Peterborough Public Health reported a new COVID-19-related death Wednesday while three new institutional outbreaks were declared, including two at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
The death is the 135 COVID-19 death in the jurisdiction of Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Cases have surged at PRHC with 14 admitted patients having the virus as of Tuesday.
The other declared institutional outbreak is at the Centennial Place long-term-care home in Millbrook.
There were 61 new PCR test confirmed cases over the past week, raising active cases to 349. The tally is considered an underestimate since most people do not qualify for PCR lab testing.
The health unit kept the community COVID-19 risk index at moderate, the third highest of five levels on the index. The health unit continues to remain concerned about the emergence of the new Omicron variant XBB.1.5 strain.
Under the moderate risk level, the health unit recommends the use of masks for high-risk indoor public spaces or when interacting with high-risk individuals, while also suggesting social gatherings be keep outdoors and in small groups while masked and limiting attendance at high-risk settings.
Only 39,668 residents (28 per cent) have had a booster dose over the past six months.
As of Wednesday, 125,246 residents of the jurisdiction (85 per cent) have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 121,040 (82 per cent) have had at least two doses
The health unit is running COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics at Peterborough Square for all age groups, with walk-ins accepted. Masks are required at the clinics.
Clinics continue Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. and then resume next week on Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon, Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Feb. 10 from 2 to 6 p.m.
For priority service, appointments for people 12 and older can be booked four days in advance online at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or by calling 1-833-943-3900.
Some local pharmacies also offer COVID-19 shots.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit reported no new COVID-19-related deaths but had four new hospitalizations for the week of Jan. 22 to 28.
The jurisdiction of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County and Haliburton County had 69 new PCR test confirmed cases over the week.
While several outbreaks were declared over, the jurisdiction now has five institutional outbreaks: facility wide at the Country Estates retirement home in Lindsay, the rehab and restorative care units at Northumberland Hills Hospital, facility wide at the Fenelon Court long-term-care home in Fenelon Falls, the Christian Horizon Horizons House Cobourg 3 group home, facility wide at the Golden Plough Lodge long-term-care home in Cobourg
Ross Memorial Hospital had six admitted patients with the virus as of Wednesday, with COVID-19 being the primary cause of admission for one of them. The Lindsay hospital has a by-appointment-only cold, COVID-19 and flu care clinic operating weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — call 705-328-6217 first.
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