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Sudbury health unit data shows the region has the highest number of active cases in Northern Ontario

Timiskaming Health Unit has the lowest cumulative total across the North with 237 cases in past 19 months
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Testing lab for covid-19 coronavirus

For more than a month now, Public Health Sudbury and Districts has been leading all the other Northern Ontario health jurisdictions with the highest daily number of active COVID-19 cases.

The most recent case counts, confirmed on Friday October 15, shows that PHSD was monitoring 65 active cases within its jurisdiction, highest in the North. The data also shows that to date since the pandemic began, PHSD has had a cumulative total of 2,542 cases. The active number was 75 last Wednesday. 

The highest number of cumulative COVID-19 cases across the North is in the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU), which has had 3,397 confirmed cases since March 2020. But since Friday, THDHU has had only two active cases.

The next highest number of cumulative cases is the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU), which includes such communities at Timmins, Kapuskasing and Cochrane. Since the pandemic began, PHU has reported 2,215 COVID-19 cases. Of that number, as of Friday, only four cases are active.

The Northwestern Health Unit, which includes Kenora, Rainy River and Sioux Lookout was the next highest health unit on the cumulative list with 1,183 cases since the pandemic began. Also, as of Friday, NWHU had only three active COVID-19 cases.

Following that the accumlated numbers dip sharply. North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit reported a cumulative total of 791 cases. Since Friday, NBPSDHU has reported 13 active COVI-19 cases.

Algoma Public Health is another jurisdiction with lower numbers. Since the beginning of the pandemic, APH has confirmed 483 cases and since Friday only eight of those cases are still active.

The lowest numbers in the North come from the Timiskaming Health Unit (THU), which includes such communities as New Liskeard, Kirkland Lake and Englehart. Altogether THU has confirmed only 237 cases and only five of those cases were active as of Friday.

In a weekly update provided on the PHSD website, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe expressed concern that more cases would be transmitted as the weather cools and more people spend more time indoors. 

"COVID-19 cases have once again increased locally and Public Health staff continues to work diligently to limit the spread. With the weather getting cooler, more people spending time indoors, and capacity limits being increased in certain settings, we are likely to see more transmission," said Sutcliffe. She urged more people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Getting vaccinated helps curb the spread and reduce the risk of severe illness if infected. Tools such as showing proof of vaccination in certain settings and following tried-and-true COVID-safe behaviours play a key role in keeping case counts low. We are also monitoring the situation in schools and child care centres and will recommend rapid testing if warranted," said Sutcliffe. 

"No single requirement or action is going to end this pandemic. Fortunately, we have multiple layers of protection in place. Please consider what actions you can take to help reduce the chances of transmission."

Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com. He covers health care in Northern Ontario.



 

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Len Gillis, local journalism initiative reporter

About the Author: Len Gillis, local journalism initiative reporter

Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com covering health care in northeastern Ontario and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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