Another local health unit's urging caution amid rising COVID-19 cases.
Echoing a recent warning from the neighbouring Public Health Sudbury and Districts, Algoma Public Health is reminding residents to continue taking "necessary precautions to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19" as it's observed an "increasing trend" in cases over the past two weeks, with early signals indicating a new wave in the region, as the weekly incidence of new high-risk cases has increased by 70%, from 55.9 per 100,000 the week of July 16th to 95.2 per 100,000 for the week of July 23rd.
In its latest update on Tuesday, the health unit reported 178 new cases since Thursday - 64 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, eight in Central and East Algoma, five in the Elliot Lake area, and one in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - leaving it with 121 known "high risk active" cases, twelve in hospital, four in ICUs - all up from Thursday's report.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. John Tuinema urges everyone to "remain committed to practicing the COVID-19 precautions that have helped keep us safe throughout the pandemic" in order to "put ourselves in the best position to reduce this trend and keep this wave as small as possible", recommending staying up-to-date on vaccinations, wearing a well-fitted mask in indoor or crowded spaces, physical distancing, keeping indoor spaces well ventilated, handwashing, screening for symptoms and staying him when ill and rapid or PCR testing, if eligible.
The health unit also warns that - while previous infection "may provide some degree of short-term immunity" but it "does decrease over time and a person's risk of severe illness may also increase with each re-infection".