Ontario
The province reported 4,383 cases Wednesday, the highest one-day increase since 4,505 were reported April 23.
Of the 4,383 new cases recorded, the data showed 746 were unvaccinated people, 172 were partially vaccinated people, 3,243 were fully vaccinated people and for 222 people the vaccination status was unknown.
Patients with COVID in ICUs (intensive care units) have remained relatively stable but are overall on a slow rise. Experts have said it could take up to two weeks or more following a surge in new cases to see a sharper rise in hospitalizations/ICUs.
Ten deaths were reported Wednesday.
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Elgin and Oxford
Up to six individuals may have received saline solution instead of COVID-19 vaccine on Nov. 30 at SWPH’s mass vaccination site in St. Thomas, officials confirmed to Global News. The health unit says it is working to identify and notify those affected.
On Wednesday, Southwestern Public Health reported:
6,026 total cases (an increase of 29)
328 active cases (an increase of 10)
5,588 resolved cases (an increase of 19)
110 deaths to date (unchanged)
The most recent deaths were reported Tuesday, Dec. 21 and involved a woman in her 100s from St. Thomas and a woman in her 80s from Oxford County.
Southwestern Public Health says as of Dec. 16, all cases “will be automatically closed after 10 days of a positive result,” regardless of their outcome.
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Further details can be found on SWPH’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Of the 328 active cases in the region, 147 were in Elgin County (including 84 in St. Thomas, 20 in Central Elgin and 14 in Aylmer) and 181 were in Oxford County (including 76 in Woodstock, 25 in Ingersoll and 20 in Tillsonburg).
Eleven people were hospitalized with COVID-19, with four in the ICU as of Wednesday.
An outbreak at Caressant Care Bonnie Place in St. Thomas declared Nov. 28 is ongoing. It involves 11 resident cases and nine staff cases. Two deaths are associated with the outbreak.
SWPH is reporting outbreaks at the following schools:
St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School in West Lorne, declared Dec. 10
Hickson Central Public School in Hickson, declared Dec. 15
Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute in Ingersoll, declared Dec. 15
King’s Academy Private School in St. Thomas, declared Dec. 16
St. Joseph High School in St. Thomas, declared Dec. 17
St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School, declared Dec. 19
Westfield Public School in Tillsonburg, declared Dec. 19
Mitchell Hepburn Public School, declared Dec. 20
Dunwich Dutton Public School in Dutton, declared Dec. 21
Oliver Stephens Public School in Woodstock, declared Dec. 21
Information on school cases can be found on the websites of the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board.
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The region’s test positivity rate was 6.8 per cent for the week of Dec. 12, up from 4.6 per cent for the week of Dec. 5.
As of Dec. 21, 76.0 per cent of those aged five and older in the region were fully vaccinated while 80.8 per cent have had at least one dose.
Information on where and how to get vaccinated can be found on the health unit’s website.
Huron and Perth
On Wednesday, Huron Perth Public Health reported:
2,869 total cases (an increase of 36)
119 active cases (an increase of 31)
2,680 recoveries (an increase of five)
70 deaths to date (unchanged)
The most recent death was reported Nov. 29 and involved a community member connected to a workplace outbreak, according to a spokesperson for the health unit.
Among the 119 active cases, 23 were in North Perth, 26 were in Stratford, 22 in North Perth and 16 in St. Marys. Full case counts by the municipality can be found on the health unit’s dashboard.
There were three people hospitalized with active COVID-19 and six cases currently hospitalized. HPPH is now reporting the numbers separately, with “all currently hospitalized” including the active cases and cases deemed non-active who are in hospital. There were also two cases case involving health-care workers as of Wednesday.
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HPPH has nine active outbreaks involving eight schools and one workplace:
Clinton Public School in Central Huron, declared Dec. 13 and involving one staff member and two students
Elma Township Public School in North Perth, declared Nov. 23 and involving 26 students
Howick Central Public School in Howick, declared Dec. 15 and involving three student cases
Listowel District Secondary School in North Perth, declared Dec. 16 and involving two staff and three student cases
Little Falls Public School in St. Marys, declared Dec. 14 and involving four students
Milverton Public School in Perth East, declared Dec. 9 and involving four students
North Perth Westfield ES in North Perth, declared Nov. 30 and involving one staff member and 11 students
St. Josephs Catholic Elementary Public School in Stratford, declared Dec. 13 and involving two students
No further information was provided about the workplace outbreak.
Data on school cases can be found on the websites of the Avon-Maitland District School Board and the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board.
As of Dec. 19, 82.1 per cent of residents aged five and older have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while 77.4 per cent are fully vaccinated. Third dose coverage stands at 15.7 per cent.
The region’s test positivity rate was 3.8 per cent for the week of Dec. 12, down from 4.5 per cent for the week of Dec. 5.
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Information on how and where to get a vaccine can be found on the health unit’s website.
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Sarnia and Lambton
On Wednesday, Lambton Public Health (LPH) reported:
4,739 total cases (an increase of 36)
173 active cases (an increase of 24)
4,487 resolved cases (an increase of 12)
79 deaths to date (unchanged)
The most recent death was reported Tuesday, Dec. 21. No further information was provided.
As of Wednesday, there were 14 COVID-19 patients in the care of Bluewater Health.
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LPH is reporting nine active outbreaks, seven of which are at unidentified workplaces.
Bright’s Grove Public School, declared Dec. 10 and involving 10 cases
John Knox Christian School, declared Dec. 10 and involving five cases
an unidentified workplace declared Dec. 15, involving four cases
four unidentified workplaces, all declared Dec. 16 and involving two cases each
an unidentified workplace, declared Dec. 17 and involving two cases
an unidentified workplace, declared Dec. 17 and involving three cases
All active cases at schools within the Lambton Kent District School Board can be found online, as can cases at schools within the St. Clair Catholic District School Board.
Read more: Ontario offers rebate for some businesses’ property tax and energy bills due to COVID restrictions
The test positivity rate was 6.8 per cent for the week of Dec. 12, up from 3.6 per cent for the week of Dec. 5.
Among area residents aged five and older, 80 per cent have had at least one dose while 76 per cent have had two doses. Fourteen per cent have had a third dose.
Residents can book and re-book COVID-19 vaccine appointments or find information on vaccine availability at pharmacies using the health unit’s registration page. People can also contact the vaccine call centre at 226-254-8222.
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Those who are able to get vaccinated on short notice are encouraged to sign up for Lambton Public Health’s daily Vaccine Standby List.
— with files from Global News’ Gabby Rodrigues
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
