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Tag: Ontario

Low rates of COVID vaccination putting the elderly at risk: medical officer of health

Nearly half of people over 80 in Ottawa have not received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, leaving them at risk for severe outcomes if they become infected, Ottawa’s medical officer of health is warning.

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Randy Hillier’s Charter case against charges from COVID-19 lockdown protests in Cornwall, Kemptville dismissed

A judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed former MPP Randy Hillier’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge against Reopening Ontario Act charges laid against him in the spring of 2021.

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Ontario hospital ERs have closed 867 times so far this year, health coalition says

Emergency departments and other hospital services have closed a record number of times in Ontario so far in 2023, according to a new Ontario Health Coalition report being described as “staggering.”

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COVID-19 hospitalizations higher than last December, MOH warns

Ottawa’s medical officer of health is warning that COVID-19 levels in the community are high and the number of people in hospital because of the disease is higher than it was at this time last year.

In her verbal report to the Board of Health on Monday, Dr. Vera Etches said there is a lot of COVID-19 in the community.

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Ottawa Public Health wrapping up COVID-19 operations, cutting pandemic staff

Ottawa Public Health will layoff most of its COVID-19 staff by the end of the year and wrap up its immunization programming at the end of March, as the Ontario government stops reimbursing for extraordinary costs related to the pandemic.

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Ottawa Public Health to let go most remaining COVID-19 staff as province ends special pandemic funding

Ottawa Public Health will let go most of its remaining COVID-19 staff by the end of the year as the province stops directly reimbursing most costs related to the pandemic.

OPH will continue offering vaccines to the most vulnerable, including long-term care residents and recent immigrants, but will wrap up broader COVID-19 efforts by the end of March.

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Ottawa-Gatineau community update | 2023‑11‑29

📈 The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal for Ottawa has increased substantially (+1,826%) since a low on July 12, 2023. It is extremely high.

⚠️ The 7-day average of percent positivity is extremely high (19.94%).

🏥 Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals: 160 ( decrease of 43).

In 2023, there have been 114 COVID-19 outbreaks at Ottawa’s hospitals so far, leading to 18 deaths and 953 known cases of COVID-19.

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COVID-19: Peterborough risk index still high as 1 death, 11 active outbreaks reported

For the fifth consecutive week, the community risk index for COVID-19 for the Peterborough, Ont., region remains at a high level, public health officials report.

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With COVID-19 clinics set to close, Toronto wants to focus on boosting student immunization rates

With four of Toronto’s temporary COVID-19 vaccination sites set to close for good, the city is hoping to switch focus to boosting immunization rates for school-aged children.

Provincial funding will soon run out, meaning “fixed-site” vaccination clinics at Metro Hall, Cloverdale Mall, North York Civic Centre and one near Scarborough Town Centre will close after Dec. 13, the city announced in a release Monday.

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Toronto ER doctor says winter surge of respiratory illnesses has begun

Toronto emergency room doctors say the winter surge of COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections is underway, with hospitals seeing a wave of visits across the GTA.

In the last week, nearly 250 Ontarians have been admitted to hospital, and Public Health Ontario (PHO) reports the COVID-19 wastewater signal is at its highest level in more than a year.

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Toronto residents are confused about vaccination clinics closing as Ontario reports rise in COVID cases

Torontonians are questioning why the city is closing its four fixed-site vaccination clinics in less than a month, despite a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases across Ontario.

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Ontario COVID wastewater signal hits one-year peak: ‘Your chance of being exposed is very high’

In a sign that COVID-19 continues to affect the lives of Ontarians, even if the virus is far from the minds of many, both the province’s wastewater signal and nationwide hospitalizations for the virus have reached one-year highs.

And they’re on their way up.

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Masking requirements increase in all areas of Stevenson Memorial Hospital

Masking requirements are increasing at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) starting on Monday in all areas of the facility, including hallways and shared spaces.

The hospital’s website cites rising COVID-19 cases, including outbreaks at health care and seniors’ facilities as the reason behind the change.

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COVID-19: Peterborough area risk index remains high; 2 outbreaks at PRHC

For the fourth week in a row, the community risk index for COVID-19 for the Peterborough, Ont., region remains at a high level, public health officials report.

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Ottawa-Gatineau community update | 2023‑11‑22

📈 The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal for Ottawa has increased substantially (+1,684%) since a low on July 12, 2023.

⚠️ The 7-day average of percent positivity is extremely high (17.23%).

🏥 Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals: 203 ( increase of 25).

Since January 1, 2023, there have been 105 COVID-19 outbreaks at Ottawa’s hospitals, leading to 15 deaths and 865 known cases of COVID-19.

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