For Municipal Partners

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Municipal Partners

August 10, 2021

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

• Hastings and Prince Edward Counties have 1,180 cumulative lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 24 active, 1,144 resolved and 12 deceased. There were 6 new cases reported yesterday.
  • There is no local long-term care facility experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak; additional outbreak details can be found online.
  • More information is available on our website hpePublicHealth.ca
• VOCs: 504
• 7 day case rate: 13.7 per 100,000                         ~ Positivity Rate: 1.4%
• Individuals with first dose:  122,562                     ~ Fully vaccinated individuals to date:  101,500

Vaccinations by Client Location - Dose 1 (as at August 9, 2021)

• Ontario is reporting 321 new cases (267 of which are in unvaccinated individuals) and 2 deaths today.

• In Canada, as at August 9, 2021, there are 1,442,087 total cases of COVID-19 with 12,052 active cases and 1,403,357 recovered. To date, there have been 26,678 COVID-19 related deaths and more than 39,024,434 individuals tested.

Summary of cases of COVID-19: Ontario, January 15, 2020 to August 8, 2021

Beyond COVID-19: Help us expand the focus of this bulletin!

While the COVID-19 pandemic has provided many opportunities to strengthen our partnerships with municipalities, healthy communities are more than infectious diseases. We would like to provide our municipal partners with relevant and interesting information about health issues and solutions which affect our local communities.

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Local Updates

Upcoming Vaccination Clinics - 12+ years of age

Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre August 9 – 20

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursdays – 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Fridays – 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Prince Edward Community Centre July 29 – August 26

Every Monday and Thursday – 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Bancroft Legion Br 181 August 10 – August 31

Every Tuesday – 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Madoc Township 15651 Highway 62, Eldorado

Wednesday, August 11 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please note all clinics are now offering walk-ins for all individuals age 12 and over for first and second doses. Walk-in schedules have be posted on the HPEPH website through the month of August. Clinic dates and times may be subject to change, and new clinics may be added throughout the month. See our Booking and Eligibility page for up-to-date information.

Provincial

Ontario Rolls Out Vaccine Clinic on Wheels

• Converted GO buses will travel to events and community hubs, making it easier and more convenient to receive COVID-19 vaccine.
• Two GO buses have been temporarily retrofitted to serve as mobile vaccine clinics as part of the province’s last mile strategy to target those who have yet to receive a first or second dose.
• The GO-VAXX buses will travel to malls, festivals, community hubs and events throughout the summer and fall across the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region.
• No appointments are needed, and anyone aged 12 and over can get their first or second dose while supplies last.
• The mobile clinics are fully accessible and will be administering the Pfizer vaccine.

Ontario Further Improving School Ventilation

• The Ontario government announced additional funding of $25 million to further improve ventilation in schools as students return for in-person learning this fall.
• This additional funding, which brings the net new investments in school ventilation to $600 million, will ensure that all occupied classrooms, gyms, libraries and other instructional spaces without mechanical ventilation have standalone high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter units in place when students are back in class, including Junior and Senior Kindergarten classrooms in mechanically ventilated schools to recognize that the youngest learners will not be wearing masks in the classroom.

Ontario Invests in Advanced PPE Material Made in London

• BIOSA Technologies is investing over $1.23 million in the development, manufacturing and distribution of non-woven filtration material for N95 and N99 mask production and other PPE products, with support of more than $615,000 provided through the Ontario Together Fund.
• BIOSA, a biotechnology research and development firm, developed a filtration product with a pore size that is a fifth the size of the pores in current N95 masks, providing reliable anti-viral and anti-bacterial protection even when wet, unlike current medical-grade masks.
• Composed from excess agricultural waste, the material is resistant to humidity, can be worn for extended periods, is compostable and can be cleaned for future use.

Ontario Ramping Up Efforts to Reduce Surgical Wait Times

• The Ontario government is investing up to $324 million in new funding to enable Ontario’s hospitals and community health sector to perform more surgeries, MRI and CT scans and procedures, including on evenings and weekends, as part of a wider, comprehensive surgical recovery plan to provide patients with the care they need.
• As the province continues to safely and gradually lift public health measures, it is anticipated that referrals for surgeries, procedures and diagnostic imaging will increase similar to what has been seen in other provinces and jurisdictions.
• To continue the progress made to date and meet future demand, Ontario has developed a comprehensive surgical recovery plan to enable hospitals and community providers to operate at 110 to 115 per cent capacity, bolstering the health system’s capacity to ensure patients’ surgical and recovery care needs are met at all stages, from primary care referrals, hospital discharge to recovery at home.

Helping Ontario Food and Beverage Processors During COVID-19

• The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $6 million in projects to help Ontario food and beverage processors improve their operations, increase their competitive edge and adapt to challenges as we move beyond the pandemic.
• Applications for this program will be accepted in two phases. Applications for the first phase of this new intake under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support projects that will enhance economic development and food safety in the sector will be accepted.
• The second phase of the intake will open next month for targeted projects to improve labour productivity, efficiency and reduce waste.

