Nine new COVID-19 cases in Haldimand-Norfolk

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There were nine new COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday by the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit over the past 24 hours.

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That’s a significant drop from the 20 that were reported on Tuesday and it brings the weekly total through two days of reporting to 29.

There have now been 3,663 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the area since the start of the pandemic with 3,466 of those resulting in recoveries.

Although new cases declined, active cases continue to rise, from 115 on Monday and 126 on Tuesday to 131 on Wednesday.

As of June 1, the HNHU is reporting COVID-19 cases by vaccination status each month and of all the cases since that time, 67.7 per cent have been among those who are unvaccinated, 5.3 per cent in those who are partially vaccinated and 27 per hundred in fully vaccinated people.

Along with the 58 deaths recorded in the area since the pandemic began in March of 2020, there have been eight other people who tested positive but died from complications attributed to other illnesses.

The HNHU has administered 159,105 doses of the vaccine and there are now 65,216 people who have completed their vaccine series.

The total number of doses administered in Haldimand-Norfolk is 189,145. Some residents of the area have received a dose outside of the HNHU.

The percentage of people aged five and older who are fully vaccinated sits at 75.5 per cent and at 79.6 per cent for those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. There is 20.4 per cent of the population who is unvaccinated.

The health unit notes that data on vaccinations can be delayed up to 48 hours.

As of Monday, those aged 50 and older are eligible for a booster shot, six months after their second doses. On Jan. 4, those aged 18 and older will become eligible for a booster shot, six months after their second dose.

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Appointments must be booked at www.hnhu.org/popup due to limited spaces. Local pharmacies are also administering third doses.

The following is a list of clinics where vaccines are being administered:

Those who can’t get to a vaccine clinic can call 519-427-5903 to request free transportation.

There is also a homebound service for individuals who have difficulty leaving their homes. That program involves two healthcare professionals visiting homes and administering first and second doses in Haldimand and Norfolk.

Visit www.hnhu.org/homeboundvax or call 519-427-5903 for more information on the program.

Visit www.hnhu.org/covid19vaccine/ for more information and for full details about vaccine rollout in Haldimand and Norfolk counties and covid-19.ontario.ca/ for more information on the rollout in Ontario.

The HNHU has updated its webpage to include a list of outbreaks in different settings. As of Monday, there were 28 outbreaks in the area with single school-wide outbreaks and at a workplace; two at area farms; three at congregate settings; 10 in classrooms; and 11 on buses.

The following is a list of local school outbreaks:

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The following cases have been reported at local schools since Dec. 10:

On Wednesday, Public Health Ontario reported 1,808 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. It is the highest single-day case count since May 21 when there were 1,890 cases.

The seven-day rolling average in the province sits at 1,514, up from 1,007 one week ago.

Of the new cases, 762 are in those who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccine status is unknown while 1,046 of the cases are in those considered fully vaccinated.

More than 85 per cent of Ontarians aged five and older have received one dose of the vaccine while 80 per cent have received two doses. That means that 42 per cent of the cases are being reported by the 20 per cent of the population that is unvaccinated.

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The increase in cases among vaccinated individuals is being attributed to waning immunity in those who received their second shot four to six months ago and the Omircon variants ability to evade the vaccine.

The Ontario Science Advisory Table now estimates that more than 30 per cent of all cases in the province are Omicron.

Vaccination still appears to reduce the risk of hospitalization and ICU admission by 94 and 96 per cent, respectively. There are 154 patients in Ontario ICUs – down from 162 on Tuesday – with 102 of those people breathing with the help of a ventilator.

There were nine deaths reported Wednesday and the number of people in the province who have died as a result of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic is 10,093.