Hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 in Haldimand-Norfolk are up from earlier in the week.
The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit reported Friday that 15 residents are in hospital for treatment of the virus, including three patients in ICU. That’s up from 10 in hospital, including one in intensive care, on Wednesday.
The in-patient rate at the region’s three hospitals stands at 79.5 per cent, while the intensive care rate remains at 50 per cent. The health unit notes that occupancy data lags by about 48 hours.
There are 164 in-patient beds and 10 ICU beds in Haldimand-Norfolk’s three hospitals, and capacities are based on the percentage of beds occupied, regardless of the reason for admission.
There are currently 10 outbreaks ongoing in area high-risk settings, including four at long-term care homes, five at other congregate settings, and one at a farm.
The HNHU has administered a total of 206,731 doses of vaccine to Haldimand-Norfolk residents, with 67,342 people having completed the vaccine series. An additional 29,651 booster doses have been given.
The health unit reports that 79.3 per cent of area residents aged five and older are fully vaccinated, while 81.9 per cent have received at least one dose. There is 18.1 per cent of the population locally who remain unvaccinated.
Walk-in vaccine clinics continue to operate at Norfolk General Hospital on weekdays between 8 am and 3 pm for those aged 12 and over.
To book an appointment for vaccination, visit hnhu.org/popup
Anyone in need of free transportation to a vaccine clinic can call 519-427-5903.
A homebound service is available for people who have difficulty traveling. The program features two healthcare professionals who visit homes to administer first and second doses in Haldimand and Norfolk counties.
Visit www.hnhu.org/homeboundvax or call 519-427-5903.
For information about the vaccine rollout in Haldimand-Norfolk visit www.hnhu.org/covid19vaccine and for province-wide visit covid19.ontario.ca/ for more information.
Based on in-person attendance at area schools, the Grand Erie and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic district school boards are reporting the percentage of absences for staff and students at each school. Visit tinyurl.com/5n9ajcnw for the full list of Catholic schools, and absences.granderie.ca for the full list of public schools.
Ontario’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions inched upward Friday, while the province reported the deaths of 20 more people with the illness.
The Ministry of Health said there were 1,679 patients testing positive for the virus in hospitals, an increase of 18 from the day before.
A total of 209 people with the illness were being treated in ICUs, up from 202 on Thursday.
The province’s total COVID-linked death toll climbed to 12,812 on Friday.