SUDBURY -- This article is no longer being updated daily, you can find the daily case count for northeastern Ontario here.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues, CTV News Northern Ontario is continuing to keep track of the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the northeast region. Check back often for daily updates on the number of new, active and resolved cases.
Novel coronavirus infections are reported by public health agencies for residents that live within the districts. In northeastern Ontario, there are five health units.
The number of active cases comes from the total confirmed positive less cases that have been resolved, including deaths.
On April 8, the Ontario government enacted its third stay-at-home orders as COVID-19 infections surged and were starting to overwhelm hospitals. Since then, northeastern Ontario has confirmed 2,612 more COVID-19 infections, with more than half of the cases coming from the Porcupine Health Unit region. The stay-at-home orders expired on June 2.
On May 20, the Ontario government revealed its new three-step reopening plan starting with easing pandemic restrictions on outdoor activities and gatherings after its third state of emergency due to an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The province announced it is moving into the first phase on June 11 that will see outdoor dining reopen along with "non-essential" businesses at a reduced capacity. Read more about what will be allowed here. Due to the uncontrollable surge in new COVID-19 infections and the prevalance of the Delta variant, the Porcupine Health Unit has extended the lockdown for an additional two weeks, to expire June 25.
The Ontario government announced on June 2 that schools will continue to be closed to in-person learning until September.
As of June 24 at 10 a.m., there are 254 active cases in northeastern Ontario -- an increase of four cases -- after 18 new infections were confirmed and 14 others were resolved on Wednesday, including another COVID-related death in Greater Sudbury. The fatality marks the city's 31st death associated with COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Variants of concern (VOCs) have been detected in all five northeastern Ontario health unit areas. While the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant, first detected in the U.K., is the dominant strain in Ontario, the B.1.351 strain that originated in South Africa is also circulating in the region. On March 31, Algoma Public Health announced VOCs have been detected in three recent COVID-19 cases, two in the Sault Ste. Marie area and one in the Elliot Lake area. There are now 110 cases involving VOCs in Algoma. There have been variants of concern detected in 961 positive COVID-19 cases in the Sudbury and Manitoulin area and in 211 cases in the North Bay area, including one B.1.617 that was first detected in India and 31 connected to the Lancelot Apartment outbreak. A total of 82 cases involving variants of concern have also been detected in the Timiskaming region, the exact strains have not yet been confirmed. The first VOC case in the Porcupine Health Unit region was detected Feb. 4 and both the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 have been confirmed in the Cochrane District since then. There have been a total of 1,035 cases in the Cochrane District that have tested positive for variants of concern.
Here is how the disease rates stand in each of the northeastern health units:
There are currently two active cases of COVID-19 in the Algoma District after one new infection was confirmed in north Algoma, the first in awhile, and three others resolved on Wednesday. This after a new case was recorded in Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday.
One case was resolved on Thursday, the first change in the number of cases since the previous Friday. On Saturday one new infection was confirmed and another case resolved.
There has been a steady decline in the number of active COVID-19 cases in the Algoma region.
The previous week, eight new infections confirmed, down from 14 the previous week, along with 31 were resolved total, including two COVID-related deaths.
Since April 1, there have been 170 new cases confirmed in the Algoma District.
The first shipment of the Moderna vaccine was received on Jan. 27 and long-term care home residents have been vaccinated.
The Algoma District's first COVID-related death happened on Jan. 18. The second happened exactly a week later, the third death was on Feb. 15, the fourth was announced March 1, and the latest happened back-to-back on May 23 and 24.
Since New Year's Eve, there have been 335 new cases of the disease, an increase of more than six times, and 336 have been resolved, including six deaths.
"Anyone who is ill, even with mild symptoms, must stay home and self-isolate away from others," said Algoma Public Health's website. "Do not have close contact with others outside the immediate household of people you live with. Limit non-essential trips outside of home and avoid non-essential travel to other regions of the province."
Since the pandemic began, there have been 400 confirmed positive cases, 398 resolved, including six COVID-related deaths in the Algoma District. The majority of the positive cases, 312, have been in the Sault Ste. Marie area, 51 in central and east Algoma, five in north Algoma and 31 in the Elliot Lake area.
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
There are currently 72 active cases in the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts after five new infections were confirmed in Nipissing and three others resolved on Wednesday. This after 23 new infections were confirmed in Nipissing and five other cases resolved on Tuesday. Of the active cases, 69 are from the Nipissing District and three are from the Parry Sound area.
Officials upgraded the COVID-19 outbreak at North Bay Jail after more than a dozen people from the facility tested positive. On June 13 an outbreak in Corridor 3 was declared after two inmates tested positive for the disease. Testing of inmates and staff found an additional 11 cases as of Wednesday, for a total of 13 infections. The number of cases has grown to 33 in one week -- 32 inmates and one staff member.
The number of new cases in the area is increasing. Last week, there were 35 new infections added and 14 resolved.
The week prior, 14 new infections were confirmed, down from 19 the previous week, 32 the week before that and 35 the week before that.
On March 2, the health unit received lab confirmation that two individuals from the Parry Sound area tested positive for the B.1.1.7. variant of concern that originated in the U.K. Both people were exposed through community spread, meaning they did not know exactly where they caught the disease.
