Current Status (COVID-19)

 

NOTE:    Effective July 5th, 2022, there are changes to the COVID-19 testing data. This page now includes graphs showing 7-day average percent positivity and 7-day average daily tests. the cumulative test counts are no longer included. This is due to a change in data source as well as an effort to provide the most meaningful information.   Effective June 7th, 2022 this page will be updated Tuesdays & Thursdays by 3:30 PM, except on statutory holidays.   Effective December 31st, 2021, the province has prioritized eligibility for COVID-19 PCR testing so that it is limited to the highest risk populations.  Some people with mild or asymptomatic infection may not be eligible for testing.  Therefore, the numbers of confirmed cases are an underestimate of the actual number of people with COVID-19 in the Algoma region.

 

 

On This Page:

 

1.  Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Algoma
   
2.  Confirmed Cases by Area of Residence
   
3.  Weekly Case Count
4.  Weekly Incidence
5.  COVID-19 Related Hospitalization in Algoma
6.  Wastewater Surveillance
7.  Variants of Concern (VOC) Update
8.  Immunization Status of Cases
9.  Outbreak Activity
10.  COVID-19 Testing Volumes and Percent Positivity in Algoma
11.  COVID-19 Activity in Northern Ontario
12.  COVID-19 Activity in Northern Michigan

 

Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Algoma

 

Updated by 3:30 PM EST (Tuesday & Thursday)

 

 

 

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Confirmed Cases by Type of Exposure

 

Confirmed cases by exposure type are no longer being updated as they cannot be estimated based on current case management guidance.

 

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Cases by Area of Residence

 

Updated by 3:30 PM EST (Tuesday & Thursday)

 

 

 

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Weekly Case Count

 

 Updated by 3:30 pm EST (Tuesday & Thursday)

 

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Weekly Incidence

 

Updated by 3:30 pm EST (Tuesday & Thursday)

 

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COVID-19 Related Hospitalization in Algoma

 

Updated by 3:30 pm EST (Tuesday & Thursday)

 

 

 

HOSPITALIZATIONS CONFIRMED COVID-19 POSITIVE

 

 

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HOSPITALIZATIONS & ICU ADMISSIONS FOR COVID-19

 

 

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COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance

Algoma Public Health participates in the Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative, which is coordinated and hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Wastewater surveillance involves measuring the amount of virus in wastewater by collecting samples from wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. These findings can provide a pooled estimate of COVID-19 infection trends in the community.

 

For those with an active COVID-19 infection, the virus is shed through their stools whether an individual is symptomatic or asymptomatic. The amount of the virus shed can vary by individuals in addition to the individuals’ stage of illness, with progression from pre-symptomatic stage through to recovery. Additionally, with current limitations in PCR testing eligibility, wastewater data will include COVID-19 infections that are not lab-confirmed cases. Researchers can use the trends in the viral loads in wastewater along with other indicators (ie. hospitalizations, ICU counts, and mortality) to make informed decisions about potential interventions.

Algoma Wastewater Surveillance Results - Sault Ste. Marie East End Wastewater Treating Plant

 

 

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PUC Services Inc. collects the wastewater samples from the Sault Ste. Marie East End Wastewater Treatment Plant, approximately three times a week. The Sault Ste. Marie East End Wastewater Treatment Plant serves about 52 000 people. The samples are analyzed at the Health Sciences North Research Institute in Sudbury. The results cannot be extrapolated to areas outside of the area served by the wastewater treatment plant.

 

The Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) tests for SARS-CoV-2 genome regions called N1 and N2, in concentrated untreated wastewater extracts. The proportion of the wastewater from humans and the proportion that is rain water, snowmelt etc., can fluctuate. Researchers use viral copy data to be normalized using a seasonally stable fecal biomarker; called Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV). Data is extracted from Ontario’s Wastewater Surveillance Data and Visualization Hub. The data in the graph is the biomarker-normalized mean of N1N2. A 7-day moving average is used to smoothen out the data.

 

This information should be interpreted cautiously, particularly when interpreting daily and short-term variation in viral signal results. Trends in case counts and wastewater can inform public health recommendations, however due to the limited eligibility of PCR testing, this data is not fully reflective of true case counts. At this time, due to a limited sample size, the wastewater data does not correlate with hospitalizations and mortality in Algoma.

 

 

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Variants of Concern (VOC) Update

 

 

 

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Immunization Status of Cases

 

Hospitalizations and case counts by vaccination status in Ontario can be found on the Ontario COVID-19 Vaccinations Data. This page is typically updated daily. 

 

In addition, you can learn more about vaccine effectiveness and interpreting these case counts with our Beyond the Case Number infographic.  For further resources you are encouraged to also visit the Ontario Science Table Dashboard.

  

VACCINE EFFECTIVEESS: Beyond the Case Number Infographic (JPG)

 

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Outbreak Activity

 

 

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COVID-19 Testing Volumes and Percent Positivity in Algoma

 

Updated by 3:30 pm EST (Tuesday & Thursday)

 

Daily Tests

 

 

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Percent Positivity

 

 

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COVID-19 Activity in Northern Ontario 

 

 

 NOTE: Incidence rates and death counts are 2 days behind.

 

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COVID-19 Activity in Northern Michigan

 

For information on COVID-19 in Chippewa County visit the Chippewa County Health Department website.

For information on COVID-19 in all Michigan counties visit the Michigan State Coronavirus Data website.

 

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Sources:

• Ontario Case and Contact Management tool (CCM), Ontario Ministry of Health, 2022
• CPAD Visual Analytics Hub, COVID-19 Regional Hospitals Dashboard, Ontario Ministry of Health, 2022.
• CPAD Visual Analytics Hub, COVID-19 Confirmed Cases Dashboard, Ontario Ministry of Health, 2022