Meanwhile, the Middlesex-London Health Unit reported three deaths on Saturday and a total of 818 cases from Saturday to Monday.
The deaths involved three vaccinated men in their 80s and 90s, two of whom were associated with long-term care.
Hospitalizations
As noted, LHSC is caring for 147 inpatients with COVID-19, up from 89 last Monday.
Of those, 21 are in adult critical care, unchanged from a week ago.
Five or fewer of the 147 are in Children’s Hospital, with five or fewer in pediatric critical care, unchanged from last Monday.
Of the 147 patients, 83 are being treated for COVID-19 while 64 others in hospital have incidental COVID-19 infections (meaning they were admitted for another reason). Last Monday, those figures were 68 and 21, respectively.
Among staff, there are 390 cases of COVID-19, down from 434 a week ago.
There are several outbreaks at LHSC at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. Further information can be found in the Outbreaks section, below.
St. Joseph’s Health Care London reported 49 cases among patients or residents in its care as of Monday and 105 health-care workers with COVID-19, up from 25 and 70 a week ago, respectively. The patient/resident cases involve 27 cases at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, 21 at Parkwood Institute Main Building and one at Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building.
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Cases and testing
As noted, the MLHU reported three deaths on Saturday.
The deaths involved a man in his 80s, not associated with a long-term care facility, who had received three doses of vaccine; a man in his 90s, associated with long-term care who had received two doses of vaccine; and a man in his 80s, associated with long-term care who had received three doses of vaccine.
The MLHU is not naming the facilities that two of the deaths were associated with.
The health unit also reported 201 cases on Monday, 288 on Sunday and 329 on Saturday. Due to changes in eligibility for PCR testing, daily case counts are no longer considered a fully reliable reflection of COVID-19 activity in the region.
In total, there have been 26,334 confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic, including 2,927 active cases (a decrease of 205 from Friday), 23,137 resolved cases (an increase of 1,043 from Friday) and 270 deaths (an increase of three).
The test positivity rate for the week of Jan. 2 was 24.0 per cent, down from 28.3 per cent the week of Dec. 26, 2021.
Outbreaks
LHSC is reporting the following outbreaks:
University Hospital
U10 Subacute Medicine and Palliative Care, declared Jan. 16, involving five or fewer patient cases
Village of Glendale Crossing, facility-wide, Lambeth, declared Dec. 25
Westmount Gardens, Daisy Unit, declared Jan. 3
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Vaccinations
As of Jan. 8, 88.6 per cent of those aged five and older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, up from 88 per cent a week prior, while 82.7 per cent have had two doses, up from 82.1 per cent a week prior.
The percentage of people who’ve received third doses climbed to 31.8 per cent as of Jan. 8 from 25.4 per cent as of Jan. 1. Note that those under 18 are not currently eligible for a third dose.
More than 68 per cent of those aged 70 and older have had a third dose as of Jan. 8.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit says individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should consider themselves to be positive for COVID-19 and self-isolate.
The health unit has provided information on what to do if you develop symptoms, test positive on a rapid test or PCR test or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.
Health unit data shows that since Dec. 6, 38.18 per cent of hospitalized cases have involved people who were unvaccinated. Note that unvaccinated residents make up only 11.4 per cent of the region’s five-and-older population as of Jan. 8.
Of the 16 deaths reported in the past six weeks, 10 involved fully vaccinated individuals and six involved unvaccinated individuals.
The latest figures released by the Ontario government Monday morning show there are 3,887 people in hospital with COVID-19, with 578 of them in intensive care.
Southwestern Public Health announced two new pop-up clinics specifically for staff in school, school support or childcare settings as well as children age 5 to 11 and their parents and staff in long-term care or retirement homes.
One clinic will be held at the Ontario Police College on Jan. 21 and the other at the Tillsonburg Community Centre on Jan. 25. Both run from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. Appointments can be booked online through the “targeted populations” priority designation or over the phone at 1-800-922-0096 x 9 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Southwestern Public Health reported 26 hospitalizations on Friday, up from 22 a week ago. There were four cases in the ICU, down from seven a week ago.
The test positivity rate for the week of Jan. 2 was 19.5 per cent, down from 24.8 per cent during the week of Dec. 26.
As for cases, SWPH is reporting:
8,942 cases (an increase of 268 from Friday, with two removed due to data cleanup)
974 active cases (a decrease of 155 from Friday)
8,106 resolved cases (an increase of 421 from Friday; note that SWPH clears all cases after 10 days regardless of outcome)
128 deaths (unchanged)
The most recent death was reported Friday and involved a woman in her 80s tied to an outbreak at Valleyview Home. The death was the ninth death reported in the span of four days.