"We now have confirmation of two different strains of COVID-19 Variants of Concern in our Health Unit district. This is very concerning as we are seeing community spread," said Dr. Jim Chirico, medical officer of health for North Bay and Parry Sound. "We must all do what we can to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community to help save lives and to be able to re-open our economy. It is essential we continue to follow public health measures."
On Feb. 13, officials warned of a new 'cluster of cases' at an apartment complex. The individuals in question were not close contacts, only connected through the address. Health officials say 45 people from Skyline - Lancelot Apartments in North Bay have been infected, but only 38 of them live there full time. A covid variant has been detected in 31 of those cases and 21 of those have been identified as the B.1.351 from South Africa. All of the active cases connected to the building have been resolved and three have died. The first one was on Feb. 17, the second was on Feb. 23, and the third fatality happened on March 1.
Two cases involving the B.1.617 variant, that was first discovered in India, has now been confirmed in the Nipissing-Parry Sound area. The number of confirmed cases involving the B.1.351 COVID-19 variant originating in South Africa has grown to 28, 165 infections were confirmed to be the B.1.1.7, which originated in the U.K., two cases involving the P.1., first detected in Brazil, and 14 other cases in the district have screened positive for a variant of concern and officials are determining which strain they belong to.
Since Christmas Eve, there have been 449 new cases, an increase by almost four times, and 393 cases have been resolved in this same period. During the last stay-at-home order, 232 new infections were confirmed in a matter of weeks.
A total of 53 new infections were confirmed in December, 37 per cent of the total cases since the pandemic began. In November, there were 32 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed, at the time accounting for more than 40 per cent of the total cases in these two districts since the pandemic began.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit completed administering the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This involved 505 long-term care residents and 16 front-line staff at the care homes. To date, 78,642 residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
A total of 562 cases have been confirmed in the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts to date, of which 490 have been resolved, including four COVID-related deaths. Nipissing District has had 389 cases total, while 173 cases are from the Parry Sound District.
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
There are currently 35 active cases of COVID-19 in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts after six new infections were confirmed in the Sudbury are and one COVID-related death in Greater Sudbury. A total of 31 people from Greater Sudbury have died as a result of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. This after two new infections were confimed in Greater Sudbury on Tuesday and three new infections were confirmed and four other cases resolved on Monday.
Since Thursday, there have been 25 new cases and 39 resolved.
Of the active cases, 27 are in Greater Sudbury, eight are in the Sudbury District and none in the Manitoulin District.
A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at another IAMGOLD Cote Mine Project site in Gogama on June 12. This time it is at the Flying Post Camp logistics. It is currently the only outbreak in the Sudbury District.
Last week, there were 17 new infections confirmed and 17 others resolved. Last week, there were 22 new cases confirmed and 26 previous cases resolved including one death. This is up slightly from 18 new cases the previous week and 37 resolved cases.
To date, 122,497 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Residents ages 12 and older can now book an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Public health has started publishing all active outbreaks in the area, not just schools and congregate living settings.
At the beginning of April, there were seven COVID deaths in the area, the most in one week since the pandemic began.
During the last week of March, Public Health Sudbury & Districts recorded 156 new infections and resolved 202 others, including five COVID-related deaths. Of those new cases, 43 per cent tested positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern.
All Greater Sudbury schools moved to online learning until further notice beginning March 15 due to the rise in the number of new COVID-19 infections.
The first week of March, 109 new infections were confirmed and eight cases resolved, including one COVID-related death on Tuesday.
There have not been any school-related COVID outbreaks in Sudbury since Marcy 26.
During the last week of February, there were 28 new infections confirmed, 17 resolved, including one death and the outbreak at Health Sciences North was declared over. The COVID-related death marked the area's thirteenth fatality due to the disease and the second connected to the outbreak at Health Sciences North.
Between Feb. 12 - 14, 10 new infections were confirmed and 19 previous cases, including one death connected to the outbreak at Pioneer Manor.
The week of Feb. 8, there were 24 new cases confirmed and 36 cases resolved, including one death connected to the COVID outbreak at Health Sciences North.
Feb. 5-7, there were 10 new infections were confirmed and 19 previous cases were deemed resolved, including another death connected to the Amberwood Suites retirement home outbreak.
This after 20 new cases were added over the last weekend in January along with 29 resolved, including two deaths. One of the COVID-related deaths involved a Finlandia resident, while the second involved a resident from Amberwood Suites retirement Home. Marking Sudbury's ninth death since the pandemic began. There have been 10 COVID deaths in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts since Jan. 15.
To date, there have been seven COVID deaths connected to the outbreak at Amberwood Suites, which was declared Jan. 5 after a resident tested positive for the disease. Health officials said there are at least 38 cases of COVID-19 linked to the senior's residence in city's South End. Five of those cases involve staff members, while the other 33 are residents.
Since Christmas Eve, there have been 1,896 new cases of COVID-19 and 1,864 resolved, including 29 deaths. This accounts for 88 per cent of the total number of new cases since the pandemic began.
