COVID-19 in Sudbury & districts: Your weekly update November 18, 2021

Reporting period: Thursday, November 11, 2021, to Wednesday, November 17, 2021.

November 18, 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 November 17, 2021: 197 new cases were reported and 240 cases were resolved. (Note: Due to recent changes in laboratory practices, Public Health will no longer be reporting on the variant of concern (VOC) profiles of cases.) Twenty-six (26) COVID-19 outbreaks were active this week, including 9 in schools or on school buses, 8 in workplaces, 2 in retirement homes, 2 in congregate living settings, 2 in community settings (recreational sports team and public park), and 1 each in a hospital, a long-term care home, and a daycare. Six (6) outbreaks were declared over in the past 7 days, 2 in workplaces and 1 each in a school, a long-term care home, a retirement home, and a recreational sports team. There were 4 COVID-related deaths. At end of day November 17, 2021, there were 227 active cases in our service area and 20 active outbreaks. There were 5 local cases in hospital, while the rest were self-isolating.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 3 385 local cases of which 3 158 are resolved, and sadly, 37 people have died in our service area. One thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four (1 824) were confirmed or presumed to be COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC).

Of the 1 293 local cases of COVID-19 reported since June 1, 2021, 408 cases (32%) have been among fully vaccinated individuals. There have been 885 cases (68%) in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated residents (i.e. one-dose only). During that same period, there have been 40 local hospitalizations of which 29 cases (73%) were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Thirteen (13) hospitalized cases (27%) were fully vaccinated. Interpreting vaccine status data: please note that data on case counts by vaccination status are preliminary—and highly subject to change. Comparing cumulative numbers from week to week may lead to incorrect estimates of case counts by vaccination status for the previous 7 days.

Based on data from the last 14 days, the risk of contracting COVID-19 for unvaccinated residents of Sudbury and districts was 3.8 times the risk for fully vaccinated residents.

Recent Trends

• In the past 28 days, the overall incidence rate of COVID-19 in our area was 376.1 new cases per 100 000 population. Residents who were 30 to 39 years of age had the highest rate at 669.8 new cases per 100 000 population. The rates among those 20 to 29 (583.3 per 100 000), 40 to 49 (469.0 per 100 000) and 19 years of age and under (383.3 per 100 000) were also higher than the overall rate in our area. Rates among all other age groups were lower than the overall rate.
• The local incidence rate in the past 7 days was 99.1 new cases per 100 000 population, compared to 127.7 cases per 100 000 in the previous 7 days.
• Of the 197 new cases in our service area in the past week, 87 were a close contact of confirmed case and 43 were associated with an outbreak. This means that Public Health identified how these people were exposed to COVID-19 and was able to take quick action to prevent further spread. Forty-eight (48) had no known epidemiological link. Zero (0) cases were travel related. Nineteen (19) cases remained under investigation.
• Of the 197 cases reported this week, 175 reside in Greater Sudbury while 12 reside in Manitoulin district, 8 reside in Sudbury East and 2 in Sudbury West. (Note: for information on the definition of these geographic regions, please refer to the daily COVID-19 case update at phsd.ca/COVID-19/data).
• Between November 11 and November 17, Public Health identified 1 755 people as having had high-risk close contact with a case of COVID-19. This represents an average of 8.9 high-risk close contacts per local case reported in the past 7 days, compared to 5.9 high-risk close contacts 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 (usually not required if fully vaccinated), and make recommendations for testing according to provincial guidance.
• The percent positivity was 4.0% for the period of November 10 to November 16, compared to 5.6% for the previous 7 days.
• For the period of November 10 to November 16, the effective reproductive number (Rt) was 0.90 for Sudbury and districts, 1.08 for Northern Ontario, and 1.10 for Ontario overall.

Vaccination Program Update

Note: To ensure that our estimated rates of vaccination coverage remain as accurate as possible, as of October 14, 2021, the population figures used in these calculations have been updated to reflect counts recently made available from Statistics Canada. As the new 2020 population estimates are slightly higher than those previously used, readers may notice a decrease in our estimated coverage rates from those published prior to this date. Note that the same change was made by Public Health Ontario, so this improves the comparability of our estimates with their estimates. Provincial coverage estimates are taken from the provincial website. In addition, we have corrected our data to reflect recent updates to dose tracking processes, further decreasing our estimated coverage rates compared to those published prior to this date.

