Walk-in vaccine clinics open to those over 30

Content item

Hospital occupancy rates in Haldimand Norfolk have increased.

Content item

The Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit reported Wednesday that in-patient occupancy is at 103 per cent and intensive care unit occupancy is at 90 per cent.

There are now seven patients with COVID-19 as in-patients at Haldimand-Norfolk hospitals, which is one more than Tuesday. The previously reported in-patient occupancy rate was 102.4 per cent.

As for patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, there are four, up from two on Tuesday. The previously reported ICU occupancy rate was 80 per cent.

Occupancy rates are based on bed capacity in hospitals and ICUs in Haldimand and Norfolk.

Hospital statistics are current as of Monday. The HNHU’s website only provided data up to that date with the health unit noting that occupancy data lags by approximately 48 hours.

The HNHU was reporting Wednesday 55 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours although health officials have said the number is more than likely higher due to limited testing.

As of Wednesday, there were 16 outbreaks in the area with seven outbreaks in congregate settings, five in long-term care homes, three in retirement homes and one on a farm.

There have been 61 deaths recorded in the area since the pandemic began in March of 2020 and there have been 12 other people who tested positive but died from complications attributed to other illnesses.

The HNHU has administered 190,414 doses of the vaccine and there are now 65,826 people who have completed their vaccine series. There have also been 25,562 booster doses administered.

Content item

The total number of doses administered in Haldimand-Norfolk is 224,082. 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 76.7 per cent and at 81.1 per cent for those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. There is 18.9 per cent of the population who is unvaccinated.

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

There are a large number of appointments available on the HNHU booking tool with mass clinics being held at Riverside Exhibition Center in Caledonia and at the Simcoe Recreation Centre.

Walk-in clinics are now being offered for those aged 30 and older at the Norfolk General Hospital from 10 am to 2 pm, Simcoe Recreation Center from 11 am to 3 pm and at Caledonia’s Riverside Exhibition Center from 11 am to 3 pm These clinics are only offering Moderna as there is currently a shortage of Pfizer until the end of January.

Due to high demand, walk-ins are no longer being accepted at community clinics, except as noted above.

The GO-VAXX mobile clinic is offering first, second and third doses to eligible individuals at Valley Heights Secondary School on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm Appointments must be made as no walk-ins will be accepted.

Immunization occurs on the bus but registrations and 15-minute monitoring takes place in a tent outside.

GO-VAXX will also offer indoor clinics on Fridays in January at Dunnville Lifespan from 10 am to 6 pm. Appointments are necessary.

Content item

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. This 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 testing, isolation and case and contact management guidelines with the following changes:

Content item

On Wednesday, Public Health Ontario reported 60 new deaths, the highest daily total since Feb. 4, 2021 when there were 88 deaths. All but one of the recently reported deaths took place over the past 30 days.

There have now been 10,726 deaths since the pandemic began in March of 2020.

As for hospitalizations, there were 4,132 people reported to be in hospital on Wednesday, down from 4,183 on Tuesday.

There are 589 people in ICUs and 341 are breathing with the help of a ventilator.

There were 5,744 confirmed cases in the province from Tuesday, however, that number is likely underreported because of limited testing.