Peterborough Public Health is hosting two walk-in clinics this week at the Healthy Planet Arena (911 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough) for residents 70 years of age and older who have experienced difficulty booking an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.

The first walk-in clinic on Thursday (December 30) will be for residents 80 and over, with the second walk-in clinic on Saturday (January 1) for residents aged 70 to 79.

Walk-ins for both clinics will be staggered based on the first letter of a resident’s last name, with residents whose last name begins with A to J asked to arrive between 1 and 2 p.m., K to R between 2 and 3 p.m., and P to Z between 3 and 4 p.m.

“Older adults in our community are at a heightened risk for complications related to a COVID-19 infection compared to the younger population,” says medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release. “It is very important that we provide these residents with every opportunity to receive a booster dose.”

Regardless of age, people must wait at least 84 days (12 weeks or 3 months) after their second dose before they are able to receive a booster dose.

Anyone attending these walk-in clinics will receive the Moderna vaccine for their booster dose, as there is a shortage of Pfizer vaccines across the province.

“The best third dose is the first one you can get, even if that means changing the mRNA vaccine brand that you previously received,” Dr. Piggott says. “I personally received the Moderna vaccine. It is an excellent vaccine along with the Pfizer vaccine.”

Only residents aged 70 and over are eligible for these two walk-in clinics. All other clinics are by appointment only. Residents not eligible for the two walk-in clinics must book an appointment for their booster dose through the provincial booking system online at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or by calling 1-833-943-3900.

Two people have been treated and released from hospital following an early morning fire in Bancroft on Boxing Day.

At 4 a.m. on Sunday (December 26), the Bancroft OPP and the Bancroft Fire Department responded to a fire in an apartment building on Station Street.

All occupants were evacuated from the building, and two people were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They have since been released.

All the occupants have been assisted by the Canadian Red Cross.

The OPP Forensic Identification Unit, OPP Crime Unit, and the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management are assisting with the fire investigation.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

The Kinsmen Club of Peterborough and the Peterborough Police Services Board have respectively donated $50,000 and $10,000 to support a new mobile mental health and addictions clinic for the greater Kawartha regions.

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) will be overseeing the new clinic, which will include a multidisciplinary team of mental health and addictions service providers, as well as social workers and nurse practitioners.

Launching in 2022, the clinic will operate within a custom-built retrofitted bus, travelling across Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland and Haliburton counties. The clinic will deliver a wide range of services, including intake and brief services, referrals to existing services, and psychiatric support and follow-up.

As a mobile clinic for rural and remote communities, it will reduce the need for people to travel to find services and will be able to serve more clients in more places.

The $50,000 donation from the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough comes from the Kinsmen Super TV Bingo, which runs on Saturday evenings. The $10,000 donation from the Peterborough Police Services Board comes from the board’s auction fund.

The new mobile mental health and addictions clinic for the greater Kawarthas region is one of four new mobile mental health clinics being supported by the Ontario government as announced in the 2021 budget, which committed $175 million in new annualized funding to expand and enhance mental health and addictions services.

With Ontario reporting a record-high 9,571 new COVID-19 cases on Friday (December 24), a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health has issued a statement.

“The day after Quebec reported over 9,000 cases in a single day, Ontario has done the same,” reads the statement from Alexandra Hilkene, press secretary to health minister Christine Elliott.

“Due to the highly-transmissible nature of the Omicron variant, it was expected that case numbers would increase in the winter months. We expect they will continue to increase over the coming days and weeks, as other jurisdictions are seeing similar case rate increases per capita.”

“While the province’s ICUs continue to remain stable, we expect the number of admissions to rise in the coming weeks as Omicron spreads, particularly among the unvaccinated. To date, the effectiveness of vaccines has meant that despite a rapid increase in cases, we have not seen a corresponding increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions.”

“Investments in Ontario’s hospital capacity have resulted in 600 ICU beds being immediately available with nearly 500 more ICU beds available for surge capacity if required. Ontario is ready for an increase in hospital and ICU admissions as we accelerate the booster rollout.”

“Vaccines remain the best protection against Omicron, and Ontario continues to urgently ramp up its capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines, with over 253,000 doses administered Wednesday. As the province continues to administer booster doses to all Ontarians 18 and older over the coming days and weeks, the province has put in place additional public health and workplace safety measures, such as capacity and social gathering limits, that will help to curb transmission and continue to safeguard Ontario’s hospital and ICU capacity.”

“The coming days and weeks will require ongoing vigilance. This holiday season, please celebrate safely, get vaccinated and follow the public health measures that we know work and have protected us over the last 20 months. The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to review the data and evidence and our government will act as necessary to protect our health care system and the health and safety of Ontarians.”

Friday’s increase of 9,571 cases is 3,781 higher than Thursday’s case count of 5,790, which was already by far the most cases ever reported in a single day in Ontario since the pandemic began.

Most of Friday’s new cases are in larger urban centres including Toronto (2,456), Peel (1,113), Halton (745), Ottawa (624), York (604), Hamilton (487), Middlesex-London (379), and Durham (349).
However, every region of the province is reporting at least 10 cases.

