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Hastings and Prince Edward’s Public Health reported declining active cases of COVID-19 and related hospitalizations, but also the death of another senior citizen.
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The death of a person at least 70 years old is the 55th death from a pandemic in the region and the 45th in this age group. Health officials, who did not provide further details on individual cases or deaths, noted a loss when updating their website on Thursday.
There were 56 new cases in high-risk conditions, for a total of 274 cases active in these conditions – at least since the end of March.
Outbreaks in such settings amount to 14, one more than on Tuesday, the date of the last update.
The congregation living facility at Belleville and the Thanet unit at Banksroft’s Hastings Centennial Manor were the sites of the latest outbreaks. There were also outbreaks in six other community homes in Belleville, Quint West and Prince Edward County, and five other long-term care homes or retirees. The outbreak at Trenton Memorial Hospital continued.
The health unit, like others, no longer lists the number of outbreak cases, citing provincial changes in testing that took effect in January.
Medical officer Dr. Ethan Tumishi said the vaccination was “so critical” in those conditions.
“It changed the impact of these outbreaks and cases.”
As health department staff inspect every outbreak, he said, they are actively looking for cases and can find evidence of cases that are no longer active.
For this reason, he said, the total number of detected cases “will not reflect how many cases are actually in the home at once” and therefore may not give a true picture of “the immediate risk or spread that may occur” at the time.
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Hospitalizations of COVID-positive patients fell from 40 on Tuesday to 32 on Thursday, four of them in intensive care, an increase of one.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the county health council, Belleville Coun. Thompson grenade – replacement of the count. Sean Kelly – asked about the development of vaccines against COVID-19 for people under five.
“Active clinical trials are being completed by vaccine manufacturers,” Tumishey said.
He said he was “optimistic” that vaccination for younger people would be available “sometime soon”, but did not specify a date.
Meanwhile, he said, the region is now “elsewhere” in the pandemic, which is not over. He continued to encourage people to receive booster doses.
“The vast majority of people have absolutely stepped up to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Tumishei said.
“Community action saved lives.”
For more information on COVID-19, including vaccination, testing and support, visit hpepublichealth.ca.
Free, confidential mental health support for all kinds of problems is available by calling the Quinte Health Care Crisis Response Center at 613-969-7400 ext. 2753 or 1-888-757-7766 or the Addiction and Mental Health Services of 310-OPEN (6736).
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