Public Health Sudbury and Districts' Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, is warning that COVID-19 "trends in Greater Sudbury are going in the opposite direction" of the province's downward trend, signalling "a call to immediate action" - she warns "now is the time for each of us to assess our individual actions and decisions and ramp up COVID-19 precautions, layer[ing] on the protective measures such as vaccination, masking, distancing, working from home, and importantly, staying home when even mildly unwell".
While Sutcliffe says the community hasn't "done anything wrong", she emphasizes "recent numbers mean that we must do more things right", noting - while no single setting or sector is driving the current increase - there are seven active outbreaks in its service area, including at the Sudbury Jail - linked to 59 cases - and at Greater Sudbury's Memorial Park - linked to 21 cases - with the health unit reporting a seven-day rate of 82.5 new cases per 100,000 population - nearly five times the provincial rate of 17 and among the highest rates in the province.
In light of the situation, Sutcliffe's issued a class order, requiring everyone in the health unit's service area - which includes Chapleau and neighbouring First Nation communities - to follow Public Health direction if they are a case, potential case, or contact of a case.