The number of COVID-19 outbreaks across the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) increased during the Thanksgiving weekend.

As of Tuesday, October 13, there were 25 active cases of COVID-19 at the Prescott and Russell Residence in Hawkesbury.  Out of that total, 17 of the cases were among residents, and eight of the cases were among employees.  The first case at the facility had been confirmed on October 9 and totals increased during the succeeding four days.  The residence was still awaiting further test results as of Tuesday afternoon.

According to EOHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, the outbreak at Prescott and Russell Residence began as a regular respiratory illness outbreak but was later identified as COVID-19.  He said that an investigation continues into how COVID-19 found its way into the facility.

Roumeliotis said that deploying Red Cross personnel to a long-term care facility would depend on the extent of the outbreak and factors such as how many residents and employees had tested positive and the ability of the facility staff to continue regular operations and care of residents.

The 25 cases at the Prescott and Russell Residence composed all of the active cases of COVID-19 in the Town of Hawkesbury as of October 13.

The Canadian Red Cross has offered to assist at long-term care facilities with significant COVID-19 outbreaks.  On Tuesday, Roumeliotis said that homes in the local area that could receive Red Cross assistance are still being identified.

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared during the Thanksgiving weekend at The Palace Retirement Home in Alexandria.  All seven cases at The Palace are among residents and composed the entire number of cases in North Glengarry on October 13.  Roumeliotis said the origins of the outbreak are being investigated.

As of Tuesday, an outbreak also remained in effect at Foyer St-Jacques nursing home in Embrun.

There were 105 active cases of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) as of Tuesday, October 13, bringing the number of cumulative cases to 360.  Out of that amount, 243 cases were officially resolved.

As of October 13, there were 80 active cases of COVID-19 in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.  The Town of Hawkesbury and Russell Township each had 25 cases.  The 25 active cases in Hawkesbury were greater than the 18 active cases that were active on Tuesday in the neighbouring MRC d’Argenteuil in Québec.  There were 10 cases in La Nation, three in Champlain, and two in Alfred and Plantagenet.  The only Prescott and Russell municipality without any active cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday was East Hawkesbury.

There were 26 active cases of COVID-19 in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry and the City of Cornwall as of October 13.  The highest number of those was in South Glengarry, which had eight cases.  North Glengarry was second highest with seven cases.

Schools

There were COVID-19 cases at eight schools across the EOHU’s territory as of October 13.  Most of them were at schools in Embrun and Russell.  When there are two or more cases at a school, it constitutes an official outbreak.

Two students at École élémentaire catholique Embrun-Pavillon St-Jean and Pavillon La Croisée.

One student at École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Félicité in Clarence-Rockland.

One student at École élémentaire catholique St-Joseph in Russell.

One student at École élémentaire catholique St-Viateur in Russell.

One student at École élémentaire catholique St-Victor in Alfred.

One staff member at École intermédiare catholique Pavillon Embrun.

One student at École secondaire catholique L’Escale in Rockland.

One student at École secondaire catholique Embrun.

Hospital, deaths, testing

Two COVID-19 patients from the EOHU’s jurisdiction were in hospital as of October 13, but no COVID-19 patients were in intensive care.

The number of COVID-19 deaths across the EOHU territory as of October 13 remained unchanged at 12.

As of October 13, 67,974 COVID-19 tests had been performed across the EOHU`s jurisdiction at the six testing centres and by paramedics.

Provincial statistics

According to the Ontario Ministry of Health, there were 8,963 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of October 12, out of a cumulative 60,692 cases.  From October 11 to October 12, there was an increase of 746 cases or 1.2 per cent.

The Ministry reported that 51,729 or 85.2 per cent of cumulative cases were resolved as of October 12. Also, as of October 12, there were 230 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario.  Out of those 230 patients, 60 were in intensive care, and 34 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 3,017 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of October 12.

COVID-19 cases across EOHU territory, October 13, 2020

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

EOHU COVID-19 media briefing for Tuesday, October 13, 2020.