Public Health updates COVID-19 case data reporting

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is changing how it routinely reports COVID-19 case-related data to align with the new COVID-19 testing eligibility requirements announced by the province. The changes are effective today and will help ensure that reported data is most useful to understanding how COVID-19 is impacting our communities.

On December 31, 2021, the Ontario Ministry of Health updated the eligibility for publicly funded PCR testing (Ontario Ministry of Health). These updates were to ensure testing is available to protect highest risk settings and vulnerable individuals. Publicly funded polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is now reserved for symptomatic people who are associated with highest risk settings or who themselves are at high risk of severe disease, and for others regardless of symptoms who are otherwise at risk of more severe outcomes if they become infected. With the new targeted testing approach, the cases confirmed by PCR that are reported to Public Health are an underestimate of the actual number people with COVID-19 in the community. Public Health is therefore reporting on additional data to provide a more accurate understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 locally.

Changes to case data reporting:

• Going forward, case and testing data will be updated online every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays). Vaccine related data reporting will continue Monday through Friday at 4 p.m.
• Confirmed cases (new and active) will be reported for individuals who are eligible for publicly funded PCR testing. This reporting is based on positive PCR testing. It also includes the positive rapid antigen tests that are reported to Public Health as part of an outbreak in a highest risk setting. Totals for cases tested prior to and following the implementation of changes in testing eligibility (that is, before and on or after December 31, 2021) will be differentiated.
• The probable exposure status of cases will no longer be reported. Cases reported after December 31, 2021, only represent a portion of actual cases in the population and the exposure status for other community cases is no longer available.
• Data for hospitalizations and use of intensive care units (ICUs) will be added. Data will differentiate between cases hospitalized due to COVID-19 and patients who also have COVID-19, but who have been admitted for reasons other than treatment for COVID-19.
• Outbreak reporting will continue for highest risk settings, which include hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services) and congregate living settings, including long-term care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, and correctional institutions (note: these updates will continue to be posted online Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays).

At present, Public Health’s routine case data reporting will continue to include data by geographic area, as well as age and sex information, recognizing that data is only available for cases among individuals who are eligible for testing. In addition to reporting active and resolved cases for individuals who are eligible for testing, Public Health will also continue to report all deaths in the community attributed to COVID-19.

Progress and data related to vaccinations in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts will continue to be posted daily, Monday through Friday.

For the general public, knowing what to do if you have symptoms is critically important. Whether you are eligible for testing or not, you must act immediately if you have symptoms and self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days. If you think you may have COVID-19 or were exposed to the virus, follow these steps to take care of yourself and protect others (Ontario Government):

1. Confirm if you need to isolate
2. Get tested for COVID-19 if you are eligible
3. Inform your close contacts of their exposure

In addition to Public Health’s routine case data reporting, on Tuesdays, Public Health continues to produce a detailed epidemiology summary that provides in-depth data on COVID-19 activity and a detailed vaccination report that provides data on COVID-19 vaccination activities in the service area. A weekly update is also available with additional information to complement routine reporting, which is updated every Thursday. The Weekly Update, for example, also includes information about the relative risk of hospitalization based on vaccination status.

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).