The number of active cases of COVID-19 among residents of the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) had decreased to 299 as of Tuesday, April 27 from 357 active cases on Monday, April 26.

As of Tuesday, there were 28 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the EOHU’s territory and six of those patients were in intensive care.

There had been 101 deaths due to COVID-19 across the jurisdiction of the EOHU as of April 27.

Restrictions

The provincewide shutdown and stay-at-home order is to remain in effect for the entire province of Ontario. The Ontario-Québec boundary is also closed to all but the most essential traffic. The restrictions are in effect until May 20.

Ontario statistics

As of April 27, there were 3,265 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario. According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 39,914 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of Tuesday.

There were 2,336 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Monday. Out of those patients, 875 were in intensive care, and 589 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 7,964 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of April 27, which was an increase of 29 deaths from April 26.

Vaccinations

As of April 27, 54,029 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across the jurisdiction of the EOHU.

Vaccination eligibility was expanded to all licensed childcare workers across Ontario as of April 27.

On April 23, vaccination eligibility in Ontario was expanded to include pregnant individuals.

Across Ontario, 4,791,030 vaccine doses had been administered, and 362,563 Ontario residents had been fully vaccinated by receiving both required doses as of April 27.

According to Roumeliotis, 58,000 more individuals across the EOHU’s territory are expected to be vaccinated by May 24. That does not include vaccinations given at pharmacies or medical clinics. The Astra-Zeneca vaccine is available at selected pharmacies to individuals aged 45 and greater. However, as of April 26, the supply of Astra-Zeneca was limited and deliveries were delayed.

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 bookings will be given appointments for first and second doses, 16 weeks apart.

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 the EOHU 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 27:

St-Viateur Nursing Home in Limoges

Residence St-Mathieu in Hammond

Residence Cartier in Bourget

Caressant Care Nursing Home in Bourget

Community Living-Lasalle in Cornwall

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

Open Hands on Second Street in Cornwall

Open Hands on Gage Street in Cornwall

School closures

All schools in Ontario have switched to learning online indefinitely due to the significant number of new cases of COVID-19 among students in recent weeks.

EOHU COVID-19 case map, April 27, 2021