As temperatures drop in the north, COVID-19 cases climb
Colder temperatures are chasing people inside where it's warm, but health officials in the region say this is also forcing COVID case numbers and outbreaks to climb.
Some northern Ontario health units haven't seen such high numbers since winter 2022.
Health officials encourage people to get protected.
“We have now reached levels we have not seen since February and March 2022,” said Afzaa Rajabali of Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
“Hospitalizations have been steadily increasing and have also reached levels we have since February and March 2022.”
As of Tuesday, Rajabali said there are 122 new cases of COVID-19 in the Sudbury area, 36 new hospitalizations and seven new outbreaks in highest-risk settings.
“Public Health Sudbury & Districts released the new dashboard, it’s called the Respiratory Illness Surveillance Dashboard and it provides information about local activity levels of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, influenza and RSV,” she said.
The dashboard is available on the health unit’s website and is updated every Tuesday at 4 p.m.
While the porcupine health unit says it doesn’t have numbers to report, it did say cases are rising.
Kendra Luxmore of the Porcupine Health Unit said they are recommending all individuals aged six months and older get an annual influenza shot as well as COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo from video)
“I don’t have the actual exact rate of new cases but I do know from our surveillance the rates from last week have gone up,” said Kendra Luxmore of the Porcupine Health Unit
“So we’ll be reporting either a lower, moderate or higher rate compared to the previous and this week we are reporting higher.”
Beginning this week, the health unit is booking people at its vaccine clinics.
“We’re recommending that all individuals aged six months and older get an annual influenza shot as well as COVID 19 vaccine,” Luxmore said.
And she said it’s OK to get both at the same time.
“Yes it’s absolutely OK and it’s actually recommended to come in and receive both vaccines at the same appointment.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The health unit is also noticing an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases such as meningitis and pertussis and suggests ensuring all vaccines are up to date.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.