The number of active cases of COVID-19 across the communities served by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) had increased to 638 as of Monday, January 18.  There had been 599 cases on Friday, January 15.  Out of the 39 new cases, 20 were in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.  The remainder were in the City of Cornwall, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry, and the portion of the Akwesasne First Nation under Canadian jurisdiction.

There were 31 COVID-19 patients from the EOHU’s territory in hospital as of January 18 and six of those patients were in intensive care.  Out of the 31 COVID-19 patients in hospital, 21 of them were in Cornwall Community Hospital.  Four COVID-19 patients were in Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, four patients from the EOHU territory were in Ottawa hospitals, and two patients were in the Winchester hospital.

The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 across the area served by the EOHU had increased to 44 as of January 18 from 42 on January 15.  The deaths occurred in residents at Lancaster Long-Term Care, and Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge in Cornwall where COVID-19 outbreaks are in effect.

Long-term care outbreaks

Two current COVID-19 outbreaks at two long-term care facilities under EOHU jurisdiction have been particularly serious and tragic.  At Lancaster Long-Term Care, 42 of 47 residents have tested positive, and at TSIIonKwa NonhSoTe Long-Term Care in Akwesasne, 13 residents have tested positive, and four residents have died due to COVID-19.

At Lancaster Long-Term Care, paramedics and personnel from both the Canadian Red Cross and Cornwall Community Hospital are assisting.

No residents of Heritage Lodge in Vankleek Hill had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday.  The outbreak there is in a staff member.  Testing of all residents and staff has been done.

As of January 18, COVID-19 outbreaks of two or more cases were in effect at the following long-term care, retirement, and group living facilities under EOHU jurisdiction:

Heritage Lodge in Vankleek Hill

Maxville Manor

Villa St-Albert

Caressant Care Nursing Home in Bourget

Foyer St-Jacques in Embrun

Foyer St-Viateur Nursing Home in Limoges

Lancaster Long-Term Care.

St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre–Complex Care

Sandfield Place Long-Term Care in Cornwall

Riverview Manor in Cornwall

Heartwood Long-Term Care in Cornwall

Heritage Heights in Cornwall

Cornwall Community Hospital—JMP 2500 and 2600 pods

Glen Stor Dun Lodge in Cornwall

TSIIonKwa NonhSoTe Long-Term Care in Akwesasne

Woodland Villa in Long Sault

Vaccination progress

COVID-19 vaccinations began to be administered in long-term care facilities across the EOHU’s territory during the previous week. As of Monday, January 18, 1,200 people across the jurisdiction of the EOHU had received COVID-19 vaccinations.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said that a delay in vaccine shipments from Pfizer should not have a serious effect on the progress of the EOHU’s vaccination program.  Aside from the expected delay next week, the EOHU has been assured that it will be receiving double shipments of vaccine into February, which means that the February 15 provincial deadline to have all long-term care residents and employees vaccinated will likely be met.  Roumeliotis said that the delays should also not affect the effectiveness or timing of second doses of the vaccine.

Ontario statistics

There were 2,578 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario between January 17 and January 18.  According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 28,621 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of Monday.

There were 1,571 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of January 18.  Out of those patients, 394 were in intensive care, and 303 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 5,433 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of January 18, which was an increase of 24 deaths from January 17.

COVID-19 cases under EOHU jurisdiction, Monday, January 18, 2021.

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

EOHU COVID-19 media briefing, Monday, January 18, 2021.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpPI4MgyMn4