HURON-PERTH – Nearly one-third of all regionally-reported COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic have occurred since Jan. 1 of this year, according to numbers presented by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen during Huron Perth Public Health’s bi-weekly media briefing on Feb. 2.
In actuality, those positive case numbers in 2022 are much higher, Klassen added. The number of active COVID-19 cases being reported are largely limited to long-term care homes, retirement homes and congregate living settings within the region. The Omicron variant has continued to drive Huron-Perth case counts up this wave, with now 90 total deaths reported in the region since March 2020 and over 5,200 documented cases.
“The number of people in Huron-Perth who actually have COVID-19 is much higher than what we are reporting,” said Klassen last week.
As of Monday, Feb. 7 there were two active COVID-19 outbreaks in Huron-Perth hospitals; one at South Huron Hospital (17 patients, eight staff), and the second at Clinton Public Hospital (two patients, two staff). There are also four long-term care home outbreaks, the most significant continuing to be at Braemar Nursing Home in Wingham (42 residents, 17 staff). Queensway Nursing Home in Bluewater has 44 cases, Kingsway Lodge in St. Marys has 36 cases, and Huronview in Huron East reports 14 cases of COVID-19.
Overall vaccination rates continue to be high in Huron-Perth, including 92 per cent of all residents aged 70 and older having received three doses of vaccine. Nearly 80 per cent of the regional population aged five and older are now fully vaccinated with at least two doses. Forty-seven per cent of children aged 5-11 have received one dosage of vaccine.
“Although Omicron, as a variant, appears to be a little bit milder than Delta was, and although we have a good vaccination rate in Ontario, COVID is still a serious disease,” said Klassen. “It’s still going to be a serious disease, especially for our vulnerable citizens, which include in particular, our older citizens, and those in congregate settings, and those with certain underlying illnesses.
“It is still a serious illness and is still leading to many deaths.”