• To date, a total of 317 951 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Sudbury and districts. Thus far, 159 090 people have received their first dose of vaccine and 153 747 people have been fully vaccinated, of which 5 114 people have received a third dose (current as of 4 p.m. November 17, 2021). Note, this includes vaccines administered by Public Health, First Nation and Indigenous communities, primary care, and pharmacies.
• Over the last 7 days up to end of day Wednesday, November 17, 2021, a total of 2 612 vaccine doses were administered.
• Overall, 86.1% of Sudbury and districts residents aged 12+ have received their first dose of a vaccine, compared to 88.9% for all Ontario residents aged 12+.
• Second doses have been received by 82.9% of those aged 12+ in Sudbury and districts compared to 85.8% for all Ontario residents aged 12+.
• 76.1% of the total population of Sudbury and districts have received their first dose and 73.3% have been fully immunized. This means that there are over 54 800 residents who are not currently fully immunized.
• The following is a depiction of vaccinations received by age for individuals 12+ in Sudbury and districts.

Stay COVID-safe

• Cases are up in the community, which means we have to double down on vigilance to protect schools and in-person learning. Even mildly symptomatic people should self-isolate immediately and seek testing to prevent spreading COVID-19 in our community and in our schools.
• Regardless of vaccination status, students are reminded to check for COVID-19 symptoms before heading to the bus stop and to school. Right now, in particular, the sniffles, fever or cough may not just be a cold or the flu!
• By getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and layering other protections such as working remotely if possible, minimizing outings, wearing a mask, keeping physical distanced, as well as staying home and getting tested when ill, we can turn things around and get cases down locally.
• COVID-19 has been challenging for all of us. Headsupguys.org is a website for men, about men, and provides strategies for managing and preventing depression.
• DYK that when you call 2-1-1 (211 Ontario) highly trained specialists are there to connect you with programs and services near you; housing, food programs, crisis, and mental health and addictions, etc.

What’s new

• Watch Dr. Penny Sutcliffe provide an update on how the current COVID-19 situation in Greater Sudbury is affecting schools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdmLAYzA-qU
• There is no requirement to report positive results from a rapid antigen test to Public Health as long as the individual has no symptoms of COVID-19 and has no known contact with someone infected with COVID-19. For more information or if you test positive using a rapid antigen test, please follow directions available on phsd.ca.

Message from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health

It has been another extremely busy week for Public Health. I would like to thank you for your patience if you are waiting for direction from Public Health because you have tested positive for the virus or have been identified as a close contact. As a result of the high volume of local cases and close contacts, other public health units across Ontario are supporting our local efforts to make calls for contact tracing and to provide public health guidance. Increased cases in the community have certainly impacted our school system, with many cohorts being dismissed and bus routes cancelled. Following public health measures, isolating, and seeking testing when you have even a mild symptom is vital to slow the spread and protect important things like in-person learning and our health care system’s capacity. Last week, I also issued Letters of Instruction to strengthen masking and vaccine requirements and reduce capacity limits in businesses where proof of vaccination is required. Unfortunately, these increased protective measures are necessary, and other communities in Ontario have also proactively implemented similar measures. This increased vigilance points to the seriousness of the situation across parts of the province and locally. Since the instructions were implemented locally, there has been a steady number of cases reported to us—though at a slower rate. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation over the coming weeks. With the holiday season around the corner, please continue to follow public health measures such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, staying home if sick and getting tested, and of course getting vaccinated. Together, we can turn things around.

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.  A detailed epidemiology summary is posted on Tuesday that includes information about cases over time, case characteristics, probable exposures, case outcomes, testing, and outbreaks in facilities. In addition, a detailed vaccination report is produced on Tuesdays that includes information about vaccine administration over time, by regions, by brand, by dose, and by age groups. The report also provides additional context by comparing our data to Ontario.

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).