505 active cases of COVID-19 across EOHU jurisdiction, 42,372 vaccine doses given
Posted by James Morgan | Apr 20, 2021 | Coronavirus, Health & Wellness, News
The number of active COVID-19 cases across the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) decreased to 505 as of Tuesday, April 20 – down from 510 cases the previous day.
There were 32 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the EOHU's territory as of Monday and 11 of those patients were in intensive care.
The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 across the area served by the EOHU as of April 20 had increased to 94 from 93 on April 19.
On April 19, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said two-thirds of COVID-19 cases across the EOHU's jurisdiction were variants.
Students attending public schools across Ontario were on spring break last week, which had been rescheduled from March. In-person classes in all schools across the province did not resume on April 19, and all students are learning online indefinitely due to the significant number of new cases of COVID-19 among students in recent weeks.
The province-wide shutdown and stay-at-home order is to remain in effect for the entire province of Ontario. On Friday afternoon, Premier Doug Ford announced a series of measures to increase enforcement of the stay-at-home order. The Ontario-Québec boundary is also closed to all but the most essential traffic.
Ontario statistics
As of April 20, there were 3,469 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario. According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 42,941 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of Tuesday.
There were 2,360 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Tuesday. Out of those patients, 773 were in intensive care, and 537 patients were on ventilators.
There had been 7,757 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of April 20, which was an increase of 22 deaths from April 19.
As of April 19, 42,372 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across the jurisdiction of the EOHU, 3,995,187 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across Ontario, and 347,597 Ontario residents had been fully vaccinated by receiving both required doses.
At a recent COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hawkesbury, problems with the booking system led to long delays and lines. Roumeliotis said on April 15 that the problems with the system should be resolved and that the individuals who faced delays for their first dose will not encounter the same issue when they go for their second dose.
According to Roumeliotis, 10,000 people across the EOHU's territory were vaccinated as of April 16. Eight clinics per week for the next two weeks are scheduled across EOHU communities and eight local medical clinics have received doses to administer to patients. Additional pharmacies are being added to those providing the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, including one in Rockland. Pharmacies in Hawkesbury and Embrun are already providing COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccine doses are also being increased to doctor's offices across the EOHU's territory. The Astra-Zeneca vaccine is now available to all Ontario residents aged 40 and greater at participating pharmacies.
Within the EOHU's jurisdiction, Ontario residents 60 years of age and older may book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment using Ontario's online booking system. In accordance with the latest recommendations, those bookings will be given appointments for first and second doses, 16 weeks apart.
Across the EOHU's territory, 34 vaccination clinics are scheduled until May 7 and 1,500 to 2,000 people may be vaccinated at each one. Roumeliotis estimated on April 15 that up to 30,000 more people may be vaccinated by the first week of May.
The EOHU has launched an online pre-registration tool and asking all remaining individuals listed within the province's Phase One priority populations, who have not yet been vaccinated or not yet booked an appointment, to pre-register. Pre-registration facilitates booking appointments quickly and easily as vaccine supply increases and more appointments become available.
Provincial Online Booking System
Ontario's vaccine booking system is accepting vaccine bookings for individuals who will be turning 60 or older in 2021 (born in 1961 or earlier). Booking is available at www.Ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Individuals who require assistance with booking can call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488.
The booking system will screen for eligibility based on age using health card information. Appointments can be made by an individual or with the help of family or an informal caregiver (note: family/informal caregivers born after 1961 cannot book an appointment for themselves at this time, however, they may use the EOHU Pre-Registration tool to pre-register for an appointment).
If you have a family member or provide care to someone who was born in 1961 or before, please encourage them to get vaccinated. Vaccinations will be available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at vaccine clinics being held across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry; the United Counties of Prescott-Russell; and the City of Cornwall. Alternate arrangements will be made for individuals who notify us of barriers preventing them from physically going to a clinic.
EOHU Pre-Registration Tool
Those who are not in the 60+ age group, but who are eligible for the vaccine based on the Phase 1 priority populations, must first pre-register using the EOHU online pre-registration tool at https://eohu.ca/en/covid/welcome-to-the-eohu-online-covid-19-vaccination-pre-registration-portal .
Once vaccine supply permits, those who have pre-registered will receive a code that will give them access to the provincial booking system.
Please note that pre-registration does not guarantee that you will get an appointment immediately. You may not get your appointment booking code for a week or longer, depending on vaccine supply.
Institutional outbreaks
The following hospitals, long-term care, retirement residences, and group home facilities under EOHU jurisdiction also had COVID-19 outbreaks as of April 19:
Maxville Manor
Residence St-Mathieu in Hammond
Caressant Care Nursing Home in Bourget
Community Living-Lasalle in Cornwall
St-Joseph's Continuing Care Centre –Complex Continuing Care side in Cornwall
Open Hands on Second Street in Cornwall
Open Hands on Gage Street in Cornwall
EOHU COVID-19 case map, April 19, 2021
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James Morgan is a freelance contributor. He has worked for several print and broadcast media outlets. James loves the history, natural beauty, and people of eastern Ontario and western Quebec.