COVID-19: Here's the situation in the Sault this week

New daily cases in the province ranged this week between a high of 213 and a record-low of 164. The province's July 7 update also included zero deaths. 

In light of that, the province has announced that it will move into Step 3 of its Roadmap to Reopen on July 16 instead of July 21.

This allows for a further lifting of restrictions, including indoor dining and expanding indoor activities where face coverings can't always be worn.

The province will stay at Step 3 for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population 12 years and up has their first dose and 75 per cent have received their second dose, according to the announcement. All public health units must also have at least 70 per cent of their population fully vaccinated.

A full breakdown of the Roadmap to Reopen is available here.

Here's the latest on new cases in Algoma

As of  3 p.m., Algoma Public Health has not reported any new cases of COVID-19.

The last case of the virus in the region was reported on June 22, and the region has been clear of any active cases as of June 30.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated at 1:50 p.m. today:

• 155,551 tested
• 400 confirmed 
• 0 active cases
• 0 currently hospitalized
• 400 resolved
• 6 deceased
• 110 cases screened positive for variants of concern

Algoma Public Health is reporting that recent results from additional laboratory testing have detected the following variants of concern in Algoma:

• B.1.1.7 (Alpha), first detected in the UK
• B.1.617.2 (Delta), first detected in India
• P.1 (Gamma), first detected in Brazil

According to data on howsmyflattening.ca, a University of Toronto-led website which collects and analyzes data from Ontario's COVID-19 cases, 48 per cent of ICU beds in Algoma Public Health's jurisdiction are currently occupied, none of which are COVID patients.

The data also describes the community risk level for COVID-19 in our region as 'very low.'

Total confirmed cases by area of residence: 

• 313 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
• 51 in central and east Algoma
• 31 in Elliot Lake and area
• 5 in north Algoma

Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mich. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of June 16 states:

• 2,524 cumulative positives
• 2,452 cumulative recovered
• 34 deaths
• 0 cases currently hospitalized

Here's the latest on COVID-19 vaccinations in Algoma:

Algoma Public Health is continuing in phase two of Ontario's 3 Phase Vaccine Distribution Program. As of 9:10 a.m. today:

• 124,223 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered
• 79,297 people have received their first dose only (78.2 per cent of youth 12-17 have received at least one dose and 79.3 per cent of the adult population (18+) have received at least one dose)
• 44,926 people are fully vaccinated (44.3 per cent of eligible population)
• 79,297 people have received at least one dose (69.3 per cent of the population or 79.3 per cent of the eligible population)

APH hosting walk-up vaccination clinic this evening (Tuesday, July 6)

APH held a walk-up vaccine clinic on Tuesday evening, allowing anyone aged 12 and older who require a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. 

As of today, there are still appointments available for upcoming vaccination clinics hosted at the GFL Memorial Gardens on July 22, 29, 30 and 31. 

For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations in Algoma, please visit APH online.

Over 40 per cent of Elliot Lakers have two vaccines - more clinics this week

With the number of people in Elliot Lake having two COVID-19 vaccines in their bodies, the Elliot Lake Family Health Team's Dr. Cathy Groh went to social media with the latest vaccine status Tuesday night. 

She wrote, "Last week 630 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Collins Hall, including 62 people who attended the first drop-in vaccination clinic. Algoma Public Health is reporting that 75.7 per cent of people aged 12 and older in Elliot Lake have had at least a first dose and 43.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.

"There will be many opportunities for people to get their vaccines in the next few weeks. Vaccines are available at the Collins Hall by booking an appointment or coming to a drop-in clinic, at the pharmacies that are offering vaccines, or for people unable to leave their homes, by calling 705-461-8882 to arrange for a nurse to come to your home."

For more information, click here. 

Updated: More than half of adult Ontarians are now fully vaccinated

With more than half of Ontario adults fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Health Minister and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones continued to encourage people — especially unvaccinated people — to get the shot, during a press conference Thursday morning.

