Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner Clinics
30 Ste Anne Road P3C5E1 Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada

New TEMPORARY HOURS starting Tuesday February 16th. Have a happy and safe Family Day weekend!

Join our very own Bev Castonguay and Arro Barry for MAST - Free virtual sessions focused on Mindfulness. (not intended for professional development)

SDNPC Newsletter - Winter 2021 COVID, COVID, COVID.... Read on for more COVID tid-bits!

Vaccine rollout.....

Orange here we come......

Public Health Sudbury & Districts achieves major milestone in bringing COVID-19 vaccine to the most vulnerable https://www.phsd.ca/public-health-sudbury-distric...ts-achiev/ Public Health Sudbury & Districts has achieved an important milestone in the journey to protect the area’s most vulnerable from COVID-19. By immunizing all consenting residents of area long-term care and high-risk retirement homes in addition to residents and staff of Elders’ lodges, Public Health has met the provincial target date of February 10. Through extensive planning and partnership with homes and area paramedics, a total of 1729 individuals were immunized with their first dose of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine. We have a long way to go but it is a joy to celebrate this milestone. As we see ongoing outbreaks in these vulnerable homes and as we witness the emergence of the more transmissible variants of COVID-19, we are all energized by the vaccination program, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts. I want to thank everyone involvedthank you for your patience with us as we work our way through the vaccine supply challenges. This is an unprecedented effort, requiring extensive planning, coordination with many partners, and the ability to quickly change course to adapt to new circumstances. I know that all involved are motivated by the singular purpose of getting vaccine in arms as soon as possible, said Dr. Sutcliffe. In addition, residents of the Wikwemikong Nursing Home, the first people in Public Health’s service area to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, have now also received their second dose of the vaccine. The second doses for all other residents will be scheduled over the coming weeks in accordance with second dose requirements. As more vaccine is expected to arrive in the coming weeks, we are dependent on the Province to provide us with those vaccines to continue to immunize our community, said Dr. Sutcliffe. Direction around which priority populations are next in line to receive the vaccine will also come from the Province. We are ready and eager to continue our efforts. Despite the recent vaccine delays announced federally and provincially, Public Health remains dedicated and continues to adapt its plans to be ready to offer vaccinations to identified groups as efficiently as possible. The vaccine is a safe and effective tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our communities, including the most vulnerable. Public Health will communicate the availability of vaccine for specific groups as the province provides additional direction. Vaccinations will be offered on an appointment basis for eligible recipients, and details of clinics will be shared publicly when plans are confirmed. To prepare for local vaccination efforts, Public Health released the Public Health Sudbury & Districts COVID-19 Vaccination Program Playbook (PDF, 4 MB). The Playbook outlines local vaccination efforts and details local plans. To meet the needs of the community and efficiently offer the vaccine in a timely manner, Public Health’s short- and long-term vaccination efforts could include on-site clinics, such as in congregate settings for specific populations, community-based clinics where the vaccine is available at local sites, and in health care provider practices and venues like pharmacies. The status of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is evolving rapidly. As new developments about vaccine availability and distribution are known, Public Health remains committed to providing timely updates. For more information or if you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit phsd.ca or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). #PublicHealth #Sudbury #Manitoulin #COVID19

UPDATED bus name/# (January 1, 2021, 6 p.m.): We are advising the public of a potential low-risk exposure to COVID-19 for anyone who travelled on a **Ontario No...rthland bus (#1904) bus on Monday, December 21, 2020. This bus service departed Toronto (Bay Street terminal) at 2 p.m. and arrived at the Sudbury bus terminal at 6:45 p.m. https://www.phsd.ca/public-service-announcement-public-hea/ Anyone on board this bus is advised to follow public health guidance: - Self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days from potential exposure. - Self-isolate immediately if symptoms develop. - Seek testing if symptoms occur.