In the greater Kawarthas region, Peterborough is reporting 113 new cases, Hastings Prince Edward is reporting 105, and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District is reporting 60.

Over the next four days, the province will not be issuing updates due to the holidays. The next provincial update will be next Wednesday (December 29), when cases from December 25 to 28 will also be reported.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for a wintry mix of weather in the northern Kawarthas region for late Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.

The special weather statement is in effect for northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and northern Hastings County.

A warm front associated with a low pressure system is expected to sweep through the region on Christmas Eve and slowly progress eastward on Christmas Day.

Precipitation associated with the front is expected to begin Friday evening or overnight as snow or ice pellets, before transitioning over to freezing rain or freezing drizzle. Some communities may even see rain during the transition. Untreated roads may become slippery and drivers are urged to exercise caution.

Environment Canada says there is still some uncertainty regarding the timing and duration of the potential freezing rain. Freezing rain or freezing drizzle advisories may be issued later as the event draws nearer.

The freezing rain risk is expected to end Christmas morning for most communities, as temperatures rise well above freezing. There’s a good chance of rain throughout Christmas Day.

Four restaurants in Peterborough have decided to temporarily close this week due to COVID-19.

On Tuesday (December 21), Rare restaurant at 166 Brock Street announced they are closing after they were notified a guest who dined at the restaurant on December 14 has tested positive for COVID-19.

“We have not yet been contacted by Peterborough Public Health, but Tyler and I have decided it best to close down the restaurant early before the holidays to allow our staff time to self monitor for symptoms and get tested if needed,” writes co-owner Kassy Scott on social media.

Using their contact tracing information, Rare has contacted all diners who were at the restaurant on December 14, and has cancelled all reservations for the remainder of the week. They will be reopening next Tuesday (December 28).

“Instead of feeling sad about it we are going to try to look at it as time off we wouldn’t have had with our kids,” Kassy writes. “We will look forward to feeding you again soon!”

On Wednesday (December 22), One Fine Food at 800 Erskine Avenue announced on social media they are closing until further notice, “due to a COVID-19 close contact in the restaurant and an abundance of caution.”

On Thursday (December 23), Capra Toro at 139 Hunter Street West announced they “proactively” closed the restaurant as of December 22.

“We were informed that one of our team members may have been in close contact with a positive COVID case outside our restaurant,” they write on social media. “We feel it is safest to close our doors preemptively until we have their test results and guidance from public health to reopen in a safe manner.”

The restaurant says it is contacting all guests who have dined there recently to inform them of the situation.

Also on Thursday, The Night Kitchen at 168 Hunter Street West announced they were closing at least for the day.

“One of our employees has come into close contact with a positive rapid test roommate,” they write on social media. “Out of an abundance of caution we have decided to close.”

As Christmas Eve nears and with the number of new local COVID-19 infections rising in unprecedented fashion, Peterborough’s medical officer of health is urging a night more silent than anything we’ve experienced.

During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Thursday (December 23), Dr. Thomas Piggott said it’s more than important now than ever before that residents follow local and provincial guidance, including limiting indoor gatherings to 10 or less people (25 or less outdoors), confirming family members and guests are vaccinated, screening for symptoms, and ensuring that the gathering space is well ventilated and all are wearing tightly fitting masks as much as possible.

“If you’re looking to use rapid antigen tests to make a holiday gathering that already fits within the guidance safer, be sure to do testing immediately before the gathering because test results can change quickly,” advised Dr. Piggott, noting test results should not be considered valid for any longer than the day of the gathering.

“Rapid antigen testing is only one layer of protection. Just like we have to layer up to go outside in the cold winter, we need to layer up in our response to COVID. If you don’t have access to rapid antigen testing, the other layers are just as, or more, important.”

Dr. Piggott’s guidance for gatherings comes as number of active cases of COVID-19 in the Peterborough region hit a pandemic high, with 208 reported as of late Wednesday afternoon. Provincially, Ontario has also reported a pandemic high of 5,790 daily cases on Thursday.

Fuelling the number of active cases locally is a high daily new case count, with 23 new cases confirmed on both December 19 and 20, 51 reported on December 21, and 38 new cases recorded December 22. This week to date, 112 new cases have emerged, just one shy of last week’s pandemic-high weekly new case count of 113.

That number will rise dramatically today (Thursday), with Dr. Piggott noting that 91 new cases have been confirmed since Wednesday’s tally was provided.

“That is far beyond anything we’ve experienced to date in the Peterborough region,” Dr. Piggott said.

“What we’re seeing is probably the tip of the iceberg. Because of delays and challenges accessing testing and because of the fact that many people may be asymptomatic, and may not think they need testing because they have just one or two symptoms and they’re protected by the vaccine, I suspect transmission is much more rampant than we’re aware of.”

Meanwhile, the number of local COVID-related deaths has risen to 28, with Dr. Piggott confirming the death of an individual in their 40s who was vaccinated with two doses but had a complicating medical condition.

There are two outbreaks locally, both reported Wednesday: one associated with Crestwood Secondary School and the other at Extendicare Lakefield.

Speaking to local vaccination efforts, Dr. Piggott said a new approach has just been adopted due to “significant” issues with the Pfizer vaccine supply in Ontario. To counter that, all residents over the age of 30 will receive the Moderna vaccine for their third dose.

“We have to save supply of the Pfizer vaccine for people under the age of 30 — there is a NACI (National Advisory Committee on Immunization) recommendation of preferentially using the Pfizer vaccine for that population due to a lower risk of myocarditis and pericarditis,” said Dr. Piggott, adding “There’s emerging evidence that the Moderna booster is slightly more effective against the omicron variant. It’s a great vaccine.”

To date, 23.9 per cent of eligible local residents aged 18 and up have received a third booster shot. Those seeking a third shot can book an appointment online at covid19.ontariohealth.ca or by phone at 1-833-943-3900. Walk-ins will not be accommodated. Some local pharmacies are also offering booster shots.

“In the past week, we’ve seen a nearly six-fold increase in the number of vaccine appointments we are able to offer residents in an effort to accelerate rollout of the booster,” said Dr. Piggott. “Up until the middle of January, we have 6,300 appointments available at last check.”

As of late Wednesday afternoon (December 22), 84.5 per cent of eligible residents aged five and up have received one dose while 79.6 per cent have received two doses. Meanwhile, first dose vaccination of local children aged 5 to 11 has again seen a huge uptake this past week, now at 40 percent. With no walk-ins being taken, parents and guardians must book a vaccination appointment. Visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca/clinics for a listing of locations and times of clinics.

Based on the number of residents who have received a booster shot in a relatively short time, as well as the growing demand for that extra protection, Dr. Piggott is heartened.

“People are starting to realize that this (the omicron variant) is here,” he said. “I’m very heartened to see all the individuals coming forward for the third dose, and to see the wonderful support and compliance we’re getting from the public, and also our businesses.”

“Everyone is collaborating. Everyone wants to get through this. I think we will, but we’re not through the thick of it yet. We have a lot of work to do.”

As for daily case counts and active cases over the next week, Peterborough Public Health will be updating its daily COVID-19 dashboard found at localcovidtracker.ca once more this week, at noon on Friday (December 24), before returning to daily updates again next Wednesday (December 29).

Also participating in Thursday’s media briefing were Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien, county warden J. Murray Jones, Hiawatha First Nation chief Laurie Carr, and Selwyn mayor and Board of Health chair Andy Mitchell.

All expressed their thanks to public health staff and vaccine clinic volunteers for the long hours and unrelenting effort to keep local residents both safe and informed.

Effective Thursday (December 23), both Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay have introduced more restrictive visitor policies to help protect the health and safety of patients and staff in the face of surging COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant.

At PRHC, patients belonging to specific groups may have two designated essential caregivers registered to them. In most cases, only one designated caregiver will be permitted in the patient’s room at one time.

An essential caregiver or care partner is a person who provides support to a patient with limited capacity, an urgent medical condition, age-related issues, a disability. or chronic health concerns. Caregivers may be family, friends, or neighbours, and there is no age requirement to provide care.

Designated essential caregivers will be permitted at PRHC for the following patient groups only:

• Patients who are near end-of-life.
• Patients who are under 18 years of age (supported by parents or legal guardians).
• Patients who require a support person in the emergency department, at the discretion of the care team.
• Patients who are giving birth at the hospital (supported by birthing partner).
• Patients who clinically require a support person to safely attend their appointment or support inpatient care. This includes patients with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities, and who have challenges with communication and mobility.
• Patients who require a support person when receiving a life-altering diagnosis or experiencing a mental health crisis. In the Emergency Department, this will be at the discretion of the care team due to capacity limitations and infection control protocols.
• Other critical or urgent circumstances requiring family presence, including visits to the ICU.

Visiting hours for designated essential caregivers will continue to be 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., subject to additional restrictions as detailed on PRHC’s website. For more information, visit
prhc.on.ca/about-us/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/visiting-prhc-during-covid-19/

Designated essential caregivers coming to the hospital will continue to be screened at both public entrances and will be required to check in with their name and phone number at the hospital’s main information desk. They will be asked to wear a mask at all times when in the hospital, including in the patient/bed area, and to clean their hands well and frequently while at the hospital.

At Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, each admitted patient is now allowed only two designated visitors for the duration of their hospitalization (visitors must be at least 16 years of age) and only one can visit each day.

Exceptions apply for end-of-life, critically ill, childbirth, and vulnerable patients. For a full list of exceptions, visit rmh.org/covid-19 and see the “Visiting Restrictions and Protocols” section.

All visitors must be double vaccinated except visitors who fall under specific exceptions, who will be required to submit to a rapid antigen test upon entering the hospital. All visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, and those who fail screening will be denied entry.

Visitors must wear a hospital-issued mask at all times and maintain at least two metres distance between patients and members of the care team at all times. Cloth masks or any other face-covering brought from home will not be accepted.

Both PRHC and Ross Memorial Hospital offer virtual visits through video calls or telephone calls.