In national news Thursday, an experimental COVID-19 treatment involving antibody-rich plasma transfusions will be expanded to trials in more than a dozen hospitals in Ontario and Quebec.
In provincial news, Ontario reported 383 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, with testing numbers up nearly 50 per cent from the beginning of the week.
The province is allowing more health providers - including dentists and optometrists - to reopen as part of a new order from the province's chief medical officer of health.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the extension of the Incident Management System Long-Term Care Table to deal with ongoing COVID-19 infection in long-term care homes.
In local news, SooToday's David Helwig reports the City of Sault Ste. Marie is looking at waiving permit fees and loosening restrictions for patios to help local eateries serve more customers.
The municipality is also reminding the public that Point Des Chenes campground and park is still very much off-limits. Campers looking to remove their trailers from the campground of the park are asked to send a message to the Lions Club Pointe Des Chenes Facebook page where arrangements can be made.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health:
- 6,747 tested
- 21 positive
- 6,253 negative
- 473 pending
- 0 deceased
- 20 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 17 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 1 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
