COVID-19 statistics were not available from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) on Monday, January 17. The health unit is changing its online reporting of cases and hospitalizations to better reflect the actual situation in communities and changes to testing protocols. However, on January 17, the Ontario Ministry of Health reported active COVID-19 cases across the EOHU’s jurisdiction had decreased to 1,697 confirmed, reported cases. The numbers indicate the number of confirmed, reported active cases across the EOHU’s territory have decreased in recent days after going as high as 2,758 cases on January 11. 

Specific statistics for the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 who live in the area served by the EOHU were not available from the Ministry of Health on January 17. However, the EOHU did report on January 17 that COVID-19 outbreaks remained in effect at Hawkesbury and District General Hospital and at Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria. As of Monday, there was also a COVID-19 outbreak at Cornwall Community Hospital. 

Across Ontario as of January 17, there were 8,521 new cases of COVID-19. There were 3,887 COVID-19 patients in hospital, and 578 of those patients were in intensive care due to COVID-19-related illness as of Monday.   

Institutional outbreaks 

On January 17, the EOHU reported active COVID-19 outbreaks at 39 long-term care centres, retirement homes, and group living facilities. Outbreaks are in effect at the following 20 facilities in Prescott and Russell and North Glengarry: 

Residence Cameron in Hawkesbury 

Prescott-Russell Residence in Hawkesbury 

Place Mont-Roc in Hawkesbury 

Manoir Carillon in Chute-à-Blondeau 

Manoir Caledonia in St-Isidore 

Pension du Bonheur in Alfred 

Pinecrest Nursing Home in Plantagenet 

Community Living- Dominion St. Residence in Alexandria 

Community Living Glengarry Yanik Street Residence in Alexandria 

Maxville Manor 

Valoris Le Domaine in Casselman 

Residence Limoges 

Foyer St-Viateur Nursing Home in Limoges 

Caressant Care Nursing Home in Bourget 

Centre d’Acceuil Roger Séguin in Clarence Creek 

Oasis Residence Simon in Rockland 

Rockland Manor 

Jardins Belle Rive in Rockland 

Russell Meadows Retirement Home 

Foyer St-Jacques in Embrun 

The COVID-19 outbreaks at Heritage Lodge in Vankleek Hill and at Community Living- Bishop St. Residence in Alexandria are now over. 

Back to school 

In-person classes for all students in publicly funded schools resumed on Tuesday, January 18. Classes had been set to resume on January 17 after a delay due to the omicron variant wave following the Christmas break. However, the blizzard on Monday meant local students were learning at home for one more day. The Ministry of Education is no longer listing COVID-19 cases associated with schools. Rates of absenteeism will instead be used as an indicator of possible COVID-19 cases among students and staff. 

COVID-19 measures presently in effect across Ontario 

Due to the present wave of the omicron variant of COVID-19, a modified version of Step 2 of the Ontario government’s Roadmap to Reopen program is in effect until at least January 26.  

  • Social gatherings are limited to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors 
  • Organized public events are limited to five people indoors 
  • Businesses and organizations are required to ensure employees work remotely as much as possible 
  • Indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments is not permitted 
  • Capacity restrictions of 50 per cent are in place for retail settings, certain personal care services and libraries.  

Indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies are limited to 50 per cent capacity of the room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance. 

Business and service closures 

The following services and settings are temporarily closed: 

  • Indoor meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions 
  • Indoor concert venues, theatres, cinemas; rehearsals and recorded performances permitted with restrictions 
  • Indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms 
  • Museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals (outdoor establishments permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity) 
  • Indoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues 

Isolation Period 

Fully vaccinated individuals who have COVID-19, as well as children under 12, must isolate for five days from the onset of symptoms. Their household members must also isolate for five days. Contacts from outside the affected household must self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days. 

Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or immunocompromised must isolate for 10 days. 

Staff who work in high-risk health care settings can return to work after 10 days from their date of diagnosis, or after seven days with a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result.  

Booster booking 

All Ontario residents aged 18 and older are eligible to receive a third, COVID-19 vaccine booster. To book your appointment through your local public health unit, call 1-833-943-3900 or go to https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/ . 

Booster vaccinations are also being offered by local doctor’s offices and at pharmacies in Alexandria, Alfred, Bourget, Casselman, Embrun, Hawkesbury (Asselin Independent, Pharmasave, Shoppers Drug Mart, Guardian), Limoges, Plantagenet, Russell, St-Isidore, and Vankleek Hill. Contact each pharmacy to make an appointment.