March is beginning with an increase of active cases of COVID-19 among residents of the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU).

On Friday, February 26, there were 116 active cases across the EOHU territory.  On Monday, March 1, there were 129 active cases.

There were six COVID-19 patients from the EOHU’s territory in hospital as of March 1, and zero patients were in intensive care.

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

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis explained on Monday that 93 per cent of the COVID-19 test results from employees at the St-Albert Cheese Cooperative have come back and all were negative.  Last week, three of the first four cases of a COVID-19 variant had been diagnosed in employees at the cheese factory.

Roumeliotis again assured he public that there was no risk to cheese factory customers and that St-Albert products are safe to eat.

Vaccinations

The EOHU reported that as of March 1, 7,274 people across its jurisdiction had been vaccinated against COVID-19.  According to Roumeliotis, the EOHU has been completing the remaining vaccinations of residents and employees at long-term care facilities and retirement residences across its territory.

During the previous weekend, vaccination clinics were held in Rockland, Casselman, and Cornwall for health care workers.

In addition to receiving continued deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine, Roumeliotis said that a “substantial shipment” of the Moderna vaccine to the EOHU is expected in the coming weeks.  He is also optimistic about the approval of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in Canada and the pending approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine which has already been approved in the United States.

School and childcare facility cases

There were active cases of COVID-19 connected with the following schools under EOHU jurisdiction as of March 1:

One staff member at École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury

Two students at Glengarry District High School in Alexandria

One student at École élémentaire catholique St-Joseph in Wendover

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

One individual at Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School

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

One Student at Rothwell-Osnabruck Elementary School in South Stormont

There were zero cases of COVID-19 connected with childcare facilities under EOHU jurisdiction as of Monday.

Long-term care outbreaks

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 as of March 1:

The Palace Long-Term Care in Alexandria

Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge in Cornwall

Woodland Villa in Long Sault

Iakhihsohtha Lodge in Akwesasne

On Monday, Roumeliotis attributed the decrease in COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities to the effectiveness of vaccinating residents and employees.

Orange zone in effect

The EOHU’s territory will remain as 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 .

Across Ontario

As of March 1, there were 1,023 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario.  According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 10,570 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of March 1.

There were 659 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Monday.  Out of those patients, 280 were in intensive care, and 175 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 6,986 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of March 1, which was an increase of six deaths from February 28.

EOHU COVID-19 case map, March 1, 2021

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

EOHU COVID-19 media briefing, March 1, 2021.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N79NspmLDYE