There are active outbreaks at the following long-term homes, retirement homes and hospitals:
Valleyview Nursing Home, St. Thomas, declared Dec. 23 and involving 16 resident cases, 24 staff cases and one death
Woodingford Lodge, Woodstock, declared Dec. 28 and involving 13 resident cases, 17 staff cases and one death
Tillsonburg Retirement Residence – Tillsonburg, declared Dec. 29 and involving three resident cases
Chartwell Oxford Gardens, Woodstock, declared Dec. 30 and involving 12 resident cases and four staff cases
Caressant Care Bonnie Place Retirement Home, St. Thomas, declared Dec. 30 and involving 17 resident cases, 11 staff cases, one death and one case under investigation
Caressant Care Bonnie Place Nursing Home, St. Thomas, declared Dec. 30 and involving 20 resident cases and 13 staff cases
Elgin Manor, St. Thomas, declared Dec. 31 and involving four resident cases and three staff cases
Extendicare, Port Stanley, declared Jan. 2 and involving nine resident cases and 11 staff cases
Terrace Lodge, Aylmer, declared Jan. 2 and involving 13 resident cases, four staff cases and one death
Secord Trails, Ingersoll, declared Jan. 2 and involving 40 resident cases, 17 staff cases and two deaths
Chartwell Aylmer, Aylmer, declared Jan. 2 and involving five resident cases and seven staff cases
Alexandra Hospital, Ingersoll, declared Jan. 3 and involving nine patient cases and three staff cases
Caressant Care Nursing Home – Woodstock, declared Jan. 3 and involving one resident case and 12 staff cases
Maples Nursing Home – Tavistock, declared Jan. 7, involving two resident cases and 11 staff cases
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital – St. Thomas, declared Jan. 7, involving four patient cases and three staff cases
Arches Transitional Bed Program, Woodstock, declared Jan. 10 and involving 16 resident cases, seven staff cases and one case under investigation
Woodingford Lodge, Tillsonburg, declared Jan. 11 and involving three staff cases
Woodingford Lodge, Ingersoll, declared Jan. 12 and involving three staff cases
Cedarview Living Retirement, Woodstock, declared Jan. 13 and involving four resident cases
Metcalfe Gardens Retirement Home, St. Thomas, declared Jan. 13 and involving 12 resident cases and four staff cases
As of Jan. 12, 76.7 per cent of those aged five and older in the region had received two doses of the vaccine, while 81.8 per cent have had at least one dose.
There are 21 active outbreaks reported by HPPH, including 10 at long-term care or retirement homes:
Braemar Nursing Home, North Huron, declared Jan. 12 and involving three residents and seven staff cases
Hillside Manor, Perth East, declared Dec. 31 and involving four staff cases
Kingsway Lodge, St. Marys, declared Jan. 3 and involving 10 resident cases and 14 staff cases
Knollcrest Lodge, Perth East, declared Jan. 12 and one resident case and involving five staff cases
Queensway Nursing home, Bluewater, declared Dec. 31 and involving one resident case and one staff case
Caressant Care Retirement Home, North Perth, declared Jan. 2 and involving two resident case and two staff cases
Exeter Villa, South Huron, declared Jan. 2 and involving seven resident cases and 13 staff cases
Goderich Place, Goderich, declared Jan. 8 and involving one resident case and four staff cases
Maplewood Manor Retirement Home, Huron East, declared Dec. 30 and involving one resident case and four staff cases
Seaforth Manor Retirement Home, Huron East, declared Jan. 2 and involving four resident cases and three staff cases
HPPH is also reporting an outbreak at Stratford General Hospital, declared Jan. 7, involving one patient and five staff members.
HPPH is reporting 10 outbreaks at congregate living settings but no further details were provided.
As of Jan. 17, 83.9 per cent of residents aged five and older have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while 79.1 per cent are fully vaccinated. Third-dose coverage stands at 45.4 per cent of those five and older, though those under the age of 18 are not eligible for a third dose.
LPH reported 15 active outbreaks as of Monday, including at the following congregate living facilities:
Lambton County Developmental Services in Wyoming, declared Jan. 9 and involving fewer than five resident cases and fewer than five staff/caregiver cases
Huron House Boys Home in Brights Grove, declared Jan. 8 and involving fewer than five residents and five staff/caregivers
Community Living Sarnia-Lambton in Sarnia, declared Jan. 7 and involving fewer than five residents and fewer than five staff/caregivers
St. Francis Advocates in Petrolia, declared Jan. 7 and involving fewer than five residents and fewer than five staff/caregivers
Community Living Sarnia-Lambton in Sarnia, declared Jan. 6 and involving fewer than five residents and fewer than five staff/caregivers
A previous outbreak at Christian Horizons in Sarnia, declared Jan. 10 and involving fewer than five resident cases and fewer than five staff/caregiver cases, is listed as over as of Jan. 14.
There are outbreaks at the following long-term care and retirement homes:
Watford Quality Care in Watford, declared Jan. 5 and involving fewer than five resident cases and fewer than five staff cases
Trillium Villa in Sarnia, declared Jan. 3 and involving 35 residents and 30 staff/caregivers
Marshall Gowland Manor in Sarnia, declared Jan. 1 and involving fewer than five residents and 14 staff/caregivers
Afton Park Place in Sarnia, declared Dec. 31 and involving fewer than five residents and 11 staff/caregivers
Sumac Lodge in Sarnia, declared Dec. 31 and involving 33 resident cases and 26 cases among staff/caregivers
Fiddick’s Nursing Home in Petrolia, declared Dec. 30 and involving 13 residents and 17 staff/caregivers
There are two hospital outbreaks and a jail outbreak. The outbreak at Sarnia Jail in Sarnia was declared Jan. 8 and involves 26 inmates and fewer than five staff members.
One outbreak at Bluewater Health in Sarnia declared Jan. 7 involves eight patients and five staff members. A second outbreak at Bluewater Health was declared Jan. 14 and involves eight patients and five staff members.
There is also an outbreak at an unidentified workplace, declared Jan. 11 involving six cases.
Among those five and older, 81 per cent have had at least one dose of vaccine, 77 per cent have had two doses and 36 per cent have had a third dose. Note that those under 18 are not currently eligible for a third dose.
Residents can book and re-book COVID-19 vaccine appointments or find information on vaccine availability at pharmacies using the health unit’s registration page. People can also contact the vaccine call centre at 226-254-8222.
Those who are able to get vaccinated on short notice are encouraged to sign up for Lambton Public Health’s daily Vaccine Standby List.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
