Public Health Sudbury & Districts 2022 pandemic response and recovery efforts: Making strides toward resiliency

Today, Public Health Sudbury & Districts released its 2022 COVID-19 Response by the Numbers and Recovery Progress Report. The Report is a numerical overview of the agency’s 2022 response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a summary of progress in addressing public health recovery priorities. The Report contributes to accountability and transparency to the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts, members of the public, community partners, and key stakeholders.

“Throughout 2022 Public Health continued to balance its ongoing COVID-19 response while increasing recovery efforts and addressing the backlog of needs that accumulated during the pandemic,” said René Lapierre, Chair of the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “This accounting of Public Health’s work is part of our commitment to transparency, building and maintaining public trust in local public health in the wake of the pandemic and in the years to come.”

In February 2022, Public Health released its plan titled, Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the COVID-19 pandemic: From risk to recovery and resilience. It outlined initial priorities for public health action. The recovery priorities were based on an assessment of health impacts observed over time during the pandemic as well as our knowledge of community strengths to be leveraged and gaps to be bridged. The priorities serve to adjust Public Health’s focus back to the core business of public health and represent areas that have the greatest impact for individuals and groups facing the highest disadvantage and fewest opportunities for health.

“As we look back on 2022, I am pleased with the strides Public Health has made in responding to the pandemic, particularly as we navigated through the surges of Omicron and its subvariants,” said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “As this report highlights, we have made some early progress in addressing the impact of COVID-19 on children and vulnerable populations, and I am confident that as we dedicate more of our energies and expertise into our recovery priorities and resumption of regular programming, in partnership with many others, we can have a positive impact on the health of all people across our service area,” said Dr. Sutcliffe.

Public Health’s COVID-19 response activities continued steadily throughout 2022 and included case, contact, and outbreak management; the COVID-19 vaccination program; COVID-19 prevention and behaviour change; ongoing quality, monitoring, and evaluation; and regular reporting and communication.

From January 1 to December 31, 2022, Public Health confirmed 15 343 COVID-19 cases among residents of Sudbury and districts, and over 68 000 calls were processed by the COVID-19 vaccination booking line and call centre (operated with the support of the City of Greater Sudbury). As part of the local COVID-19 vaccination program, 78 943 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered at Public Health-led clinics. This made up 59.4% of all doses administered across Sudbury and districts in 2022. The established partnerships with municipalities, First Nations and Indigenous communities, pharmacies, primary care, long-term care homes, and local venues were critical to the ongoing success of the vaccination program.

Since the release of its recovery plan, Public Health has made progress in addressing the backlog in public health programs and services. In the latter half of 2022, Public Health steadily supported the recovery of children and families. This was represented in the resumption of dental screenings and routine immunizations, as well as a renewal of school and family programming. Additionally, Public Health re-engaged with marginalized groups and other priority populations to understand the critical impacts of COVID-19. This work included events and training sessions coordinated to amplify the voices of the most vulnerable groups across our communities, reduce social inequities in health, and support community mental health. Public Health also increased the number of routine inspections of food premises, personal service settings, recreational water facilities, and licensed child care settings, and participated in a range of community committees, including the Greater Sudbury Community Drug Strategy Steering Committee, which seeks to reduce harms associated with drug use. Finally, Public Health resumed sexual health clinical services, including counselling appointments and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

For more information

For more information, download the 2022 COVID-19 Response by the Numbers and Recovery Progress Report or learn more by visiting our website at phsd.ca or calling Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).