Health
Peterborough Public Health's new COVID-19 Community Risk Index is set to 'high' – kawarthaNOW.com
Two days after kawarthaNOW reported the Kawarthas region has the highest COVID-19 wastewater signal in Ontario, Peterborough Public Health has released local wastewater surveillance data that show the presence of the virus in wastewater exceeds the highest level seen during the omicron wave.
The wastewater surveillance data is part of the health unit’s new online COVID-19 “Community Risk Index”, which is intended to advise residents of the risk level of COVID-19 transmission in the health unit’s region and to help them make personal decisions about taking COVID-19 protective measures.
The health unit is encouraging residents to check the Community Risk Index at peterboroughpublichealth.ca/covid-19-risk-index/, as they would similar public health information such as tha Air Quality Health Index.
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The Community Risk Index, which will be updated every Wednesday by 4 p.m., has five risk levels from very low risk to very high risk, and includes the status of six COVID-19 indicators used to determine the risk level: the local case incidence rate per 100,000, the number of hospitalizations, new deaths, PCR test positivity rate, community-reported rapid antigen test positivity rate, and wastewater surveillance signals.
As of March 30, the Community Risk Index is currently set a “high,” based on a moderate case rate, moderate hospitalizations, very low deaths, high PCR test positivity, very high rapid antigen test positivity, and high wastewater surveillance.
“Our goal with the COVID-19 Community Risk Index is to make our community’s virus transmission status as transparent as possible by integrating several indicators into one easy-to-understand five-point scale,” explains medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release. “Each level corresponds to specific public health guidance both for the general population and for those residents who are at high-risk of serious health outcomes if they get infected.”
Peterborough Public Health is one of the first health units in Ontario to produce a local COVID-19 Community Risk Index, which is still in a pilot phase and will be refined over the coming weeks. Planned enhancements will include adding more granular data in a “business intelligence dashboard,” similar to the existing Local COVID-19 Tracker, which it will eventually replace. The health unit encourages residents to provide feedback on the index.
Dr. Piggott, who says the pandemic is now entering into its sixth wave, says the current “high risk” status due to the very high rapid antigen test positivity, the high PCR testing positivity rate, and the high wastewater surveillance signal — which is equivalent to the level seen during January’s omicron surge.
“This sixth wave we are starting into, like the fifth omicron wave, will disproportionately impact those who are more vulnerable in our communities — people still unvaccinated, elderly, medically at-risk, and immunocompromised,” he explains.
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With the current “high risk” status, Peterborough Public Health is recommending residents be vaccinated (with three doses for most residents and four doses for those who are immunocompromised), wear a respirator-style mask (N95 or KN95) while indoors and around others (especially if you’re at high risk), stay home if sick even with mild symptoms, get a PCR test if you are eligible, and use rapid antigen tests.
The health unit is also encouraging residents to report their rapid antigen test results, both positive and negative, by using the confidential online reporting survey at chkmkt.com/RAT21. The results of the survey are used to inform the rapid antigen test positivity rate for the Community Risk Index.
“Each of our decisions to decrease transmission today will impact the context of the pandemic in our community tomorrow,” Dr. Piggott says. “I am closely watching the concerning evolving context, considering actions to reimpose requirements as I am responsible to do under the provincial legislation, and readying to take any measures needed to protect our community and those more vulnerable in it.”
VIDEO: Peterborough Public Health Community Risk Index
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Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed a case of measles in Edmonton, and is advising the public that the individual was out in public while infectious.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread easily through the air, and can only be prevented through immunization.
AHS says individuals who were in the following locations during the specified dates and times, may have been exposed to measles.
- April 16
- Edmonton International Airport, international arrivals and baggage claim area — between 3:20 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- April 20
- Stollery Children’s Hospital Emergency Department — between 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- April 22
- 66th Medical Clinic (13635 66 St NW Edmonton) — between 12:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Pharmacy 66 (13637 66 St NW Edmonton) — between 12:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- April 23
- Stollery Children’s Hospital Emergency Department — between 4:40 a.m. to 9:33 a.m.
AHS says anyone who attended those locations during those times is at risk of developing measles if they’ve not had two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine.
Those who have not had two doses, who are pregnant, under one year of age, or have a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of getting measles and should contact Health Link at 1-877-720-0707.
Symptoms
Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3° C or higher, cough, runny nose, and/or red eyes, a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down the body and then to the arms and legs.
If you have any of these symptoms stay home and call Health Link.
In Alberta, measles vaccine is offered, free of charge, through Alberta’s publicly funded immunization program. Children in Alberta typically receive their first dose of measles vaccine at 12 months of age, and their second dose at 18 months of age.
Health
U.S. tightens rules for dairy cows a day after bird flu virus fragments found in pasteurized milk samples – Toronto Star
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Infected cows were already prohibited from being transported out of state, but that was based on the physical characteristics of the milk, which looks curdled when a cow is infected, or a cow has decreased lactation or low appetite, both symptoms of infection.
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Developer Sam Mizrahi files lawsuit against Edward Rogers and his real estate fund, alleges $30-million loss – The Globe and Mail
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