The number of active cases of COVID-19 among residents of the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) had decreased to 101 as of Tuesday, February 23 from 106 active cases on Monday, February 22.

There were two COVID-19 patients from the EOHU’s territory in hospital as of February 23, and zero patients were in intensive care.

The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 across the area served by the EOHU as of Tuesday remained unchanged at 67.

On Monday, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said no variants of COVID-19 have been detected among the population of the EOHU’s territory yet, but the possibility is being closely monitored as there have been cases of variants in Ottawa.

Vaccinations

The EOHU reported that as of February 23, 5,252 people across its jurisdiction had been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Presently, only residents and employees of long-term care facilities, retirement homes, and other group living facilities under EOHU jurisdiction have been vaccinated.  On Tuesday, the health unit released its plan to begin vaccinating the broader population of its territory, beginning with individuals aged 80 or greater who do not live in long-term care facilities or retirement homes.

Roumeliotis said that a shipment of the Pfizer vaccine was delivered to the EOHU for use this week, but the health unit has requested that it begin to receive the Moderna vaccine because it is easier to store and transport.

School cases

There were active cases of COVID-19 connected with the following schools under EOHU jurisdiction as of February 22:

One staff member at École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury

One student at École intermédiare catholique—Pavillon Alexandria

Two students at École secondaire catholique Le Relais in Alexandria

Two students at Glengarry District High School in Alexandria

One student at École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Trinité in Clarence-Rockland

One student at T.R. Léger School of Adult and Continuing Secondary Education in Cornwall

The only childcare facility under EOHU jurisdiction with cases of COVID-19 as of February 22 was in Akwesasne where two children and one staff member at TSI’ Snaihne Child Care Centre had tested positive.

Long-term care outbreaks

As of February 22, 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:

Manoir Carillon in Chute-à-Blondeau

Maxville Manor

The Palace Long-Term Care in Alexandria

Foyer St-Viateur Nursing Home in Limoges

Lancaster Long-Term Care

Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge in Cornwall

Chartwell McConnell in Cornwall

Riverview Manor in Cornwall

Iakhihsohtha Lodge in Akwesasne

Orange zone in effect

The EOHU’s territory is an orange zone under the Ontario government’s COVID-19 restriction system.  The full details of the orange zone restrictions are listed on the EOHU website at: https://eohu.ca/en/covid/covid-19-response-framework .

Roumeliotis said on Monday that the current infection rate across the EOHU’s territory has it at the threshold of becoming a yellow zone.  However, whether the territory becomes a yellow zone will depend on this week’s evaluation of statistical information at the provincial level.

“We’ll see where we’re going to be this week,” he said.

Across Ontario

As of February 23, there were 975 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario from February 21.  According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 10,296 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of February 23.

There were 718 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Tuesday.  Out of those patients, 283 were in intensive care, and 186 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 6,884 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of February 23, which was an increase of 12 deaths from February 22.

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit.