Public Health Ontario is reporting 131 new COVID-19 cases in the province today.
Numbers have bounced around all week, with 106 on Saturday, a drop to 81 on Sunday, an increase to 99 on Monday, then to 125 on Tuesday, and a drop to 102 on Wednesday before Thursday's 76 were reported. However, there may be more cases, as 11 of the province's 34 health units were not included in that report due to reporting errors.
Here's the latest local, provincial, and federal news regarding COVID-19 cases and funding that you need to know:
No new cases in Algoma region today
Currently, there is one active case in the Algoma region.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated on Friday:
- 24,212 tested
- 27 positive
- 23,663 negative
- 0 deceased
- 27 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 22 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 2 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
Chippewa County Animal Shelter in Sault Ste. Marie, Mi has reported potential COVID-19 exposure.
On its Facebook page, the shelter says the potential exposure took place on Saturday and Monday of this past week.
The shelter says the person is not currently a resident of Chippewa County.
Read more here.
Algoma Public Health ditches posting COVID-19 testing numbers
On Aug. 14, Algoma Public Health has changed the way it tracks and reports cases of COVID-19 in the region as part of a province-wide transition to a new provincial public health case and contact management system.
Testing numbers will only be reported on a weekly basis, and the numbers of pending tests in the public health region will no longer be reported going forward. Positive cases of COVID-19 will continue to be reported on a daily basis.
More information on the changes can be found here.
Most emergency orders extended until Sept. 22
The Ontario government is extending most emergency orders until Sept. 22.
This marks the second time that the government has extended most but not all emergency orders under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
Read more here.
Province ends police access to COVID-19 database following legal challenge
On Monday, Ontario announced an end to police's ability to access a COVID-19 database after a legal challenge was filed by a group of human rights organizations.
Aboriginal Legal Services, the Black Legal Action Centre, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario were all parties to the lawsuit.
The groups argued that allowing police to access personal health records violates individuals' constitutional rights to privacy and equality.
Read more here.
Ontario government provides funding for children who couldn't be in school
The Aug. 31 deadline is approaching for Ontario parents who wish to apply for funding for the cost of keeping their children at home because of the shutdown of schools earlier this year, or the shutdown of local daycare centres.
The funding can provide $200 for each child aged up to 12 years, and $250 for each child aged up to 21 with special needs.
Read more about the funding here.
Provincial funding allows newborn hearing checks to resume
Babies who didn't receive a newborn hearing screening because of the pandemic can now receive the service.
The Ontario government has announced $3.8 million to help infants who didn't receive the universal newborn hearing screening due to COVID-19.
Read more here.
Liberals to replace CERB with new benefit, simplified EI program at cost of $37B
The federal Liberals are rolling out a $37-billion income-support plan for workers whose earnings have crashed during the pandemic.
The details released Thursday outline what will happen to some four million workers receiving the $500-a-week Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which is set to wind down starting next month.
Read more details here.
1,200 ADSB students to stay with remote learning in September
Algoma District School Board (ADSB) trustees approved the board’s Guidelines for Reopening ADSB Schools at a special, two-hour virtual meeting held Thursday.
Classes resume with a host of COVID-19 precautions in place Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Learn more details about schools reopening here.
Coronavirus slashes more than half of Sault hospital room occupancies
The latest room occupancy statistics, released last Thursday at a meeting of the Sault Ste. Marie Tourism Board, show sharp reductions since the pandemic emergency was declared in March.
Read the full story by SooToday's David Helwig here.
COVID-19 cancels 2020 Algoma Fall Festival
The Algoma Arts Festival Association has announced it will be cancelling the 2020 Algoma Fall Festival due to COVID-19.
Read more here.
Kinross cancels 2020 racing season
Kinross was holding out hope to at least get some racing in this summer, but the news of the closure of the Canada/United States border into late-September made that a tough possibility.
In the end, officials at Kinross Speedpark south of Sault, Mich. made the decision this week to cancel the 2020 racing season.
Read more here.
In-person services resume at Algoma Family Services
Algoma Family Services has reopened their in-person services on Monday after closing its' doors to the public in March due to COVID-19.
Read more about what is available through the agency here.
Memorial Gardens monster truck event cancelled
The previously postponed Monster Madness monster truck and motocross event originally scheduled to take place at the GFL Memorial Gardens on May 30 has been cancelled.
A news release issued late last week by the City of Sault Ste. Marie says ticket-holders will be provided full refunds.
Delayed Great Escape Draw will take place online this year
Algoma Family Service's Great Escap Draw, now in its 24th year, was initially set to take place in May. The non-profit announced on Monday that with COVID-19 still in mind, the draw has moved to an online platform for the first time.
St. Vincent's food drive will go on despite COVID-19
Despite the ongoing pandemic, St. Vincent Place is currently planning their tenth annual Big Blue Box Food Drive.
This year, the drive will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19. Learn more about the drive here.
