Peterborough Public Health reported one new COVID-19-related death and nine new hospitalizations over the past week on Wednesday.
The latest death involved a man in his 70s who was considered to be vaccinated from having at least two doses of vaccine.
The jurisdiction has now had 117 cumulative COVID-19-related deaths and 472 cumulative hospitalizations since the pandemic began in March 2020.
“We are still seeing COVID-19 transmit at a high rate in the region and anticipate levels to remain high. To protect against a COVID-19 infection, residents are encouraged to follow risk index guidance,” medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott said Wednesday.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre had 47 admitted patients with the virus as of Tuesday and four outbreaks on Units A2, A5, B4 and B6.
The health unit also reported three more institutional outbreaks over the past week. There are now 14 active institutional outbreaks.
St. Joseph’s at Fleming long-term-care home on Brealey Drive has three outbreaks while Fairhaven, a 256-bed municipally run long-term-care home on Dutton Road, has outbreaks in the Westview 2 and Westview 4 areas. The other outbreaks are at Applewood Retirement Residence, Chartwell Jackson Creek Retirement Residence, Extendicare Peterborough, Regency Retirement Lakefield and an unnamed congregate living facility in the city.
Another 89 PCR-test confirmed cases were reported over the past week, raising active cases to 520. There have now been 9,888 cumulative cases since the pandemic began, but the count is considered low since most people no longer qualify for lab testing.
For a second week, the health unit maintained the community COVID-19 risk level at high, the second highest level on the five-level index. The index is at the high level because case rates and hospitalizations continue to increase, according to the health unit.
Under the high level, the health unit recommends that masks be used for all interactions with people from outside your household, limiting social gatherings indoors and limiting attending high-risk settings. People at high risk of the virus are also advised to avoid social gatherings in all settings and avoid attending high-risk settings.
“We are encouraging everyone to make sure they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and get a booster dose if they have not had a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months,” Piggott said Wednesday.
“It is especially important for those over the age of 65 or those with high-risk medical conditions to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. We are encouraging all residents to check in on family and neighbours who are over the age of 65 and provide support in booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment if they are not up to date.”
About 6,500 local children aged six months to five years are also eligible for pediatric doses now.
As of Wednesday, 124,850 residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine (85 per cent), 120,575 have had at least two doses (82 per cent), 81,966 have had at least three doses (56 per cent) and 35,553 have had at least four doses (24 per cent).
The health unit mass vaccination clinics are held at the Peterborough Square, on the lower level at 340 George St. N. (masks are required and walk-ins are not allowed).
For those 12 and older, clinics continue Monday, Tuesday and Nov. 3 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Nov. 7 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Nov. 8 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. A pediatric dose clinic for children in the six months to five years and 5 to 11 years age groups will be held Monday from 9 a.m. to noon.
A pediatric dose clinic for the 5 to 11 years and six months to 5 years age groups is scheduled for Monday from 4 to 6 p.m.
COVID-19 vaccine appointments can be booked online at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or by calling the provincial vaccine booking centre at 1-833-943-3900.
Some local pharmacies also offer doses by appointment.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit reported on new COVID-19-related death, four new hospitalizations, three new institutional outbreaks and 129 PCR test lab-confirmed cases over the week of Oct. 16 to 22.
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay had 17 admitted patients with the virus as of Wednesday.
link
