Based on the latest local COVID-19 data, the province has determined that as of November 23, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) region will be at the YELLOW-PROTECT level in the COVID-19 Response Framework.

The return to yellow follows a brief time at the orange level.

The Ontario government has developed a new framework for targeted public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19: COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open. The framework serves as an early warning system that allows for scaling up and scaling back public health restrictions on a regional or community basis in response to surges and waves of COVID-19.

The framework categorizes public health unit regions into five levels: Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control, and Lockdown being a measure of last and urgent resort. Each level outlines the types of public health and workplace safety measures required for businesses and organizations. These include targeted measures for specific sectors, institutions, and other settings.

Each public health unit is classified according to the framework indicators. Final decisions on classification of public health unit regions are made by the government based on updated data and in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, local medical officers of health and other health experts, and will be reviewed weekly.

For more information on provincial regulations for reopening businesses, services and public spaces, see the Government of Ontario’s Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 17.

During a media briefing on the afternoon of Friday, November 20, EOHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said that the health unit is one of the only ones in Ontario where the situation is “going in the right direction.”

Outbreaks

As of November 20, 13 cases of COVID-19 remained active among residents at the Prescott and Russell Residence in Hawkesbury.  Three case were active among staff members.  There had been 165 cases of COVID-19 as a result of the Residence outbreak as of November 20 with 101 cases among residents and 64 cases among employees.  Out of those totals, 76 resident cases were resolved, and 61 staff cases were resolved.  There have been 12 deaths among residents due to the outbreak at the facility.

There were also COVID-19 outbreaks in effect at Russell Meadows Retirement Home and Woodland Villa in Long Sault as of November 20.

EOHU statistics

There were 103 active cases of COVID-19 across the EOHU’s territory, as of November 20 out of a cumulative 787 cases that includes 655 resolved cases.

Six patients from the EOHU’s jurisdiction remained in hospital due to COVID-19 as of November 20 and no patients were in intensive care.

As of November 20, 80,604 COVID-19 tests had been performed at the EOHU’s six testing facilities and by paramedics.

Schools and childcare facilities

According to the Government of Ontario list, there were active cases of COVID-19 at the following schools under EOHU jurisdiction on Friday, November 20.  Two or more cases per school is considered an official outbreak.

Two students at St. Jude Catholic Elementary School near Vankleek Hill.  However, the province is only listing one of the cases.  Roumeliotis explained that school cases are only listed if COVID-19 was contracted through an interaction in the school setting.

One staff member at École secondaire catholique l’Éscale in Clarence-Rockland

Two students at École élémentaire publique Rose des Vents in Cornwall

Three students at École secondaire publique l’Héritage in Cornwall

One student at Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School

One student at Eamer’s Corners Public School in Cornwall

The Government of Ontario list reported active cases of COVID-19 at the following childcare facilities under EOHU jurisdiction on Friday, November 20.  Two or more cases per childcare facility is considered an official outbreak.

One child at A Child’s Secret Garden Daycare in Cornwall

One employee at Kawehnoke Child Care Centre in Akwesasne

Across Ontario

There were 16,074 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario on November 19, according to the Ministry of Health.  There were 1,418, or 1.4 per cent more active cases on November 19 than on November 18.

The Ministry reported that 84,716 or 84.1 per cent of cumulative cases were resolved as of November 19.

There were 518 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of November 19.  Out of those 518 patients, 142 were in intensive care, and 92 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 3,451 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of November 19, composing 3.4 per cent of all cumulative cases.

Active COVID-19 cases by EOHU municipality and First Nation, November 20, 2020.

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

EOHU COVID-19 media briefing, November 20, 2020.