Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Monday, November 22, 2021:
- There have been 611,691 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 741 cases from the previous day (VAX: 350 unvaccinated, 20 partially vaccinated, 331 fully vaccinated, 40 unknown). There were 728 cases on Saturday and 793 on Friday. There have been 596,259 people recovered from the virus while 9,967 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 19,535,522 of which 6,884 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total (as of Friday) is 1,762,434. The country has 29,481 deaths from the virus – 12 in the Yukon, 12 in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,293 in British Columbia, 3,211 in Alberta, 908 in Saskatchewan, 1,285 in Manitoba, 9,959 in Ontario, 11,552 in Quebec, 122 in New Brunswick, 17 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 106 in Nova Scotia.
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added 10 cases Friday – one in Prescott-Russell, three in SD&G and six in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 5,974 confirmed cases, of which 72 are active (three more than Thursday) and 5,771 are resolved (seven more than Thursday). The number of deaths to date is 131. There is one person in hospital and zero in the ICU (no change from Thursday). There is one institutional outbreak (one fewer than Thursday). Testing increased 251 to 171,219. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,282 cases (12 active), SD&G 1,379 cases (17 active), Cornwall 1,800 cases (24 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 513 cases (19 active)(Akwesasne health department report as of Thursday: 522 total cases, 23 active, nine deaths to date).
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added eight cases Friday to bring the regional total to 2,030 confirmed cases, of which 36 are active (one fewer than Thursday) and 1,930 are recovered (nine more than Thursday). The number of deaths to date is 64. There are three people in hospital (one more than Thursday) and one in the ICU (one more than Thursday). There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 445 cases (zero active), Lanark County West 462 cases (16 active), Leeds-Grenville Central 252 cases (five active), Leeds-Grenville East 408 cases (eight active), Leeds-Grenville West 230 cases (seven active) and Unknown/Out of Region 26 cases (zero active).
- Vaccines: Ontario 22,802,867 (+11,404, last update Nov. 21); EOHU 335,268 (last update Nov. 19, +517 from previous update Nov. 18); LGL 151,329 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 147,313 with second doses, 3,982 with third doses. (last update Nov. 16, +316 first doses, +605 second doses, +690 third doses since previous update Nov. 9).
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit will hold a briefing with reporters this afternoon (Monday) to share details on vaccinating children five to 11 years old. Health Canada announced Friday it approved the vaccine for young children, saying it is safe and effective. The first shipment of Pfizer arrived in Hamilton yesterday afternoon.
- Across the border in St. Lawrence County, there were 75 new cases Friday to bring the total case count to 13,965. There are 625 active cases in the county, 21 more than Thursday, with most in Gouverneur (92), Canton (73), Massena (73) and Ogdensburg (33). There are 22 people in hospital, one fewer than Thursday. The number of deaths to date is 142. Nearly 56 per cent of the county’s nearly 112,000 residents are vaccinated. The positivity rate is nearly 6.5 per cent.
- The southern portion of Akwesasne added three cases Thursday in the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe territory. There are 13 active cases (three more than Wednesday) and four people in hospital (one more than Wednesday). Forty-six people are quarantined – double the previous day. Just over 55 per cent of eligible Saint Regis residents are vaccinated.
- The Upper Canada school board announced a cluster of Cornwall schools Sunday with new COVID-19 cases associated with them over the weekend. They are Bridgewood Public School, CCVS and Eamer’s Corners Public School as well as Iroquois Public School. All schools are operating normally. On Thursday, the UCDSB previous announced cases associated with Iroquois as well as and Lyn Public School.
- New Brunswick is struggling to contain the fourth wave of the virus. There were 90 new cases on Sunday and 32 people are in hospital – 18 in the ICU. The province now has over 600 active cases.
- The vaccination status of some Members of Parliament will be a hot topic as Parliament gets set to open today. One Quebec Conservative MP has already tested positive for the virus even though he was fully vaccinated.
- Protests in Belgium over COVID-19 measures. Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Brussels to protest government measures aim at stopping the latest spike in cases. Many were against vaccinations and any move to impose mandatory vaccines.
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