Fern Cormier for Ward 10

Greater Sudbury schools switch to virtual learning as Ontario activates emergency brake for Public Health Sudbury & Districts: https://www.phsd.ca/greater-sudbu...ry-schools-switch-to-virt/ The Ontario Government, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, activated the emergency brake for Public Health Sudbury & Districts. The entire service area will be moving into the Grey-Lockdown zone of the provincial COVID-19 response framework effective Friday, March 12, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. In addition, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with Directors of Education from area school boards, has instructed all schools in Greater Sudbury and the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts, with the exception of Chapleau area schools, to transition to virtual learning, effective Monday, March 15. Private schools are similarly affected throughout Public Health’s entire service area. With the increasing rates of COVID-19 cases, a number of active outbreaks, the growing proportion of variants of concern (VOCs) and ample evidence of community spread, pulling the emergency brake is an immediate action needed to help disrupt the chain of transmission and slow the spread of COVID-19, which has been accelerating at an alarming rate in recent days and weeks, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts. Also, in consultation with the area school boards and leadership from other schools, schools will transition to virtual learning in all schools, public and private, in Public Health Sudbury & Districts service area with the exception of Chapleau as an additional layer of protection. With current numbers of cases and VOCs, we have hit a tipping point whereby the benefits of face-to-face learning are outweighed by the risks in of COVID-19 transmission in our community. Public Health’s ability to prevent further spread through case and contact follow-up is increasingly stretched and we are at capacity. Moving into the Lockdown zone will be the circuit breaker we need to set us on a steady course. I recognize these developments will be difficult for many. Now is the time to support one another, commit to the requirements in the Lockdown zone and continue to be kind and patient, added Dr. Sutcliffe. The decision to dismiss schools and transition to virtual learning further strengthens the public health measures introduced in the move into Grey-Lockdown and will affect schools located in Greater Sudbury and the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts in five school boards: Rainbow District School Board, Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvelon, and the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board. This is a very fluid situation, and I will be closely monitoring it to ensure students and staff can return to in-person learning when it is safe to do so, added Dr. Sutcliffe. Public Health is reminding everyone to be vigilant and follow public health measures. Stay home as much as possible. Wear your mask, practise physical distancing, wash your hands, limit travel, and only go out for essential reasons and work remotely if possible. All of these measures are effective, and they will work against the variants of concern (VOC) if they are carefully followed. The length of the Grey-Lockdown and the return to in-person learning will be based on local circumstances such as number of cases, variants of concern (VOCs), active outbreaks, and health system capacity. There is no predetermined end date. Several concerning trends contributed to the decision to move Public Health Sudbury & Districts service area into Grey-Lockdown. There are 12 active outbreaks, including 6 in schools. The 7-day incidence rate was 71.9 new cases per 100 000 population compared to 12.6 two weeks ago. Percent positivity was 1.99% compared to 0.35% two weeks ago. In addition, cases indicate the potential to be one of these variants of concern (VOC). Further laboratory testing is underway to confirm if these cases are, in fact, variants of concern (VOC). Percent positivity for variants of concern (VOCs) in the past week was 48.3%. Additional measures in effect in Grey-Lockdown include no indoor gatherings, except with members of the same household, outdoor gathering limits, closures to restaurants, bars, personal care services, sports and recreation facilities, and capacity limits in retail stores. Regardless of the Framework level, it is critical to maintain public health measures to slow or limit the spread of COVID-19. Further details about the provincial response framework can be found at www.ontario.ca//covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontari (Government of Ontario). For more information or if you have questions, please visit phsd.ca or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). Public Health is experiencing a very high volume of calls. All calls will be returned but please know that it may take several days. Patience is appreciated. #PublicHealth #Sudbury #Manitoulin #COVID19

