Titled “Strong and Steady In Uncertain Times”, the report highlights the scope of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic
In its 2021 annual report, Public Health Sudbury & Districts focussed on the challenge protecting the public from COVID-19 while working to roll out more than 380,000 doses of vaccine.
In her report to the board, Sutcliffe said, "We have for sure been navigating turbulent times and waters in 2021." She said PHSD carried on "sticking with our values and principles in responding to community needs." The report noted that by January 2021 the pandemic had been ongoing for nine months already and that vaccines were just being introduced to the general public in a limited way. At the same time, the Ontario government announced its second provincial lockdown and stay-at-home order.
PHSD reported its vaccine program as a success and creditted that success to the efforts of its staff and the staff of partner agencies, including First Nations, area municipalities and health-care providers. The report also revealed that despite the best efforts of public health workers, COVID-19 continued to spread to the point that additional restrictive measures were taken. By November, Sudbury was one of the worst public health jurisdictions in Ontario in terms of the rate of transmission. Sutcliffe issued work-from-home requirements and took steps to encourage people to limit public outings as much as possible.