The message Thursday was get vaccinated. Jones said the reduction in cases across the province is proof of just how effective the COVID-19 vaccines are. She said of the new cases identified between May 15 and June 12, a full 83 per cent were among unvaccinated people.

COVID-19: At least 1.3 million Canadians opted to mix vaccines by the end of June

Health Canada says at least 1.3 million Canadians opted for a mixed-dose finish to their COVID-19 vaccination schedule in June. 

The weekly vaccination coverage report published Monday shows about 6.5 million people got their second shot between May 31 and June 26, with one-in-five getting a different vaccine than their first.

A Canadian Press analysis of the data suggests at least half of the mixed-vaccine group were people who got the Oxford-AstraZeneca dose first before turning to either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for their second.

CASS's mobile graduation stage goes viral on social media

A crisis like COVID can bring out the best in people’s compassion and creativity.

Take the story of this year’s Central Algoma Secondary School (CASS) graduation which generated interest at home and around the world.

A conversation with his daughter about the importance of the traditional walk on stage to receive a diploma inspired CASS phys-ed teacher Ray Gowlett to think outside the box.

Since the kids could not make it to the stage because of COVID restrictions, Gowlett brought the stage to them.

Read the full story here. 

COVID-19: Canada to receive 3.7 million more vaccine doses this week

The federal government was expecting to receive 3.7 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week, bringing the total of COVID-19 vaccine deliveries above 53.7 million doses.

The new deliveries will include about 900,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 2.8 million doses of Moderna vaccine.

Those shipments will push Canada's total vaccine deliveries above 53.7 million doses, enough to administer two shots to more than 75 per cent of eligible residents.

With 18 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines expected to arrive in Canada in July, the country will have enough doses to fully vaccinate all 33.2 million Canadians over the age of 12.

COVID-19: 'It's very freeing,' Quarantine rules ease for fully vaccinated Canadian travellers

Fully vaccinated Canadians returning to the country from abroad expressed relief Monday at no longer having to quarantine for two weeks. 

Effective this week, citizens and permanent residents who've had a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada can skip the 14-day quarantine. Eligible air travellers also no longer have to spend their first three days in the country at a government-approved hotel.

The Canada Border Services Agency has noted that while the quarantine rules for some travellers have changed, eligibility requirements for crossing the border have not. 

Mutual travel restrictions between Canada and the United States — which prohibit all discretionary travel between the two countries while continuing to allow the movement of trade, essential workers and international students — are due to expire July 21.

ONTARIO: Niagara top doc says reopening Canada-U.S. border this summer is too risky

The top public health official in Ontario’s Niagara Region says he wants the U.S.-Canada border to stay closed until the fall even as local business leaders and politicians call for the opposite to support the area's tourism-reliant economy.

Dr. Mustafa Hirji said the risk of reopening the border this summer is too great, especially with the more transmissible Delta variant spreading in parts of the midwestern U.S.

Hirji noted that Canada has been fairly successful at controlling the spread of the variant compared to other jurisdictions, and lifting border measures too early could reverse that progress. The variant has caused reopening setbacks and infection surges even in highly vaccinated countries like the U.K. and Israel. 

Hirji said he would recommend extending the border closure this month and reassessing the situation in the fall so both countries have extra time to vaccinate more people. 

COVID-19: Canada not doomed to fourth wave, doctors say, despite U.K.'s experience

A fourth wave of COVID-19 now surging across the United Kingdom doesn't have to become a reality in Canada as long as people keep getting vaccinated as quickly as possible, some infectious disease experts say.

That optimistic prediction comes even with the dominance of the Delta variant, which is proving to be harder to stop with just one dose of vaccine.

Dr. David Naylor, co-chair of Canada's COVID-19 immunity task force, said the U.K. has been a "useful bellwether" for Canada in the pandemic, often a few steps ahead as infections rise and fall.

With one of the world's fastest vaccination campaigns and strict public health measures after Christmas, the U.K. was a beacon of hope for Canada. In mid-May, while much of Canada was still deep into third-wave lockdowns, the U.K. was opening restaurants and bars, having curbed infection rates so much it had days when not a single person died of COVID-19.