COVID-19: MLHU reports 2 deaths, LHSC says 22 COVID-19 patients in ICU

Jump to: Hospitalizations – Cases and testing – Outbreaks – Vaccinations – Ontario – Elgin and Oxford – Huron and Perth – Sarnia and Lambton

The Middlesex-London Health Unit reported two deaths and 217 COVID-19 cases on Friday.

The deaths involved a woman in her 80s associated with a long-term care home and a man in his 60s with no association with long-term care or retirement homes. Neither was vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the London Health Sciences Centre reported 145 COVID-19 inpatients on Friday, compared with 153 a week ago.

As noted, LHSC is caring for 145 COVID-19 inpatients, with 22 inpatients in adult critical care.

That compares with 153 inpatients with 22 in adult critical care a week ago.

Of the 145 cases, none are in Children’s Hospital and, as a result, there are zero in pediatric critical care. Last Friday, there were six inpatients in Children’s Hospital but none in critical care.

Of the 145 patients, 84 are being treated for COVID-19 while 61 others in hospital have incidental COVID-19 infections (meaning they were admitted for another reason).

Among staff, there are 189 cases, down from 297 a week ago (and 511 two weeks ago).

There are several outbreaks at LHSC at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. Further information can be found in the Outbreaks section below.

St. Joseph’s Health Care London reported 12 cases among patients or residents in its care as of Tuesday and 87 health-care workers with COVID-19, compared with 16 patient/resident cases and 99 staff cases a week ago.

Among the 12 patient/resident cases, two are at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, two are at Parkwood Institute Main Building and eight are at Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building.

As mentioned, the MLHU reported two deaths on Friday, involving a woman in her 80s (associated with a long-term care home) and man in his 60s, neither of whom was vaccinated.

There have been at least 37 COVID-19-related deaths reported by the MLHU in January.

The MLHU reported 217 cases Friday, compared with 224 reported last Friday. Note that due to changes in eligibility for PCR testing, daily case counts are not considered a fully reliable reflection of COVID-19 activity in the region.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit says individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should consider themselves to be positive for COVID-19 and self-isolate.

The health unit has provided information on what to do if you develop symptoms, test positive on a rapid test or PCR test or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.

In total, there have been 28,646 confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic, including 2,041 active cases (a decrease of 23), 26,308 resolved cases (an increase of 249) and 297 deaths (an increase of two).

The test positivity rate for the week of Jan. 16 was 21.3 per cent, down from 22.4 per cent the week of Jan. 9.

LHSC is reporting the following outbreaks:

St. Joseph’s Health Care London is reporting the following outbreaks:

A previous outbreak at Parkwood Institute Main Building’s 3KE is no longer listed as active.

Additionally, the MLHU is reporting the following institutional outbreaks:

Previous outbreaks at McCormick Home, Evergreen unit, declared Dec. 14, and Strathmere Lodge, Bear Creek, declared Jan. 6 were declared over as of Jan. 26 and 27, respectively.

Note that school closures and school absentee rates can be found on the province’s website.

The province’s GO-Vaxx mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic will return to London on Sunday, Jan. 30. The bus will be at the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre parking lot at 1119 Jalna Blvd. in the White Oaks neighbourhood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Those interested in attending must book an appointment online or by calling 1-833-943-3900.

As of the end of day Jan. 22, 89.6 per cent of residents five and older in the region have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, up from 89.1 per cent as of Jan. 15.

Two-dose coverage for that cohort sits at 83.7 per cent, up from 83.2 per cent the week prior.

The percentage of people age five and older who’ve received third doses climbed to 43.2 per cent, up from 38.5 per cent a week prior. Note that those under 18 are not currently eligible for a third dose.

First-dose coverage for those aged five to 11 stands at 56.3 per cent, up from 54.1 per cent.

Health unit data shows that since Dec. 17, 32.94 per cent of hospitalized cases have involved people who were unvaccinated. Note that unvaccinated residents make up only 10.4 per cent of the region’s five-and-older population as of Jan. 22.

According to the MLHU, there have been 39 deaths within the last six weeks. Of those, 28 involved fully vaccinated individuals and 11 involved unvaccinated individuals.

On the health unit’s website, residents can find information on pop-up clinics, mass vaccination clinics and pharmacies, as well as guidance for anyone vaccinated outside of the province or country, transportation support for those in need and more.

Ontario is reporting 3,535 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Friday, with 607 in intensive care units. This is down by 110 hospitalizations but an increase of eight in ICUs since the previous day.

