CONFIRMED: Algoma Public Health Unit has one COVID-19 patient in ICU

Last week after receiving a number of requests from viewers for confirmation as to whether or not there was a patient with COVID-19 in ICU, we reached out to both Sault Area Hospital and Algoma Public Health. Although we have yet to receive a response from APH on the request emailed January 3, 2021, the SAH was prompt to respond.

“To protect patient confidentiality and privacy, Sault Area Hospital does not comment, without express patient consent, publicly on the ongoing health status of patients.” – Sault Area Hospital

Within the email was a link to the Ontario website which allowed us to view raw data every health unit in the province is reporting. After spending some time drilling through tables, we published our finding in the story “Just how does Algoma compare to other areas in Ontario with COVID-19 cases?“.

A regular viewer has since brought a website to our attention which extracts this data and presents it in an easy to view format, not to mention finally providing the answer to the question so many of our readers have posed. Are there any hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in our area? Although the following information does not indicate whether there are any hospitalizations specifically in SAH, it does confirm that there is currently a patient with COVID-19 in an ICU bed here in the Algoma District.

In addition, the Ontario COVID-19 Data Tool provides up to date graphical stats on cases, hospitalizations and deaths to date by age group and sex in our district .

The website HowsMyFlattening.ca provides information such as:

• Over the last week, Algoma Public Health Unit has averaged 5.86 cases per day (5.00 for every 100,000 residents).
• In the last 7 days, on average 77.78% of tests have been returned within 24 hours.
• From Monday to Sunday, the percent positivity of Algoma Public Health Unit has been 1.16%.
• 11 of 17 (64.71%) ICU beds in Algoma Public Health Unit are currently occupied. There are currently 1 COVID patients in the ICU.

Coupled with the information available on the Algoma Public website (see below), hopefully this will encourage everyone in our communities to continue efforts to help flatten this latest spike in positive cases by wearing a mask or face covering and following recommended guidelines put out by the Province of Ontario and Algoma Public Health. Based on the information provided above, 1.16 out of each 100 residents in our area are expected to test positive for COVID-19 based on the recent trending. Unless we all step up, this trending has a realistic potential to only get worse.

Status of cases in Algoma

 

(1) That Algoma Public Health is aware of.
(2) Algoma residents who have confirmed COVID-19 infection.
*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.
(3) Patient tested positive but is resolved according to current public health criteria. This number includes any persons who are deceased.

Algoma Cases by Area of Residence

 

Facility Name	Affected Areas	Type – Organism	Date Declared	Date Declared Over
Great Northern Retirement Home	Facility-wide	Respiratory – COVID-19	January 7, 2021
Extendicare Maple View	Facility-wide	Respiratory – COVID-19	December 31, 2020

 

• These data sets are preliminary and subject to change, pending further review.
• Confirmed positives will be reported as soon as publicly available.