A massive surge of COVID-19 in Public Health Sudbury & Districts jurisdiction
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is reporting 115 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday.
Most are related to outbreaks or close contacts and all are from the Greater Sudbury area except for one on Manitoulin Island.
Considering resolved cases, there are 291 active cases within the agency’s borders.
Health Sciences North has 25 admitted patients, six have tested positive while test results are coming in for the others.
None are in intensive care.
Algoma Public Health states they have had four new cases, bringing the total number of active cases to eight.
Two involve people from other areas outside the Algoma District who are receiving treatment.
Three other cases are from the Sault Ste. Marie area, while the others are from Central and East Algoma and all are self-isolating.
The Algoma District School Board has been advised by Algoma Public Health that individuals associated with Central Algoma Secondary School in Desbarats (DEB-or-ah) have tested positive for COVID-19.
Due to these positive cases, all secondary students at CASS will pivot to remote learning for this week. The health unit is conducting a careful investigation to identify close contacts.
One person is currently hospitalized while the others are all self-isolating.
Two outbreaks at Sudbury hospital
Two separate outbreaks have occurred at Health Sciences North.
On Friday it was revealed there was an outbreak on the Sixth Floor – South Tower, involving at least two individuals, both were staff.
On Saturday, the second outbreak was declared on the fourth floor in the South Tower and involves two residents.
The hospital says the outbreaks were declared by Public Health Sudbury and Districts, which is investigating the situation stressing both are contained.
Additional infection, prevention and control measures are in place such as strict hand hygiene, heightened infection surveillance, enhanced cleaning and disinfection and more.
The hospital also said it remains open with clinics and procedures continuing as normal.
The agency has also declared an outbreak at another long-term care residence: St. Gabriel Villa with one staff member testing positive.
And although schools switched to virtual learning as of today due to the districts being in the Grey Zone, the agency has also announced an outbreak at Immaculate Conception School (Sudbury Catholic District School Board) in Greater Sudbury after another person tested positive for the virus.
Sudbury health unit extends time interval between COVID-19 vaccines
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is following the recommendation from federal officials and extending the time interval for COVID-19 vaccines is now being extended to 16 weeks.
As the Pfizer BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines were being rolled out at the end of 2020, Pfizer said its recommended dosage interval was 21 days while Moderna said its recommended dosage interval was 28 days. because the first two months of real-world effectiveness are showing sustained high levels of protection they are extending the interval between doses as it was shown to be a good strategy.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Public Health Sudbury’s medical officer of health says for certain groups, such as residents of long-term care and retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and those in assisted living communities for seniors, the original dosing interval will apply.
She adds the change will allow the health unit to provide first doses to more people and the agency will rebook all appointments for second doses that now need to be rescheduled.
Individuals will be informed of their new appointment either through email or phone and do not need to take any actions themselves.
Rolling out the vaccines …
Ontario’s mass vaccination program gets underway in earnest today, as the province opens its on-line and phone booking system.
As of today, those aged 80 and older will be able to register for their inoculations.
Retired general Rick Hillier, who’s in charge of the rollout, is confident the system will be able to handle the load, adding that more computer and telephone capacity will be added if necessary.
Hillier estimates the system will be able to handle almost ten-thousand calls an hour.
He says those aged 75 and older should be able to book their appointments starting early next month, as the province works down through the age brackets.
Premier Doug Ford says the province is ready to administer as many as 150-thousand vaccinations a day across the province once more doses arrive starting next month.
No evidence of causing blood clots
AstraZeneca says a review of its vaccine testing data shows no evidence that it’s responsible for blood clots in patients.
Several countries have stopped using the vaccine after several cases cropped up in Norway.
Health Canada says none of the small-batch under investigation was sent to Canada.
The national advisory panel on immunizations is still recommending the vaccine not be administered to those over 65 because there’s not enough evidence as to its effectiveness.
But that position could change.
Tam concerned about an uptick
Canada’s chief medical officer of health is expressing concern over the rising number of the more-contagious strains of COVID-19 now emerging.
Doctor Theresa Tam says coronavirus cases are starting to swing upwards across the country after several weeks of declining numbers.
Tam also says there have been rising infection rates in those between 20 and 39 years of age and increasing mobility allowed as provinces ease restrictions could lead to a spread into more vulnerable populations.
Quarantine hotels expanded
The federal government has expanded its list of quarantine hotels for those arriving home in Canada by air.
There are now 57 hotels listed at the four arrival cities more than double the number when the quarantine program was first announced late last month.
Some travellers arriving back home have complained they haven’t been able to book rooms at the authorized hotels.
The Public Health Agency is advising those who travel outside the country to make sure there are spaces available before they leave and to change their plans if there aren’t.