Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Wednesday, December 8, 2021:
- There have been 625,312 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 928 cases from the previous day (VAX: 424 unvaccinated, 26 partially vaccinated, 401 fully vaccinated, 77 unknown). There have been 606,797 people recovered from the virus while 10,036 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 20,010,049 of which 17,087 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total is 1,815,215. The country has 29,827 deaths from the virus – 14 in the Yukon, 12 in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,363 in British Columbia, 3,268 in Alberta, 934 in Saskatchewan, 1,338 in Manitoba, 10,036 in Ontario, 11,594 in Quebec, 136 in New Brunswick, 18 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 110 in Nova Scotia.
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added 15 cases Tuesday – one in Prescott-Russell, nine in SD&G and five in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 6,147 confirmed cases, of which 89 are active (three fewer than Monday) and 5,927 are resolved (18 more than Monday). The number of deaths to date is 131. There are three people in hospital (one fewer than Monday) and one in the ICU (two fewer than Monday). There are no institutional outbreaks. Testing increased 334 to 174,825. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,297 cases (11 active), SD&G 1,447 cases (27 active), Cornwall 1,890 cases (32 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 513 cases (19 active)(Akwesasne health department reported no new cases Tuesday: 584 total cases, 17 active, nine deaths to date).
- The EOHU’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis says all three people currently in the hospital were not fully vaccinated. He says most of the 89 active cases in the region are from a “very big” and “major” outbreak in a manufacturing plant. The Morrisburg Leader has identified the location as Lactalis in Ingleside. The doctor adds that “close to 35 cases if not more” that were in the community as the result of close contact to plant workers.
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added six cases Tuesday to bring the regional total to 2,126 confirmed cases, of which 39 are active (two more than Monday) and 2,022 are recovered (four more than Monday). The number of deaths to date is 65. There are three people in hospital (no change from Monday) and one in the ICU (no change from Monday). There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 455 cases (four active), Lanark County West 480 cases (two active), Leeds-Grenville Central 278 cases (13 active), Leeds-Grenville East 424 cases (nine active), Leeds-Grenville West 252 cases (10 active) and Unknown/Out of Region 30 cases (one active).
- Vaccines: Ontario 24,076,464 (+26,136, last update Dec. 7); EOHU 345,698 (last update Dec. 7, +904 from previous update Dec. 6); LGL 154,443 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 149,083 with second doses, 11,784 with third doses. (last update Dec. 5, +1,702 first doses, +347 second doses, +3,991 third doses since previous update Nov. 28).
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit says it’s already gives COVID-19 vaccines to 16 per cent of its younger population of kids aged five to 11. That’s roughly 2,750 children. Local Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis says the most recent school-based walk-in clinics in Iroquois and Russell were “great” saw over 310 attendees.
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit says there’s been a “significant increase” in COVID-19 cases in the central section of Leeds-Grenville, primarily in the City of Brockville. The health unit put out guidelines for limiting the spread of the virus and was “strongly urging” businesses and services to follow coronavirus precautions, given the increased foot traffic during the Christmas shopping season.
- The latest projections show Ontario could see 3,000 daily COVID-19 cases and 400 people in intensive care by the middle of January. Those number don’t include any effect of the Omicron variant, first discovered in South Africa. The projections would pan out if people continue their current behaviour and 30 per cent of children aged five to 11 are vaccinated by the end of the month. The COVID-19 Science Advisory Table believes the impact from the variant could be “substantial.”
- The Ontario government is extending the pause on lifting capacity limits for higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required like venues that having dancing, including bars, night clubs and wedding reception halls. Also on the list are strip clubs and sex clubs. The move was made after consultation with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore.
- Saskatchewan is opening up booster shot availability those who are 50 and older. It’s also open to adults from the far north of the province and from First Nations communities and health care workers.
- Saying it’s moving ahead of schedule, B.C. health officials will open booster COVID-19 shots to people 65 and older this week. The province had four new cases from the weekend identified as the Omicron variant.
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