Ontario
Ontario reported 3,453 cases Tuesday, up from 1,429 a week ago and 928 the Tuesday before that.
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The Ontario COVID-19 Science Table, a panel of doctors who advise the provincial government, noted on its dashboard that the Omicron variant now accounts for at least 88 per cent of all positive cases, up from Friday when it was around 50 per cent.
While patients with COVID in ICUs have remained stable, on an overall slow rise, experts have said it could take two weeks after a surge in cases to see impacts on hospitalizations/ICUs.
Of the 3,453 new cases recorded, the data showed 673 were unvaccinated people, 132 were partially vaccinated people, 2,500 were fully vaccinated people and for 148 people the vaccination status was unknown.
According to Tuesday’s report, 901 cases were recorded in Toronto, 359 in Ottawa, 345 in York Region, 280 in Peel Region, 245 in Halton Region, 168 in Waterloo and 160 in Durham Region. All other local public health units reported fewer than 160 new cases. Data reported by the province does not necessarily match up with daily counts provided by local health units.
Ten deaths were reported on Tuesday.
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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 impacted.
On Tuesday, Southwestern Public Health reported:
5,997 total cases (an increase of 35, with one case removed due to data cleanup)
318 active cases (an increase of five)
5,569 resolved cases (an increase of 27)
110 deaths to date (an increase of two)
The deaths reported Tuesday 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.
Further details can be found on SWPH’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Of the 318 active cases in the region, 138 were in Elgin County (including 80 in St. Thomas, 16 in Central Elgin and 13in Aylmer) and 180 were in Oxford County (including 73 in Woodstock, 25 in Ingersoll and 20 in Tillsonburg).
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Eight people were hospitalized with COVID-19, with three in the ICU as of Tuesday.
An outbreak at Caressant Care Bonnie Place in St. Thomas declared Nov. 28 is ongoing. It involves 11 resident cases and nine staff cases. One death is 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
A previous outbreak at Immanuel Christian School in Aylmer, declared Dec. 2, is now listed as over.
Information on school cases can be found on the websites of the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board.
The region’s test positivity rate was 4.7 per cent for the week of Dec. 5, down from 5.3 per cent for the week of Nov. 28.
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As of Dec. 19, 75.9 per cent of those aged five and older in the region were fully vaccinated while 80.6 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 Tuesday, Huron Perth Public Health reported:
2,833 total cases (an increase of 12)
88 active cases (a decrease of 24)
2,675 recoveries (an increase of 36)
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 88 active cases, 23 were in North Perth, 115 were in North Perth, 14 in Stratford and 12 in St. Marys. Full case counts by the municipality can be found on the health unit’s dashboard.
There were four people hospitalized with COVID-19 and one active case involving a health-care worker as of Tuesday.
HPPH has nine active outbreaks involving eight schools and one workplace:
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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.
The region’s test positivity rate was 4.5 per cent for the week of Dec. 5, up from 2.9 per cent for the week of Nov. 28.
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 Tuesday, Lambton Public Health (LPH) reported:
4,703 total cases (an increase of 20)
149 active cases (a decrease of 11)
4,475 resolved cases (an increase of 30)
79 deaths to date (an increase of one)
No information was immediately available about the death reported Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, there were 14 COVID-19 patients in the care of Bluewater Health.
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.
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The test positivity rate was 3.6 per cent for the week of Dec. 5, up from 3.9 per cent the week prior.
Among area residents aged five and older, 80 per cent have had at least one dose while 76 per cent have had two doses. Thirteen 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.
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
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