As the last week of July comes to an end, Public Health Sudbury and District (PHSD) reports four new COVID-19 related deaths have occurred in the past two days.
One death was also reported on Wednesday. This means five deaths in the past week. This brings the total death count to 159 local persons since the pandemic began in March of 2020.
Few details were released about the four new deaths except PHSD classified two cases where COVID-19 was the "underlying cause of death" and the other two cases where COVID "contributed" to the cause of death. All four cases were in the Greater Sudbury area.
The Sudbury Health Unit's risk index is still listed as 'high', meaning that the risk of infection from COVID-19 in the Greater Sudbury district is still significant.
The PHSD Risk Index said a high risk level means COVID-19 transmission in the community is at or above 50 per cent of the peak level in the Winter 2021-to-2022 wave. Hospital use due to COVID-19 is also at or above that 50 per cent level for the same time period, said PHSD..
"Be extra vigilant and practise all recommended personal protective measures," is the advice provided by PHSD.
PHSD normally reports summaries only three days a week; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Friday's statistics revealed 82 new cases of COVID. Combined with 88 new cases on Monday and 71 new cases on Wednesday, the total this week is 241.
Also on Friday, PHSD reported there are 15 confirmed active COVID outbreaks across the city in local long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings including the hospital.
At Health Sciences North on Friday, the hospital reported there were 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the hospital with two cases in Intensive Care. The HSN website also reported there were five separate COVID outbreaks at the hospital.