COVID-19 outbreak triggers dismissal of Collège Notre-Dame in Greater Sudbury - https://www.phsd.ca/covid-19-outbreak-triggers-dismissal-o/ Public Health Sudbu...ry & Districts has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in Collège Notre-Dame and is dismissing the entire school community. All students, staff, and essential visitors of Collège Notre-Dame are dismissed and must self-isolate up until and including March 18, 2021, due to confirmed cases of COVID-19. Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvelon had already made the decision on March 7, 2021, that Collège Notre-Dame would remain closed until Friday, March 19, 2021. All students and staff who have already been advised to self-isolate and who have received a letter with more specific direction should follow the direction in that letter. With additional cases reported this week, Public Health has determined there is potential widespread COVID-19 infection among the school community. Broader testing of the school community will assist with additional case finding. This, combined with self-isolation of all school attendees, is intended to limit further spread. Public Health is working closely with the school community and Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvelon to ensure all necessary public health measures are put into place to identify potential cases and limit spread. Parents and guardians are being provided notice of the school dismissal and will receive specific public health guidance. Previously dismissed individuals must continue to follow the guidance provided by Public Health. Public Health Sudbury & Districts is reminding everyone to follow public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Continue to screen for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before going to school or work and practise COVID-safe behaviours. Parents and guardians of students can visit the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvelon Board’s website for information: nouvelon.ca. Updates about COVID-19 testing, confirmed cases, and outbreaks in Greater Sudbury, the District of Sudbury, and the District of Manitoulin are posted online at phsd.ca. COVID-19 testing appointments can be arranged through the Health Sciences North Assessment Centre: the preferred option is to request an appointment online https://secure.hsnsudbury.ca/COVID19AppointmentRequest (Health Sciences North) or to call 705.671.7373 during regular business hours. For more information or if you have questions, please visit phsd.ca/COVID-19 or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). Public Health returns all calls received; however, at times, inquiry volumes are high, and your patience is appreciated.

As local cases continue to rise, the Province has moved Greater Sudbury into the Red Control category of the COVID-19 response framework, beginning Monday, Ma...rch 8. The City, in consultation with Public Health Sudbury & Districts, will implement additional closures of municipal services and facilities, over and above provincial Red Control restrictions, to help reduce opportunities for virus transmission in the community. These will remain in place for City services until the Province moves Greater Sudbury into an Orange Restrict or less restrictive category of the COVID-19 response framework. As of Monday, March 8: All indoor municipal recreation facilities are closed. This includes pools, arenas and fitness centres. Residents who have registered for programs or have booked ice-time will be contacted directly to discuss refunds and other details. Outdoor neighbourhood rinks are open, with limited capacity. Queen’s Athletic Skating Oval and the Ramsey Lake Skating Path are open, but hours of operation may change without notice due to fluctuations in temperatures. Dog parks are open. Other parks, playgrounds and open spaces are open for pass-through purposes but cannot be used for team games or sports. Adanac and Lively Ski Hills remain open with operations adapted in response to COVID-19 Libraries and Citizen Service Centres will remain open for contactless curbside pickup. Tom Davies Square will remain available by appointment only. The household hazardous waste drop-off day scheduled for Saturday, March 13 has been cancelled. The service counter at the Recycling Centre will be closed and the sale of Big Blues, kitchen collectors and backyard composters will be temporarily suspended. Landfill sites remain open with limited capacity. GOVA Transit will continue to serve the community with current levels of service and enhanced safety measures in place. The GOVA downtown Transit Hub waiting area is open to the public with a maximum capacity of 25 people. Additional details: www.greatersudbury.ca//covid-19-update-greater-sudbury-im/

Public Health Sudbury & Districts will be moving to the Red-Control level of the COVID-19 Response Framework on Monday, March 8, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. Read the s...ector-specific public health and workplace safety measures and public health advice for the Red-Control level here: https://www.ontario.ca//covid-19-response-framework-keepin Key changes include: Gatherings of only 5 people indoors, and 25 people outdoors Restaurants can have a maximum capacity of 10 seated patrons indoors and limit of 4 people seated at a table together Team sports must not be practiced or played except for training (no games or scrimmage). Activities that are likely to result in individuals coming within 2 metres of each other are not permitted; no contact permitted for team or individual sports. 75% capacity for supermarkets and other stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores, pharmacies. 50% capacity for all other retail, including discount and big-box retailers, liquor stores, hardware stores and garden centres. Cinemas are to be closed and performing arts are closed to spectators. Read the Provincial news release: https://news.ontario.ca//toronto-peel-and-north-bay-parry- #COVID19 #Sudbury #Manitoulin #PublicHealth