Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its 179th death from the illness except that it occurred in Greater Sudbury and COVID was the underlying cause of death - it last reported a death last Wednesday.
The health unit's also reporting 141 cases since Friday - 117 in Greater Sudbury, eighteen in the broader Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 383, with 64 in hospital.
The number of cases in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) nearly doubled from Friday's fourteen to 26 - the communities aren't specified, but the health unit has declared two outbreaks at Chapleau Health Services, in the Acute Wing of Medical Unit 2 and in the Long-Term Care Area.
Chapleau Health Services' website notes an outbreak at Bignucolo Residence - involving eight confirmed patients or residents - noted to be the second outbreak at the hospital's campus in two days, prompting measures including the cancelling of non-essential appointments and general visits, as well as restrictions for visitors and residents - non-critical programs have also been cancelled so staff could be redeployed, with staffing shortages and other infrastructure challenges like a lack of private rooms and the need to convert semi-private and ward rooms to adequately isolate patients creating challenges in the acute unit, which may have further impact on admission capacity.
Asked how people can help, the hospital urges people to wear a mask and maintain two metres physical distance from others, washing hands frequently, and staying home when possible - self-isolating and calling the assessment centre at 705-864-2568 if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms - and it urges booking a vaccine booster "without delay", as "vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is holding vaccination clinics at its Chapleau office tomorrow and Thursday, by appointment only - book through the provincial system or call the health unit.
North Algoma's moved to appointments rather than clinics - in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.