Of the 3,535 in hospital, 56 per cent were admitted because of the virus while 44 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19. Of those in ICUs, 82 per cent were admitted due to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Ontario also reported 5,337 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, though that is an underestimate of the true widespread transmission of the virus due to recent testing restrictions. Sixty-eight more virus-related deaths were reported Friday.

Southwestern Public Health reported one death on Friday, involving a man in his 90s from Oxford. The death was linked to an active outbreak, SWPH said.

SWPH also reported 25 hospitalizations, down from 52 a week ago. Of the 25, eight are in the ICU. Last Friday, there were 10 COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

The test positivity rate for the week of Jan. 16 was 17.7 per cent, up from a revised 16.8 per cent the week prior.

As for cases, SWPH is reporting:

There are active outbreaks at the following long-term homes, retirement homes and hospitals:

A previously reported outbreak at Extendicare, Port Stanley, declared Jan. 2 and involving nine resident cases and 12 staff cases, is no longer listed as active.

As of Jan. 26, 77.9 per cent of those aged five and older in the region had received two doses of the vaccine, while 82.7 per cent have had at least one dose.

Further information on where and how to get vaccinated can be found on the health unit’s website.

The health unit encouraged people to join its Same-Day Vaccination List, which offers any leftover doses due to cancellations or no-shows.

On Friday, Huron Perth Public Health reported 11 people were in hospital with COVID-19.

Of those, nine are considered to be active cases.

For the week of Jan. 16, the test positivity rate was 11.7 per cent, up from 10 per cent the week prior.

In total, HPPH reported 4,996 total cases (an increase of 55) and 80 deaths to date (unchanged).

The most recent death was reported Jan. 25. No details were provided.

HPPH reported 521 total cases among health-care workers since March 2020, an increase of five from Thursday.

There are six active outbreaks reported by HPPH, including at the following long-term care or retirement homes:

HPPH is also reporting an outbreak at South Huron Hospital in South Huron, declared Jan. 27, involving eight patients. There is also one congregate living outbreak reported but no further details were provided.

Two previously reported outbreaks, at Caressant Care Retirement Home, North Perth, declared Jan. 2 and involving six resident cases, and at Maplewood Manor Retirement Home, Huron East, declared Dec. 30 and involving two resident cases and two staff cases, are no longer listed as active.

As of Jan. 26, 84 per cent of residents aged five and older have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while 79.4 per cent are fully vaccinated. Third-dose coverage stands at 48.6 per cent of those five and older, though those under the age of 18 are not eligible for a third dose.

Information on how and where to get a vaccine can be found on the health unit’s website.

Bluewater Health reported 41 patients in hospital with confirmed COVID-19, compared with 53 a week ago. Of those 41, five are in the ICU, compared with nine a week ago.

Lambton Public Health is reporting the average ICU occupancy was at 83 per cent for the week of Jan. 16, up from 78 per cent for the week of Jan. 9.

The test positivity rate for the week of Jan. 16 was 30.8 per cent, down from 31.8 per cent the week of Jan. 9.

On Friday, Lambton Public Health reported:

No information was provided about the death reported Friday.

LPH reported 13 active outbreaks, including at the following congregate living facilities:

There are outbreaks at the following long-term care and retirement homes:

An outbreak at Sarnia Jail in Sarnia was declared Jan. 8 and involves 38 inmates and seven staff members.

An outbreak at Bluewater Health in Sarnia declared Jan. 7 involves 17 patients and 11 staff members.

There are four outbreaks in unidentified workplaces:

No further details were provided about the workplace outbreaks.

Previously reported outbreaks at Country Manor Estates in Lambton Shores, declared Jan. 17 and involving fewer than five residents and fewer than five staff members, and at Fiddick’s Nursing Home in Petrolia, declared Dec. 30 and involving 14 residents and 26 staff/caregivers, were both declared over Jan. 27.

Among area residents aged five and older, 82 per cent have had at least one dose of vaccine, 78 per cent have had two doses and 44 per cent have had a third dose. Note that those under 18 are not currently eligible for a third dose.

Residents can book and re-book COVID-19 vaccine appointments or find information on vaccine availability at pharmacies using the health unit’s registration page. People can also contact the vaccine call centre at 226-254-8222.

Those who are able to get vaccinated on short notice are encouraged to sign up for Lambton Public Health’s daily Vaccine Standby List.

— with files from Gabby Rodrigues and Sawyer Bogdan

by 980 CFPL