SUDBURY -- Ontario has moved Public Health Sudbury and Districts into the yellow-protect in the new COVID response framework as the area reaches the 11th day in a row new infections have been reported.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts has now surpassed the 200-mark as public health confirmed eight more positive cases of the disease Friday afternoon.
As of 2:27 p.m. Friday, there are 66 active cases in the Sudbury District, most of which are in the City of Greater Sudbury.
Since the pandemic began, 204 positive cases have been recorded in the area and 138 of those have been resolved, including two deaths.
The newest batch of cases involves five people from Greater Sudbury and three from Sudbury District.
Six of the eight new cases are outbreak-related, however, public health has not said which outbreak they are related to. There are currently two official COVID-19 outbreaks in the Sudbury area, one at Sudbury long-term care home Pioneer Manor after an employee tested positive this week and another connected to a Halloween party held in New Sudbury.
"Public health is advising the public of this exposure because we do not have information to contact everyone who may have been exposed. It is imperative that anyone who attended this party follow public health guidance to prevent further spread of the virus," said the health unit.
Neither Sudbury police nor Ontario Provincial Police were called to the Halloween party on Meadowside Avenue and public health has not responded yet to an inquiry whether the party violated Ontario's gathering restrictions. Gatherings are restricted to 10 people or less indoors and up to 25 outdoors.
Two of the new cases confirmed Friday are still under investigation.
Since Oct. 31, there have been 79 new cases, which accounts for 38% of the total cases in the districts since March.
"As much as possible, Ontarians are encouraged to limit outings to essentials like going to work or school, picking up groceries, attending a medical appointment, or engaging in outdoor physical activity," Public health said in a news release. "As of Oct. 3, the Province of Ontario is pausing social circles and advising that all Ontarians allow close contact only with people living in their own household and maintain two metres physical distancing from everyone else. Individuals who live alone may consider having close contact with another household."
Under Ontario's COVID Alert system, that went into effect Saturday, Public Health Sudbury & Districts was initially listed in the Green – Prevent. That changed Friday afternoon when the province released its updated list showing it under the yellow-protect level. The new classification comes into effect Nov. 16 at 12:01 a.m.
At Sudbury's hospital, Health Sciences North, there are currently eight patients that have been tested for COVID-19 and are waiting for their results. As of Friday at noon, there are no patients with confirmed cases of the disease at the hospital, including the intensive care unit. HSN media specialist Jason Turnbull told CTV News in an email that the hospital was at 112% capacity as of 7 a.m. Thursday morning.
"Our number one priority right now is getting the numbers down and keeping people safe. That's why, on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, we're updating the framework with new thresholds so we can slow the spread of this virus," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. "These adjustments are necessary to respond to the latest evidence we're seeing and we are prepared to make further adjustments as the health experts continue to review the current public health restrictions. We must do whatever it takes to stop our hospitals from being overwhelmed and protect our most vulnerable."
The province said latest modelling shows that if the number of new cases continues to grow at its current rate, Ontario could register up to 6,500 new cases per day by mid-December. Within the next two weeks, the province will likely exceed its intensive care threshold of 150 beds, under any potential scenario.
