Local COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low

The Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit on Monday reported three people hospitalized with COVID-19.

That’s up from late last week when there were two people hospitalized with the virus in one of the area’s three local hospitals. Of the COVID patients currently in care, one is in an ICU, the same number as last week.

There were two new COVID-19 cases reported on Friday and three on Saturday. Numbers were not reported for Sunday. It’s believed the actual number of cases is higher due to limited testing.

In-patient capacities at the area’s three local hospitals have decreased, going from 92.2 per cent to 77.4 per cent, while the ICU rate has also gone down from 87.5 per cent to 50 per cent. The rates are current as of Saturday. Capacities are based on the percentage of beds that are full at any time, regardless of the reason for admission. There are 164 in-patient beds at Haldimand-norfolk’s three hospitals and 10 ICU beds.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID -19 refers to local residents who were admitted due to COVID-19.

There have been 78 local deaths attributed to COVID -19 and there have been 24 people who have tested positive but who have died from complications attributed to other illnesses.

As of Monday, there were no outbreaks at high-risk settings in the area.

The HNHU has administered 214,250 doses of the vaccine and there are now 67,453 people who have completed their vaccine series. There have also been 29,912 booster doses administered.

The total number of doses administered in Haldimand-norfolk is 252,841. Some residents of the area have received a dose outside of the HNHU.

The percentage of people aged five and older who are fully vaccinated sits at 79.5 per cent and at 82 per cent for those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. There is 18 per cent of the population who is unvaccinated.

The health unit notes that data on vaccinations can be delayed up to 48 hours.

Local vaccination clinics will be held at Caledonia Library on Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at Simcoe’s Gilbertson Administration Building (12 Gilbertson Dr.) on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The GO -VAXX Bus will be at Simcoe’s Culver Street Parking Lot (9 Culver St.) on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Caledonia’s Grace United Church (174 Caithness St. E.) on Thursday from 10 .m. to 5 p.m. and at Dunnville Secondary School on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Walk-in vaccine clinics are no longer being offered at Norfolk General Hospital.

Visit hnhu.org/popup to book an appointment at one of the above clinics.

Those who can’t get to a vaccine clinic can call 519-427-5903 to request free transportation.

There is also a homebound service for individuals who have difficulty leaving their homes. That program involves two healthcare professionals visiting homes and administering first and second doses in Haldimand and Norfolk.

Visit www.hnhu.org/homeboundvax or call 519-427-5903 for more information on the program.

Visit www.hnhu.org/covid19vaccine/ for more information and for full details about vaccine rollout in Haldimand and Norfolk counties and covid-19.ontario.ca/ for more information on the rollout in Ontario.