Just ahead of New Year’s Eve, Public Health Sudbury & Districts is reporting eight new cases of COVID-19 in residents in Greater Sudbury. This brings the total ...to 21 new cases reported since December 21 and 275 since the beginning of the pandemic. Ontario is reporting a record-high 2923 cases today. There are currently 17 active cases in Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ service area. https://www.phsd.ca/cluster-of-covid-19-cases-ahead-of-new/ Through contact tracing, Public Health has determined that eight of the cases reported over the holiday season are related to common exposures including a Christmas Eve gathering. Seeing cases that come from activities that are frankly against public health advice and current shutdown measures is frustrating at best, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts. Lives and livelihoods literally are in the balance. With recent surges in the Timiskaming area, Thunder Bay, and Simcoe Muskoka, we don’t have to look far to know we’re also at risk. Think twice about your New Year’s celebrationslower your and your loved ones’ risk and start the New Year right. A reminder that during the Provincewide Shutdown, which is in effect for Sudbury and districts until Saturday, January 9, 2021, the following restrictions on gatherings are in place: Indoor gatherings with anyone outside your household are prohibited. Individuals who live alone may consider having exclusive, close contact with another household to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation. Outdoor organized public events and social gatherings are limited to 10 people and must comply with public health advice on physical distancing. The potential benefits of the current shutdown are ours to squanderwe can take it seriously and keep our numbers low or we can face longer restrictions and more consequences, said Dr. Sutcliffe. Keeping our numbers low means everyone benefitsschools and businesses reopen, visits to long-term care homes resume, and we can gather again safely. Our ongoing efforts now can help keep our cases low and position us well for when we begin our local immunization campaigns, added Dr. Sutcliffe. To learn more about the provincewide shutdown visit ontario.ca/page/covid-19-provincewide-shutdown. In addition, everyone is advised to stay home as much as possible with trips outside the home limited to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, or supporting vulnerable community members. As much as possible, Ontarians are encouraged to limit all non-essential travel. Limiting our close contacts to our households means that we delay gathering with extended family or friends. Household contacts are not required to maintain physical distancing or to wear masks, for example. However, this is a key difference for people who are running essential errands. When doing so, wearing a mask and following all COVID-safe behaviours is a must. Merchants are doing their best to keep our economies going, and our patience, understanding, appreciation, and willingness to follow COVID-safe behaviours makes this situation more manageable for everyone. 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).

‘Tis the season to be COVID-safe! Today’s tip is to make sure you have a mask with you whenever you leave the house. Remember, masks act as a barrier and help... to reduce the transmission of the virus. Unless exempt, you must wear a mask in indoor public spaces. They should also be worn whenever you can’t maintain physical distancing from people you don’t live with. Make sure your mask fits snuggly to the sides of your face and don’t let your nose peak out overtop. Let’s all do our part to contribute to a healthy holiday season. For more information about when and how to wear your mask, visit: https://www.phsd.ca//guidance-for-wearing-non-medical-mas/

#COVID19 is causing stigma and discrimination in our community. Stigma is a negative stereotype or attitude. Discrimination is unfair treatment due to a person'...s identity. People with COVID-19 don’t need to be blamed, they will benefit from our support. Practise kindness, patience, and gratitudewe are all in this together. #SolidarityNotStigma #beCOVIDkind #PublicHealth #Sudbury #Manitoulin

If you come across a discarded needle, our Safe Needle Disposal Toolkit will provide you with all of the information needed to safely pick-up and dispose of nee...dles. Learn more: https://www.phsd.ca//point-harm-reduc/safe-needle-disposal #NeedleSafety #InjuryPrevention #Sudbury #CommunityDrugStrategy #PublicHealth Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury/Manitoulin City of Greater Sudbury Greater Sudbury Public Library Health Sciences North / Horizon Santé-Nord North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Réseau Access Network Monarch Recovery Services Greater Sudbury Police Service Sudbury Action Centre for Youth Sudbury Community - Oahas

We are reporting three new cases of #COVID19 (59 active). Through contact tracing, Public Health will notify all close contacts directly. If you are not contact...ed by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact. Of the newly reported cases (#205 to #207), two are from Greater Sudbury and one is from Manitoulin District. One is outbreak related, and two remain under investigation. All are following Public Health direction and are self-isolating. https://www.phsd.ca/public-service-announcement-three-new-/

The Ontario government has changed the thresholds in their COVID-19 Response Framework and starting Monday November 16th at 00:00 Sudbury will be moved into the yellow zone (protect). https://files.ontario.ca/moh-adjustments-covid-19-response-

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is reporting eight new cases of COVID-19. Through contact tracing, Public Health will notify all close contacts directly. If y...ou are not contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact. Of the newly reported cases (#197 to # 204), five are from Greater Sudbury and three are from Sudbury District. Six are outbreak related, and two remain under investigation. All are following Public Health direction and are self-isolating. https://www.phsd.ca/public-service-announcement-eight-new-/

YMCA - FREE WARMING CENTRE FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE https://www.thesudburystar.com//sudbury-ymca-to-become-war

We are reporting four new cases of #COVID19. Of the newly reported cases (#187 to #190), three are from Greater Sudbury and one is from Sudbury District. One i...s a close contact of a known case, and three are outbreak related. All are following Public Health direction and are self-isolating. Please be reminded that through our case investigation and contact tracing, Public Health notifies all close contacts directly. If you are not contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact and there are no specific actions you need to take other than the ongoing COVID-19 prevention measures that apply to all of us. We are aware of rumours about cases in our community. Public Health reminds everyone of our commitment to protect the privacy of all cases and contacts. We rely on people trusting us with their personal information so that we can act quickly to stop the spread of the virus. We only release individual level data if there is a clear health protection need to do so. Just as you would expect your family doctor to not share your personal information, you should expect the same of public health. To keep our community informed of trends and issues, please see our summary data that is available on our web site. https://www.phsd.ca/public-service-announcement-four-new-c/