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Drop in STI rates in Sudbury during 2020, health unit says

Despite a drop in sexually transmitted infection rates in 2020, Public Health Sudbury and Districts says now that more people are getting their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine it means increased social activity, including romantic or intimate encounters.

Health officials say rates likely to increase with increased social activity

CBC News Posted: Jul 21, 2021 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 21, 2021

Items of a blood test kit lying on a table. — Blood test kit for sexually transmitted infections at a public health unit's sexual health clinic. (Craig Chivers/CBC)

The health unit in Sudbury says despite low rates in 2020 of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), those numbers likely will increase this year, although they won't know until all the data is compiled.

STIs include infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea hepatitis C and syphilis.

Now that more people are getting their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it means increased social activity social activity which alsoincludes romantic or intimate encounters.

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Prior to the pandemic, Public Health Sudbury and Districts provided testing services for STIs, but health promoter Nicole Gauthier says those were temporarily suspended to properly respond to COVID-19.They continue to be halted.

"During this time clients were provided options to access STI testing through Rseau Access Network, as well as their health care provider as well as local walk-in clinics," she said.

When it comes to reported cases Gauthier says there was a big dip in numbers last year, but she can't say whether this is attributed to a decrease in testing or less sexual activity.

"We did see a substantial decrease in reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in 2020 as compared to the previous years," shesaid.

The health unit doesn't yet have rates for 2021.

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Public Health Sudbury and Districts has some recommendations for those who plan to be sexually active while we're still technically in the pandemic:

choosewell ventilated spaceswhen considering sex with a partner
limituse of alcohol and substances
washbefore and after sex
use sexual positions that limit face to face contact
makesure partners follows COVID-19 precautions

"So having that dialogue with your partner, and making sure that they're being honest with you if they experience any [COVID-19] symptoms," Gauthier said, adding the recommendations are for all age groups, all populations and all demographics.

"When decisions are made about sex and sexuality that they be balanced with both personal and public health considerations."

With files from Up North

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