Monitoring the outbreaks
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is monitoring a number of outbreaks in various institutional, community, congregate care, and school settings, including a large multi-unit dwelling. Outbreak control measures are in place and Public Health continues to work closely with all affected individuals, agencies, and partners to prevent further spread of the virus. Public Health has notified those who are involved directly with outbreaks, as we always do. Public Health does not publicly report community outbreaks if we are able to identify and contact all affected individuals. Regardless of setting, activity, or situation, everyone is reminded to continue to screen themselves for symptoms and practice safe COVID-19 protocols.
Vaccination clinics
As Public Health works to track cases and their contacts to control the spread of COVID-19, much work also is underway with many partners to set up vaccination clinics across Sudbury and districts. The supply of vaccine has been limited and uneven; however, over the next week and coming month, the vaccine will be offered to additional priority groups in Phase 1 of the Ontario Government’s vaccination plan.
In addition to highest priority health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes, upcoming groups that will be eligible for vaccine include Indigenous adults (Métis, Inuit, and First Nations), very high priority health care workers, adults 80 years of age and older, adult recipients of chronic home care, and residents and staff of congregate care settings for seniors.
In the coming days and weeks, Public Health will provide additional information for these groups to pre-register and book appointments: if assistance is needed, help will be available. Every effort is being made to ensure that our immunization clinics are accessible and inviting, and that people have information about the opportunities with enough lead time to book appointments. Ongoing patience and understanding will be required as Public Health’s plans are subject to change based on vaccine supply.
“In addition to our efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, we know that getting vaccines in arms is critically important to our community’s ability to overcome this pandemic,” said Dr. Sutcliffe. “Every clinic we offer and every vaccine that gets into an arm gets us one step closer to building our community’s immunity to COVID-19. The collaboration by partner agencies like Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, First Nation communities, as well as municipalities and local hospitals, for example, is significantly enhancing our ability to protect people,” added Dr. Sutcliffe.
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).