By Cecilia Nasmith

Local COVID numbers are moving in an encouraging direction, Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking said at this week's media scrum.

To date, the HKPR region has had 1,766 cases, of which 96 are considered still active (31 of them in Northumberland County).

The seven-day average per 100,000 rate has fallen to 48 from the 80s.

These numbers are subject to periodic fluctuation, she said, but they are moving in the right direction – though there are two recent deaths.

“It's a good reminder that COVID-19 is not always a benign illness. It can cause very severe illness resulting in hospital admissions, ICU stays and, unfortunately, in deaths.”

Dr. Bocking said she is often asked about Variants of Concern. Latest HKPR figures indicate 60% of cases turn out to be VOC, a figure that reaches 80% and even 90% elsewhere in the province.

As of Monday, 62,023 vaccinations have been administered in the HKPR area while at the same time – reflecting the fact that many HKPR residents are sent elsewhere for their shots – 79,641 people who live in the region have at least one shot. Of that number, 76% of those aged 60 and up have at least their first dose. That figure is 49% for the eligible population aged 18 and under.

The pause of AstraZeneca in Ontario is a matter of concern, she acknowledged. It's a step taken in light of rare episodes of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia – though many other countries (most notably the UK) continue to use it. The pause will give the province a chance to take a closer look at the data, Dr. Bocking said.

“Those individuals who had an appointment with a primary-care provider to receive AstraZeneca will see other types of vaccine types start to be offered – probably Moderna,” she said.

“Pharmacies mostly were out of AstraZeneca. There's a provincial pilot to start to flow both Moderna and Pfizer. By the end of the month, I would expect to see pharmacies across the region offer Pfizer and Moderna.”

The important thing for anyone who already has one AstraZeneca shot to remember is that he or she will be able to get a second dose – but that second dose might not be AstraZeneca.

While Moderna supplies are not terribly reliable, Dr. Bocking was pleased to share the Pfizer numbers.

For the first two weeks in May, they got 4,000 doses a week. That will grow to 8,000 in the last two weeks in May, and to almost 9,300 per week in June – good news, compared to the 3,500 Pfizer doses the HKPR area was receiving weekly previously.

Eligibility for vaccinations is expanding this week, she added.

As of Tuesday, eligibility includes those with at-risk health conditions and a wider category of essential workers who cannot work from home.

As of Thursday, anyone aged 40 and over an book an appointment.

Just because you can book an appointment, she added, doesn't mean you can book an appointment tomorrow.

Though increased vaccine supplies mean the health unit can host 24 mass-immunization clinics throughout the month of May, the increasing eligibility numbers mean you can expect an appointment (at best) toward the end of the month.

And some of the supply will go elsewhere – for example, second doses to certain health-care workers in the highest-priority category who already have a first dose.
“We have been working closely with the four hospitals in our region to be sure that they have access to second doses, as well as staff and essential caregiver at long-term-care and retirement homes.”

As work goes on to get as many people vaccinated as possible, Dr. Bocking reminds everyone of the public-health measures that continue to make the biggest difference in terms of preventing the spread of the virus.

“We are in a Stay-At-Home Order still. We haven't received any confirmed notice whether or not it will be extended. I know it's continuing to be a challenge for both residents and for everyone, and we continue to encourage people to be kind to each other and we'll get through these next few weeks and it will be summer and we will have nice, warm weather to be spending outside.”

Meanwhile, she said, stay home except for essential purposes, mask appropriately, wash hands often and keep those all-important social connections virtual for now.

As we contemplate reopening, Dr. Bocking urged that it take place at a time of very low virus transmission – otherwise we are just in for additional shutdowns and lockdowns.

“Case counts we are seeing are still quite high, and I would want to see them much lower if we were to see people gather outside their household,” she commented.

And as much as she would love to introduce her family to the Cobourg beach she has heard so much about, she hopes council will balance the spiritual and physical benefits of this wonderful asset (as well as the economic benefit it represents to the town) with a good, hard look at the numbers when they make their decision on May 31.

“If we still see widespread high numbers, to keep the community safe, I don't think I would want to see the beach reopened,” she said.

Earlier in the day, the health unit had issued a press release announcing the expansion of vaccination criteria as well as the number of clinics. It also carried the news of the closing of the clinic at the A.J. Larue Community Centre in Haliburton. The number of people attending has typically been low, the announcement said. With the addition of primary-care providers and pharmacies now offering vaccinations, the decision was made to close it.

And the clinic in Campbellford is moving as of Thursday to the Campbellford District Curling and Racquet Club on Front Street. Anyone who got a first shot at the previous location at the Trent Hills Emergency Base will get their second shot at the new location.

A list of the latest eligibility criteria, information on booking appointments, and health unit clinic dates and locations are all available at www.hkpr.on.ca.