"Self-isolation means not leaving home for work or school, not using public transportation, and avoiding contact with others," public health said.
In November, 104 new cases were confirmed, which accounts for more than 36 per cent of all cases in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts since the pandemic began.
A total of 2,153 positive cases have been confirmed in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts, 2,118 resolved with 31 COVID-related deaths. The majority of cases, 2,003 have been in Greater Sudbury, while 110 were in the Sudbury District and another 40 were in the Manitoulin District.
As of Thursday at noon, there were four COVID-related hospitalizations at Health Sciences North, three of those are in the intensive care unit (ICU), with seven patients at the Sudbury hospital having been tested and awaiting results, none of which are currently in the ICU.
A man in his 80s with COVID-19 was transferred from the Timiskaming District to the Sudbury hospital Jan. 8 and passed away the following Monday, marking the first COVID-related death of a Timiskaming District resident.
Porcupine Health Unit (Includes the Town of Hornepayne, which is a part of the Algoma District)
The number of new COVID-19 infections continue to surge in the Cochrane District with a large portion due to variants of concern (VOC), the number of cases involving a VOC has reached 960 - an increase of 146 last week. Most of the active cases are currently in the James Bay coast and have quickly overwhelmed the small, remote First Nation of Kashechewan with a majority of the infections involving people under 17 years old.
There are currently 146 active infections after three new infections were confirmed and 59 resolved on Tuesday. This after five new cases were confirmed and 108 cases resolved on Monday, including two more COVID-related fatalities bringing the total number of deaths to 29.
Since Thursday, there have been 56 new cases added and 178 resolved.
Of the active COVID-19 cases, 131 are in the James Bay coast area, eight are from Timmins, six in the Cochrane/Matheson/Iroquois Falls/Smooth Rock Falls area, and one in the Kapuskasing/Opasatika/Val Rita-Harty/Moonbeam area.
Last week, there were 193 new infections confirmed.
The previous week, there were 252 new infections confirmed, down from 272 new infections last week, and the record-breaking week prior to that that saw 284 new infections confirmed - up from 152 new cases the previous week.
There is one active COVID-19 outbreak at Monteith Correction Facility. The outbreak at Dutch Love Cannabis in Timmins has been declared over.
Since the Ontario government's current stay-at-home orders went into effect on April 8, the number of cases in the Cochrane district has almost quadrupled. Now, the number of positive cases confirmed is 1,972, up from just 385 over 10 weeks ago during the last round of stay-at-home orders.
Residents in the Cochrane District and town of Hornepayne ages 12 and older can now book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination online or by calling the health unit.
Three weeks ago, there were 68 new infections confirmed.
Four weeks ago, there were 70 new cases confirmed and 71 resolved, including one COVID-related fatality.
Five weeks ago, there were 83 new infections confirmed and 31 resolved. Of those new cases, 42 were recorded in the last three days.
This is up from the previous week when the health unit recorded a total of 37 new COVID-19 cases and resolved 17.
Health officials say an infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours before having any symptoms or testing positive for the disease.
A deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Extendicate Kapuskasing began Jan.7 and ended Feb. 24. A total of 71 people were infected as a result of the outbreak and 16 died. The first death at the long-term care facility happened on Jan. 21 and was the Cochrane District's first COVID-related death since August.
Since Christmas Eve, there have been 1,845 new cases and 1,708 resolved, accounting for 94 per cent of the total positive cases since the pandemic began.
Dr. Lianne Catton, the medical officer of health for the Cochrane District, shared a video message on the Porcupine Health Unit's Facebook page Dec. 8. Watch it here.
Public health officials say there is a continued risk of community spread.
Since the pandemic began, 1,972 cases have been confirmed positive in the Cochrane District and the Town of Hornepayne. Of those, 1,826 cases have been resolved, including 29 deaths.
The Timiskaming District has zero active COVID-19 cases remaining after the last remaining infection was resolved on Friday. The last new infection was confirmed a week ago.
In the last week, four new cases were confirmed and four cases were resolved. There were zero active cases for several days.
There have been a total of 82 cases involving a variant of concern in the Timiskaming District.
On March 23, the district recorded its second COVID fatality. The first happened on Jan. 11 - a man in his 80s with the disease was transferred to Health Sciences North on Friday and passed away after three days. He was exposed to the disease through close contact with another confirmed case and was tested on Christmas Eve.
There was a slight surge in new cases in March, but they were all resolved. Another surge happened in April and again the first week of May.
The first COVID-related death involving a resident of the Timiskaming District happened on Jan. 11.
Since the beginning of December, the number of COVID-19 cases in the health unit's coverage area has more than ten-fold, rising from 19 to 208. There have been 177 new cases since Christmas Eve, accounting for 85 per cent of the total infections since the pandemic began, and 177 cases have been resolved, including two COVID-related deaths. During the last stay-at-home order, there were 77 new infections confirmed.
Since the pandemic began, there have been a total of 208 confirmed cases in the Timiskaming District, and 208 have been resolved including two COVID-related deaths, one on Jan. 11 and the other March 22.
To date, 21,493 residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Read more about the first wave of COVID-19 in northeastern Ontario here.
RESOURCES
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