For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

March 8, 2022

To ensure everyone has current information, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health will be providing regular COVID-19 updates.

For more information please review our website or call 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803

Updates

Epidemiological

Publicly funded PCR testing is now limited to symptomatic high-risk individuals, and individuals who work in high-risk settings. This change came into effect on Dec. 31, 2021 and as a result, positive cases confirmed by PCR testing will underestimate the true number of individuals with COVID-19 in the community.

• As of March 7, 2022 Hastings and Prince Edward Counties have 162 active high-risk cases and HPEPH is reporting a total of 44 deaths in the region. There were 64 new high-risk cases reported on March 7.
  • There are 8 local high-risk settings experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak; additional outbreak details can be found online.
  • More information is available on our website hpePublicHealth.ca
• Vaccinations among residents 5 and older:
  • First Dose: 146,139 (89%)
  • Second Dose: 135,369 (82%)
• Ontario is reporting 1,208 new cases today. 779 individuals are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Ontario with 246 individuals in the ICU due to COVID-19 related illness.
• In Canada, as of March 8, 2022, there are 3,331,670 total cases of COVID-19 with 113,187 active cases and 3,181,444 resolved. To date, there have been 37,039 COVID-19 related deaths and more than 58,539,142 individuals tested.

Summary of cases of COVID-19: Ontario, January 15, 2020 to March 7, 2022

Local Updates

Regular Clinic Locations and Schedules

Walk-ins are available at all clinic locations. View the clinic details below for schedules.

First and second doses for all eligible individuals aged 5 and over. Boosters are available for individuals aged 18 and over 84 days after receiving a second dose. Individuals aged 12-17 are now eligible for booster doses 168 days after receiving their second dose.

Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre 265 Cannifton Rd, Belleville

• Thursday, March 10 – 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm (closed 4:30 – 5 pm)
• Friday, March 11 – 9:30 am to 2:30 pm (closed 12 – 1 pm)
• Saturday, March 12 – 9:30 am to 2:30 pm (closed 12 – 1 pm)
• Friday, March 18 – 9:30 am to 2:30 pm (closed 12 – 1 pm)

Prince Edward Community Centre 375 Main St, Picton

• Thursdays from 12 pm to 6 pm

Bancroft Hospital Professional Building

• Every Tuesday in March from 1pm to 6pm

Please note, new clinic dates and times are updated regularly. Please view the HPEPH COVID-19 Vaccines Page for the latest information.

Provincial

The following changes to public health and workplace safety measures are in effect as of March 1, 2022. For the full list of measures in effect, see O. Reg. 364/20.

• capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings
• proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted
• businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry
• other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place
• businesses and organizations that are open must continue to have safety plans in place

Federal

Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on March 4, 2022

• During the latest 7 day period (Feb 25-Mar 3, 2022), an average of 5,663 new cases were reported daily across Canada, a 5% decrease compared to the week prior. Laboratory test positivity during the latest 7 day period (Feb 23-Mar 1, 2022) remained at 11%, indicating still widespread activity across the country.
• The latest provincial and territorial data show that an average of 5,153 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Feb 25-Mar 3, 2022), which is 15% lower than last week. This includes, on average, 618 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU) daily, which is a 16% decrease compared to the prior week, and an average of 58 deaths were reported daily (Feb 25-Mar 3, 2022).
• The latest provincial and territorial data indicate that over 80% of the total population are now fully vaccinated. Age-specific vaccine coverage data, as of February 27, 2022, show that over 88% of people 12 years or older have at least one dose and over 84% are fully vaccinated, while among children aged 5-11 years of age, 57% have at least one dose.

• As of March 2, 2022, over 88% of individuals aged 12 and older in First Nations, Inuit and territorial communities have received a second dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and 27% have received a third/booster shot. Over 50% of individuals aged 5 to 11 have received at least one dose.
• As of March 2, 2022, the following case counts have been reported from First Nations communities:
  • 86,866 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, of which 11,777 are the Omicron variant
  • 2,975 active cases
  • 2,989 hospitalizations
  • 83,227 recovered cases
  • 664 deaths

Government of Canada announces the new public health plan for cruise ships

• As Canada welcomes the first cruise ships back to Canadian waters in April, Transport Canada, working alongside partners, has developed a comprehensive public health plan for cruise ships, including:
  • Crew and passengers being required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
  • Crew and passengers being required to self-monitor for symptoms;
  • Passengers being required to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72-hours before boarding a cruise ship OR take an antigen test within one day of boarding a cruise ship; and
  • Passengers being required to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72-hours before arriving in Canada or taking an antigen test within one day of the scheduled arrival.
• The Government of Canada is adjusting travel advice for cruise ship travel and continues to advise travellers to proceed with caution.

Health Canada authorizes Medicago COVID-19 vaccine for adults 18 to 64 years of age

• Health Canada authorized Medicago's Covifenz COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 in adults 18 to 64 years of age.
• This is the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Canadian-based company, and the first that uses a plant-based protein technology. Medicago's Covifenz is authorized as a two-dose regimen of 3.75 micrograms per dose, to be administered 21 days apart.

Government of Canada signs new COVID-19 antibody therapy agreement

• The government has signed a new conditional agreement with AstraZeneca for 100,000 doses of its antibody therapy, Evusheld, for the prevention (pre-exposure prophylaxis) of COVID-19. The antibody therapy is under review by Health Canada for use in specific high-risk patient populations, such as people who are immunocompromised. Health Canada is currently prioritizing the review of all COVID-19 vaccines and drugs.

Legislation to support low-income seniors who received pandemic benefits receives royal assent

• Bill C-12, which amends the Old Age Security Act to exclude any income received under the CERB, the CRB, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit for the purposes of calculating the amount of GIS and Allowance payable beginning in July 2022 has received royal assent.

New investments for COVID-19 impact research will support an equitable pandemic recovery for all Canadians

• In an effort to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equity seeking communities, the Government of Canada is investing $26.3 million in 69 new research projects across the country.
• These projects will focus on the impact of the pandemic on Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, as well as children and youth, and people living with HIV, mental illness, and chronic health conditions.