On a day when tough restrictions were announced for the enforcement of the stay-at-home order across Ontario, there were 488 active cases of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) as of Friday, April 16.

There were 36 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the EOHU’s territory as of Friday.  Eight of those patients were in intensive care.

The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 across the area served by the EOHU as of April 16 was 92.

On April 15, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said that 54 per cent of COVID-19 cases across the EOHU’s jurisdiction were variants.

School closures

Students attending public schools across Ontario are currently on their spring break week, which had been rescheduled from March.  In-person classes in all school across the province will not resume on Monday, April 19, and all students will instead be switching to online learning as a result of the significant number of new cases of COVID-19 among students in recent weeks.

Restrictions

A provincewide shutdown and stay-at-home order is to remain in effect for the entire province of Ontario.  On Friday afternoon, Premier Doug Ford announced a series of measures to increase enforcement of the stay-at-home order.  These include giving police or other law enforcement officers the authority to stop vehicles or ask people what their reason is for travelling, and for checkpoints to be set up the provincial boundary restricting traffic into Ontario.

It is technically not allowed for two people who do not live in the same home to walk together on the street unless they are two metres/six feet apart.  Outdoor gatherings of more than five people who are not from the same home are prohibited.

Ontario statistics

As of April 16, there were 4,812 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario.  According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 39,977 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of Friday.

There were 1,955 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Friday.  Out of those patients, 701 were in intensive care, and 480 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 7,664 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of April 16.

Vaccinations

As of April 16, 37,889 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across the jurisdiction of the EOHU and 3,644,038 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across Ontario and 341,933 Ontario residents had been fully vaccinated by receiving both required doses.

At a recent COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hawkesbury, problems with the booking system led to long delays and lines.  Roumeliotis said on April 15 that the problems with the system should be resolved and that the individuals who faced delays for their first dose will not encounter the same issue when they go for their second dose.

The largest vaccination clinics yet held by the EOHU took place recently in Rockland and Casselman.  There were 1,000 people vaccinated at each location.  Eight clinics per week for the next four weeks are scheduled across EOHU communities.  Additional pharmacies are being added to those providing the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, including one in Rockland.  Pharmacies in Hawkesbury and Embrun are already providing COVID-19 vaccinations.  Vaccine doses are also being increased to doctor’s offices across the EOHU’s territory.

Within the EOHU’s jurisdiction, Ontario residents 60 years of age and older may 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.

Across the EOHU’s territory, 34 vaccination clinics are scheduled until May 7 and 1,500 to 2,000 people may be vaccinated at each one.  Roumeliotis estimated on April 15 that up to 30,000 more people may be vaccinated by the first week of May.

The EOHU has launched an online pre-registration tool and asking all remaining individuals listed within the province’s Phase One 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

Ontario’s vaccine booking system is accepting vaccine bookings for individuals who will be turning 60 or older in 2021 (born in 1961 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 1961 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 1961 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.

EOHU Pre-Registration Tool

Those who are not in the 60+ 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 https://eohu.ca/en/covid/welcome-to-the-eohu-online-covid-19-vaccination-pre-registration-portal .

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.

Institutional outbreaks

The following hospitals, long-term care, retirement residences, and group home facilities under EOHU jurisdiction also had COVID-19 outbreaks as of April 16:

Hawkesbury and District General Hospital CCU Unit only

Hawkesbury and District General Hospital East Wing

Caressant Care Nursing Home in Bourget

St-Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre –Complex Continuing Care side in Cornwall

Open Hands on Gage Street in Cornwall

EOHU COVID-19 case map, April 16, 2021

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit