The recent downward trend in the number of reported positive COVID-19 cases across Ontario continues to be reflected locally.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Friday (February 5), medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra reported that as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, there were 31 active COVID-19 cases in the Peterborough area — two less than reported February 2nd and 19 less than one week ago. By Friday afternoon, with no new cases reported and an additional four cases resolved, that number had decreased further to 27.
This week, there have been 11 new positive cases reported locally, down considerably from the 21 new cases reported the previous week. Weekly positive case numbers this low haven’t been seen locally since the week of November 7th, when seven new cases were reported.
“Right now we are back at yellow, as far as that pre-stay-at-home framework that we were using … everything is trending down,” said Salvaterra, adding “The staying at home, the reduction in socialization, is making a difference.”
“For each (new) case that we are getting, we’re getting a smaller number of high-risk contacts. That makes it more manageable for us. We’re also now trying to ramp up vaccine rollout. The nurses currently doing case and contact management can be redeployed as immunizers. The better controlled our outbreak is, the more capacity Peterborough Public Health will have to address vaccine rollout.”
Salvaterra also updated local vaccination efforts, noting long-term care residents at Fairhaven and Riverview Manor in Peterborough, Extendicare Lakefield, Pleasant Meadow Manor in Norwood, and Springdale Country Manor in Cavan-Monaghan Township have all received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
With another vaccine shipment “arriving soon”, according to Salvaterra, first-dose immunizations at the region’s three remaining long-term care homes — Extendicare Peterborough, St. Joseph’s at Fleming, and Centennial Place in Millbrook — are expected to be completed by the provincially mandated deadline of February 10th.
According to Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Canada is “on track” to receive some six million vaccine doses in March.
“Our challenge is ensuring that those who administer the vaccine have the capacity and the supports to do that,” said Monsef.
Following her remarks, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith said Ontario has the ability now to vaccinate 40,000 people daily.
“This past week (Ontario) received 26,000 vaccines in total; next week we’ll receive 27,000 doses” Smith said.
“Our capacity to deliver the vaccine far exceeds what we’re receiving right now. I’d like to really impress upon our federal member to do everything possible to get more vaccines for us. We have the ability to put them in people’s arms. We just need to have them here.”
“We have procured 10 doses per Canadian,” Monsef countered. “Any Canadian who wants it will receive the vaccine by September.”
Meanwhile, Peterborough Public Health is partnering with Trent University on a community-based research study aimed at getting a better handle on the beliefs, opinions and concerns residents may have as they relate to COVID-19 vaccination.
Those interested in participating must be a resident of Peterborough city or County, Curve Lake or Hiawatha, and over the age of 18 and a fluent English speaker. Visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca to learn more about the study and to register.
“Our goal is to better understand what kinds of information people want about vaccines and what their concerns are so we can support them in making an informed decision about getting vaccinated,” noted Peterborough Public Health communications manager Brittany Cadence.
“This will help us to build confidence in vaccines when the mass immunization clinics launch this spring. There’s a lot of information out there about vaccines. I think it’s understandable that a lot of people are confused and not sure how to tell what is credible information or not.”
In terms of outbreaks, the news remains positive with no new ones reported. Those previously declared at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Peterborough Retirement Resident are ongoing but stable. An outbreak reported January 17th at Regency Retirement in Lakefield was resolved this week.
During the course of the pandemic, there have been 556 positive cases in total, 520 of which are resolved, and now nine COVID-related deaths. On the testing front, 41,850 residents have been tested at least once.
Also present and commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell, and Peterborough Police Services Chief Scott Gilbert.
Gilbert said there have been no new charges or fines levied in relation to any violation of the ongoing public health restrictions in close to two weeks.
