There was one new case reported in Collingwood today, but no epidemiological link was reported and the case has been attributed to community transmission.
The outbreak declared at a Collingwood apartment building on Feb. 5 has held steady at 25 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, and no new cases this week. But testing of the confirmed cases continues and has resulted in seven of them being confirmed as the B.1.1.7 variant strain that originated in the UK.
To date, the health unit has confirmed 141 cases of COVID-19 in Collingwood residents with 128 of those now recovered and two cases ending in death. Last week Collingwood saw a weekly incidence rate of 25 cases per 100,000 people.
There were two new cases reported in The Blue Mountains yesterday, the first cases reported there in several days. The Grey Bruce Health Unit has reported a total of 44 cases of COVID-19 in The Blue Mountains.
There are no patients with COVID-19 currently hospitalized at the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.
There is lots of vaccine news both for the region and the nation today.
As of next week, there will be a community vaccination clinic set up at the Collingwood Legion, the same drive-thru location currently operating as a local assessment centre.
The health unit announced it would be opening clinics across the region on March 1, with one in Collingwood and one in Wasaga Beach. The vaccination rollout is still in the first phase of a three-phase plan laid out by the province of Ontario. Since the health unit has provided two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to nearly all the long-term care home residents in the region and at least one to retirement home residents, it is moving forward with vaccinating seniors.
The province allows for seniors over 80 years old to be vaccinated in the current phase of the rollout, but the health unit is starting with seniors over 85 years old and Indigenous adults over 55.
Those who are eligible (proof of eligibility will be required) can now book an appointment online through the health unit website or by phone at 1-877-721-7520. The health unit advises those who are booking to read the step-by-step guide on the website, so they can confirm eligibility and know what documentation to bring with them to the appointment.
Grey Bruce Health Unit is eager to get going with community vaccination rollout and this morning unveiled its vaccination hub, set up in a hockey rink in Hanover. The health unit boasts its unique design allows more people to be vaccinated quickly and with fewer staff requirements.
Prime Minister Trudeau announced today he's expecting 6.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of March. The health unit has said any of its plans for rollout are dependent on the availability of the vaccine, which the medical officer of health described as very limited at this time.
Health Canada announced today it has given approval for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Canada pre-ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine. The vaccine requires refrigeration and is meant to be administered in two doses.
