Algoma Public Health is now reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations on its coronavirus web page.
As of this week, the page states there is one COVID-19 hospitalization in the area.
According to data on howsmyflattening.ca, a University of Toronto-led website which collects and analyzes data from Ontario's COVID-19 cases, 30.77 per cent of ICU beds in Algoma Public Health's jurisdiction are currently occupied.
The website's information correlates with APH's, that there is currently one COVID-19 patient in the ICU within the district. Data on the site suggests this is the first time a COVID-19 patient in the region has occupied an ICU bed.
In Sault Ste. Marie, Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has stated it will not comment publicly on the ongoing health status of patients 'without express consent.'
In terms of surge planning in the event that the Sault area reaches hospital capacity, SAH Communications Manager Brandy Sharp Young told SooToday "SAH has a three-phase surge plan, which has been refined throughout the pandemic, preparing our hospital to address an increase in COVID-19 patients. On an ongoing basis, SAH reviews our capacity, availability of medications, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to support the care needs of our patients. At this time, SAH remains in phase one of our surge plans."
The plan, Sharp Young says, ensures that there is capacity within the hospital of 10 to 15 per cent to address potential surges in patient volumes.
With regards to the data breakdown of area cases, Roughly 56 per cent of all positive cases of COVID-19 in the Algoma region are under the age of 40, according to data pulled from an Ontario government website.
The data on the website shows both the age and gender of all confirmed cases in the province, providing additional details on positive cases in the region that are not shared publicly by Algoma Public Health.
Here's how the data breaks down by age and gender for Algoma's positive cases of COVID-19 since March 16:
- A total of 74 females (57.8 per cent) and 54 males (42.2 per cent) have tested positive for the virus
- 37 cases are in the 20-29 age group (19 female, eighteen male)
- 19 cases are the 60-69 age group (Eight female, 11 male)
- 18 cases are the 40-49 age group (12 female, six male)
- 17 cases are the 50-59 age group (11 female, six male)
- 16 cases are in the 30-39 age group (10 female, six male)
- 12 cases are in the under the age of 20 group (eight female, four male)
- Six cases are the 70-79 age group (Four female, two male)
- Two cases are the 80-89 age group (One female, one male)
- One case is in the 90-99 age group (One female)
Of all 128 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region since March 16:
- 10 cases are travel-related
- 12 are missing information or unknown
- 17 were outbreak-associated
- 30 have no known epidemiological link
- 59 are close contact with a confirmed case
In area schools and child care centres, there have been two cases reported since Sept. 5, 2020, when the ministry started reporting COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools. One case was identified at Algoma District School Board's Francis H. Clergue Public School in Sault Ste. Marie and one case was confirmed at Child Care Algoma's Parkland location, also in the Sault.
Of the region's positive cases, 56 were reported since Jan. 1.
To date, the largest increase in cases was the week of Dec. 28, when 34 cases were reported.
After the large spike in cases over the last couple weeks, Algoma Public Health has not reported a new positive cases since Sunday.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health, updated today at 1:50 p.m.:
- 77,436 tested
- 128 confirmed
- 40 (1)* active case
- One currently hospitalized
- 88 resolved
- 0 deceased
* The number in brackets are active cases in non-Algoma residents who are temporarily in Algoma. These cases are not counted as part of Algoma’s confirmed case count. APH conducts contact tracing and monitoring of self-isolation for all cases within Algoma.
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 118 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
- 8 in central and east Algoma
- 2 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
See how this compares to the Algoma region's numbers in November here.
Comparatively, in Chippewa County, which covers Sault Ste. Marie Mi. and surrounding area, the COVID-19 data as of Jan. 12 states:
- 1,620 confirmed cases
- 1,132 recovered cases
- 15 deaths
- Four cases currently hospitalized