Ontario Makes Historic Investment in Safe, Innovative Festivals and Events

• The Ontario government is investing nearly $50 million to help festival and event organizers deliver innovative and safe experiences that allow people to safely reconnect with their communities.
• The government is providing $43 million to support 439 festivals and events through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program, representing a record number of supported events in the program’s 14-year history.
• The Reconnect program (known as Celebrate Ontario prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) was developed to help festival and event organizers adapt to new public health measures with virtual, drive-through and other safe offerings.

Federal

Remarks from the Deputy Chief Public Health Officer on August 5, 2021

• Nationally, the average number of daily new cases reported is now over 900, an increase of 54% compared to the previous week. Fortunately, severe illness trends are still declining. On average, 449 people with COVID-19 are being treated in our hospitals each day, including 186 in intensive care units and an average of 6 deaths are being reported daily.
• The modelling, which predicts a strong resurgence could occur if community-wide contact rates increase too quickly, highlighted the need for ongoing caution. With early signs of a Delta-driven fourth wave beginning, these forecasts continue to underscore the need to remain vigilant and steadfast in following public health advice while continuing to increase first and second dose vaccination coverage. This can help to keep infection rates lower and reduce the risk of a serious resurgence that could exceed healthcare capacity this fall and winter.

Government of Canada announces agreement with leading COVID­-19 vaccine developer Moderna, Inc. to build mRNA vaccine facility in Canada

• The Government of Canada has established a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with leading COVID-19 vaccine developer Moderna, Inc. to build a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine production facility in Canada.
• Since the start of the pandemic, over $1.2 billion has been invested to rebuild Canada’s vaccines, therapeutics and biomanufacturing capacity.
• The MOU outlines how Moderna plans to establish a Canadian mRNA vaccine facility and work as a valued partner in Canada’s life sciences ecosystem by creating jobs and collaborating on domestic research and development. This partnership will help make sure Canada is more prepared for future pandemics, while creating good, highly skilled jobs.

Travel Advisory: On August 9th, new public health measures came into force affecting travel to Canada

• As of August 9th, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, fully vaccinated United States (U.S.) citizens and permanent residents became eligible to enter Canada for discretionary (non-essential) reasons, such as tourism.
• For details of travel requirements, please click the link above.
• While Canada is moving forward with these measures, it’s important to note that the U.S is not opening its land border to Canadians for discretionary (non-essential) travel at this time. For information about U.S. requirements, please contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Government extends COVID-19 benefits and business supports to support stronger economic recovery. Extensions include:

• Extending the eligibility period for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until October 23, 2021, and increasing the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021.
• Extending the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) until October 23, 2021.
• Increasing the maximum number of weeks available for the CRB, by an additional 4 weeks, to a total of 54 weeks, at a rate of $300 per week, and ensuring it is available to those who have exhausted their employment insurance (EI) benefits.

Two individuals fined for providing false information related to COVID-19 proof of vaccination credentials and pre-departure tests

• The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has issued fines to two passengers arriving in Toronto from the United States the week of July 18, 2021, for non-compliance with entry requirements.
• Each traveller received four fines—a total of $19,720 for each traveller—for providing false information related to proof of vaccination credentials and pre-departure tests, as well as, for non-compliance with the requirement to stay at a government-authorized accommodation and on-arrival testing requirements.

The Government of Canada announces biomanufacturing and life sciences strategy

• The Government of Canada has already invested over $1.2 billion to rebuild Canada’s vaccine, therapeutics and biomanufacturing capacity right here at home.
• More than $2.2 billion over seven years from Budget 2021 will be invested in continuing to grow a strong and competitive sector and to ensure our country is prepared for future pandemics.
• The strategy consists of five pillars:
  • Strong and Coordinated Governance.
  • Laying a Solid Foundation by Strengthening Research Systems and the Talent Pipeline.
  • Growing Businesses by Doubling Down on Existing and Emerging Areas of Strength.
  • Building Public Capacity.
  • Enabling Innovation by Ensuring World Class Regulation.

Government of Canada funds two new projects to encourage COVID-19 vaccination in youth

• BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada) will receive up to $500,000 in funding to promote the benefits of vaccinating against COVID-19 and foster evidence-based dialogue around vaccination among families of children and youth who access programming at local Clubs across Canada.
• The Canada Safety Council will receive up to $220,000 in funding to create a COVID-19 vaccine education and awareness program to be delivered in schools with the support of teachers across Canada to engage both students and their parents on the importance of vaccinating against COVID-19.

Canada announces new vaccine contributions for regional partners

• The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, announced that the Government of Canada will share over 82,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Trinidad and Tobago via a bilateral agreement. These are doses that had already arrived in Canada, but are in excess of our domestic needs.

HPEPH

• Media Release: Youth Who Attended a Graduation Event/Private Parties Associated with Bayside Secondary School Advised to Seek Testing for COVID-19

• Media Release: Youth who Attended Bonfire and Indoor Party Advised to Seek Testing for COVID-19

• Media Release: Make the safe choice – get fully vaccinated as soon as possible to get the best protection against COVID-19.

Useful Links

• Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen
• HPEPH COVID-19 Vaccine Booking and Eligibility web page
• HPEPH COVID-19 General Information
• HPEPH COVID-19 Information for Health Care Providers
• How Ontario is responding to COVID-19
• Public Health Ontario - COVID-19
• Canada.ca - COVID-19

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