Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Monday, November 8, 2021:
- There have been 603,231 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 636 cases from the previous day (VAX: 325 unvaccinated, 15 partially vaccinated, 248 fully vaccinated, 48 unknown). There were 563 cases on Friday and 508 on Saturday. There have been 589,533 people recovered from the virus while 9,898 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 19,154,287 of which 9,364 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total (as of Friday) is 1,727,686. The country has 29,132 deaths from the virus – 10 in the Yukon, 11 in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,201 in British Columbia, 3,142 in Alberta, 863 in Saskatchewan, 1,256 in Manitoba, 9,896 in Ontario, 11,511 in Quebec, 121 in New Brunswick, 16 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 101 in Nova Scotia.
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added 10 cases Friday – one in Prescott-Russell, six in SD&G and three in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 5,851 confirmed cases, of which 57 are active (three more than Thursday) and 5,665 are resolved (six more than Thursday). One death was added Friday to bring the total to 128. There are nine people in hospital (one fewer than Thursday) and three in the ICU (one fewer than Thursday). There are four institutional outbreaks (one more than Thursday). Testing increased 237 to 168,022. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,265 cases (five active), SD&G 1,357 cases (20 active), Cornwall 1,747 cases (24 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 482 cases (eight active)(Akwesasne health department reported no new cases Friday: 485 total cases, three active, nine deaths to date).
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added six cases Friday to bring the regional total to 1,951 confirmed cases, of which 14 are active (three more than Thursday) and 1,873 are recovered (two more than Thursday). One death was added to bring the total to 64. There is one person in hospital (no change from Thursday). There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 436 cases (five active), Lanark County West 435 cases (zero active), Leeds-Grenville Central 241 cases (two active), Leeds-Grenville East 394 cases (four active), Leeds-Grenville West 215 cases (two active) and Unknown/Out of Region 23 cases (one active).
- Vaccines: Ontario 22,606,903 (+12,754, last update Nov. 7); EOHU 331,071 (last update Nov. 5, +282 from previous update Nov. 4); LGL 150,687 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 146,090 with second doses, 2,690 with third doses. (last update Nov. 2, +410 first doses, +988 second doses, +346 third doses since previous update Oct. 26).
- Across the border in St. Lawrence County (which includes Massena, Potsdam, Canton and Ogdensburg), there were 64 new cases Friday to bring the total case count to 12,938. The active case count went up by nine to 495 with most in Massena (93), Potsdam (43), Gouverneur (36) and Ogdensburg (38). Hospitalizations dropped by four to 27. The health department also removed one death to bring the total to 135. Just over 55 per cent of eligible county residents have been vaccinated.
- While the Canada-U.S. border at Hogansburg opens today (Nov. 8) to fully vaccinated people, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe both say they’re “received assurance” from border authorities their members won’t have to provide proof of vaccination. Since many residents travel within the territory between the portions of Ontario, Quebec and New York State, MCA Grand Chief Abram Benedict says “there is an understanding of each other’s goals and the need to cross…regardless of vaccination status or test result.” This is the first time non-essential travel has been allowed across the border since March 2020.
- Buffalo area Congressman Brian Higgins will hold a news conference today with Canadian and American community leaders, urging Canada to drop the pricey molecular COVID-19 test to cross the international border for non-essential reasons. Canada’s chief medial officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says the policy is under review.
- The southern portion of Akwesasne had four new COVID-19 cases Friday to bring the active case count to eight. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal area has had 550 positive cases to date. There are two people in hospital. Just over 55 per cent of eligible residents are vaccinated.
- U.S. federal workers have to be vaccinated by Nov. 22. That’s under President Joe Biden’s executive order. It affects about four million employees. Some workers resisting the mandate have filed lawsuits.
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