By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg councillors were among the first to hear the news that Queen's Park has passed legislation that proposes to extend Ontario's Stay-At-Home order through June 2.

The news came to the committee-of-the-whole meeting as part of Chief Administrative Officer Tracey Vaughan's verbal COVID-19 update, along with another date of keen interest locally – May 31, which is the date a report will be presented to council on what will happen with the Cobourg beach this summer.

Vaughan said that, as of that afternoon, the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit region has 36 active cases. OF the 852 cases to date, 259 are variants of concern.

Provincially, more than 6.2-million doses of vaccine have been administered, of which more than 393,000 were second shots (a figure that includes 95% of long-term-care residents). More than 92% of Ontario residents aged 80 and older have at least one shot, with 97% of residents aged 75 to 79 and 48% of residents aged 60 and over also having at least one shot.

“It's important for us to recognize where some of these victories and some of these pluses are happening,” Vaughan said.

As of May 13, Ontario residents aged 40 and over, even in non-hot-spot areas, can book an appointment for a mass-immunization clinic, a move that comes in time for an increase in vaccine supplies. As well, 22 local pharmacies have given some 4,000 shots of AstraZeneca.

The demographic that most often tests positive for COVID-19 is currently those under 20, with those aged 50-59 in second place. Of new cases, 31% show no known source, which means it is likely a result of community transmission.

HKPR Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking will host another Talk With The Doc session May 18 from 1 to 2 p.m., and you can access it on the health unit website.

Cobourg Police and Bylaw Officers continue to offer a 4E approach – Engage, Explain, Educate and Enforce, with enforcement as as last resort. It is increasingly becoming necessary with the continuing Saturday events, Vaughan said. On May 1, they gave out six tickets, and four tickets were given a week later.