Active COVID-19 cases among residents of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s (EOHU) jurisdiction increased during the previous weekend from 148 active cases on Friday, March 12 to 167 cases as of Monday, March 15.

There were also 15 COVID-19 patients from the EOHU’s territory in hospital, and three patients were in intensive care as of Monday.

The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 across the area served by the EOHU as of Monday remained at 69.

On Monday, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said that 28.4 per cent of the active COVID-19 cases across the EOHU’s jurisdiction as of Monday were a Variant of Concern (VOC) and equalled approximately 40 cases.  He said most of the variant cases are of the one which originated in the United Kingdom.

The EOHU’s territory remains an orange zone under Ontario’s COVID-19 measures framework, although due to the number of cases, Roumeliotis said the territory is still close to the threshold of becoming a red zone.  For full details on orange zone restrictions, go to https://eohu.ca/en/covid/covid-19-response-framework .

Vaccinations

As of March 15, 15,324 people across the jurisdiction of the EOHU had been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ontario residents 80 years of age and older can now book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment using Ontario’s online booking system. In accordance with the latest recommendations, those booking will be given appointments for first and second doses, 16 weeks apart.

In addition, the EOHU is launching an online pre-registration tool and asking all remaining individuals listed within the province’s Phase 1 priority populations, who have not yet been vaccinated or not yet booked an appointment, to pre-register. Pre-registration facilitates booking appointments quickly and easily as vaccine supply increases and more appointments become available.

Provincial Online Booking System

On March 15at  8a.m., Ontario’s vaccine booking system began accepting vaccine bookings for individuals who will be turning 80 or older in 2021 (born in 1941 or earlier). Booking is available at www.Ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Individuals who require assistance with booking can call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488.

The booking system will screen for eligibility based on age using health card information. Appointments can be made by an individual or with the help of family or an informal caregiver (note: family/informal caregivers born after 1941 cannot book an appointment for themselves at this time, however, they may use the EOHU Pre-Registration tool to pre-register for an appointment).

If you have a family member or provide care to someone who was born in 1941 or before, please encourage them to get vaccinated. Vaccinations will be available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at vaccine clinics being held across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry; the United Counties of Prescott-Russell; and the City of Cornwall. Alternate arrangements will be made for individuals who notify us of barriers preventing them from physically going to a clinic.

On Monday, March 15, the EOHU has received notice from the Ontario government that some COVID-19 vaccination clinic locations had yet to be entered into their booking system.  Roumeliotis said that as of Monday afternoon, the technical problems had been resolved.

EOHU Pre-Registration Tool

Those who are not in the 80+ age group, but who are eligible for the vaccine based on the Phase 1 priority populations, must first pre-register using the EOHU online pre-registration tool at www.EOHU.ca/register.

Once vaccine supply permits, those who have pre-registered will receive a code that will give them access to the provincial booking system.

Please note that pre-registration does not guarantee that you will get an appointment immediately. You may not get your appointment booking code for a week or longer, depending on vaccine supply.

Ongoing Collaboration

The EOHU is asking the public to please help them keep the online tools and phone lines available for those who are eligible to book an appointment. Cooperation from the public will go a long way to help ensure local vaccination clinics can operate efficiently and effectively.

It remains extremely important to continue following public health precautions – even if you have received the vaccine – until a large majority of residents in our region have been vaccinated.

For the latest updates about COVID-19 vaccines, including which population groups are eligible to receive it and how to access it, please regularly visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s website at www.EOHU.ca/vaccines.

What’s next for vaccination

Phase II of the COVID-19 vaccination program is set to begin across Ontario at the beginning of April which will further expand the eligibility of citizens to be vaccinated.  Roumeliotis said on March 15 that the second dose vaccinations for long-term care and retirement home residents across the EOHU’s jurisdiction will be completed this week.

Roumeliotis is also anticipating increased deliveries of the Moderna vaccine during the coming weeks.

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 15:

Maxville Manor

The Palace Long-Term Care in Alexandria

Heartwood Long Term Care in Cornwall

Baldwin House in Cornwall

Chartwell McConnell in Cornwall

Woodland Villa in Long Sault

School and childcare facility cases

There were active cases of COVID-19 connected with the following schools under EOHU jurisdiction as of March 15:

One student at Rockland Intermediate School

One staff member at École élémentaire catholique Sacré-Coeur in Clarence-Rockland

One student École intermédiaire catholique Pavillon L’Escale in Clarence-Rockland

One student at Iona Academy in South Glengarry

One student at École élémentaire catholique de l’Ange-Gardien in South Glengarry

One student at École élémentaire publique Rose-des-vents in Cornwall

One student at St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School in Cornwall

One staff member at Bishop Macdonell Catholic School in Cornwall

One student at North Stormont Public School

One student at Longue Sault Public School in South Stormont

One student at St. Andrew’s Catholic School in South Stormont

There were active cases of COVID-19 connected with a childcare facility under EOHU jurisdiction at the following locations as of Monday, March 15:

One child at Centre éducatif Ste-Lucie in South Stormont

Across Ontario

As of March 15, there were 1,268 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario.  According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 12,528 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of Monday.

There were 699 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Monday.  Out of those patients, 298 were in intensive care, and 187 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 7,162 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of March 15.

EOHU COVID-19 cases, March 15, 2021.

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit.