Another day, another COVID-19 death in Sarnia-Lambton.
Content article
Another day, another COVID-19 death in Sarnia-Lambton.
Content article
In what has been a near-daily occurrence over the past week or so, local health officials reported a fatality linked to the virus. No information about the person who died at Bluewater Health was made available by press time.
Lambton public health also reported a pair of new deaths, upping its total to 91, but they were previously announced by Bluewater Health.
“One person was in their 50s, the other in their 90s,” a health unit spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
Fifteen fatalities have been reported in local hospital since Dec. 20. The overall total of 79 includes some people who lived elsewhere. The vaccination status of the deceased has not been made available due to privacy concerns, officials have said.
A total of 35 COVID-positive patients – one more than Tuesday – were being treated in hospital. The facility had a record high 41 earlier this week.
Another 47 local COVID-19 cases were confirmed Wednesday by the health unit, although officials have cautioned the actual number of cases is likely three to four times higher.
Of the 7,280 reported to date, 939 were active and 6,250 were resolved. The most recent seven-day incidence rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 people in Lambton was 628. Ontario’s was 467.3.
The health unit was also overseeing 17 outbreaks, including a new one at an unidentified business. Seven local long-term care facilities, a retirement home, seven congregate settings, and the in-patient rehabilitation unit in Sarnia’s hospital were previously dealing with active outbreaks.
Content article
Meanwhile, dates and times have been finalized for the dedicated COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics for essential workers. Clinics will be offered for staffers who qualify at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 and at a primary-care clinic in Sarnia until Jan. 20.
The target group includes teachers and education staff, hospital and long-term care workers, paramedics, police, firefighters, and essential municipal employees. But they’re only available through appointments, the health unit cautioned, and eligible staff will be notified through their employers.
It’s a joint effort including the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team, North Lambton Community Health Center, the health unit, Bluewater Health and Lambton paramedics.
The health unit and other agencies already said they’re aiming to double capacity to speed up the third-dose rollout, with the goal of distributing about 11,000 per week throughout January.
Various health organizations combined to deliver 238,184 doses to Sarnia-Lambton residents as of Wednesday, with 38,591 being booster shots.
Visit getthevaccine.ca for information about upcoming local clinics.