provides strong protection against COVID-19, and will complete your COVID-19 vaccine series. Current evidence shows that combining different mRNA vaccines produces robust immune protection. Get your second dose of an mRNA vaccine as soon as possible to complete the series and provide protection against COVID-19, including the delta variant.

What’s new

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts launched COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics around Greater Sudbury. For more information, see the news release on phsd.ca.
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the City of Greater Sudbury launched the area’s first mobile vaccination clinic. For more information, see the news release on phsd.ca.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

We are in the home stretch with our local COVID-19 vaccination program. If you have not received your vaccine yet, it is not too late. If you have family or friends who are considering getting their vaccine and have questions, encourage them to talk with their health care provider or Public Health staff at the clinics. I am pleased to share that we will have enough vaccine to fully vaccinate every eligible individual in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts by end of August. Variants of concern are still circulating in Ontario, and it is critical that we increase our collective protection as much as possible by the end of summer. Our case count is as low as it has been since early September and that is truly something to be proud of. Keep up the good work!

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).