The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit was reporting Monday that there is one person hospitalized with COVID-19.
Monday’s news followed Friday’s report indicating that for the first time in months, nobody was hospitalized with the virus in one of the area’s three local hospitals.
New COVID-19 case counts continue to remain low with five reported on Friday and three on Saturday. Numbers for Sunday were not published on the HNHU dashboard.
Despite the lower numbers, it’s believed the actual number of cases is higher due to limited testing.
In-patient capacities at area hospitals have decreased, going from 91 per cent to 86.5 per cent while the ICU rate has decreased from 75 per cent to 87.5 per cent. The rates are current as of Saturday.
Capacities are based on the percentage of beds that are full at any time, regardless of the reason for admission. There are 164 in-patient beds at Haldimand-Norfolk’s three hospitals and 10 ICU beds.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 refers to local residents who were admitted due to COVID-19.
There have been 78 deaths attributed to COVID-19 and there have been 24 people who have tested positive but who have died from complications attributed to other illnesses.
As of Monday there were no outbreaks at high-risk settings in the area.
The HNHU has administered 213,357 doses of the vaccine and there are now 67,447 people who have completed their vaccine series. There have also been 29,912 booster doses administered.
The total number of doses administered in Haldimand-Norfolk is 252,045. 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 79.5 per cent and at 82 per cent for those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. There is 18 percent of the population who is unvaccinated.
The health unit notes that data on vaccinations can be delayed up to 48 hours.
Walk-in vaccine clinics are now being offered for those aged 12 and older Monday through Friday at the Norfolk General Hospital from 8 am to 3 pm There will also be clinics on Thursday at the Dunnville Health Unit from 10 am to 3 pm and on Thursday at Delhi Library from noon to 4 pm
The GO-VAXX Bus will be at Langton Community Center on Wednesday from 10 am to 6 pm and at Port Dover’s Main Street parking lot (329 Main St.) on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm
Visit hnhu.org/popup to book an appointment at one of the above clinics.
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 in Haldimand and Norfolk and administering first and second doses.
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 Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and Grand Erie District School Board are reporting the percentage of absences for students and staff at each of its schools. The numbers are based on those who attend in-person learning.
Visit tinyurl.com/5n9ajcnw for the full list of BHNCDSB schools and absences.granderie.ca/ for the full list of GEDSB schools.
The province has announced that it will no longer release daily COVID-19 statistics. Instead, statistics will be released once per week on Thursdays.
On Thursday, Public Health Ontario was reporting 491 people in hospital with 109 in intensive care.
The province reported Thursday 777 new cases over the past 24 hours although that number is likely underreported due to limited access to testing.
There were six new COVID-19 deaths reported on Thursday. There have been 13,357 deaths in the province since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020.