This is Oakville’s coronavirus update for Saturday, January 21, 2023. New cases of COVID-19 have decreased both in Oakville and across Halton.
Last week’s newly reported outbreak at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) has closed, but a new one has opened at the Sheraton Home of Chartwell Waterford long-term care home. Three people in Oakville are currently hospitalized and two people died.
Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam is urging everyone eligible to get their COVID-19 booster shots as viral activity “continues to fluctuate” across the country.
Jut after the third anniversary since COVID-19 began infections, Canada’s current active cases are above 500,000 people for the second week in a row, rising again and continuing a two-month trend that began in November 2022.
The bivalent booster vaccine is now available to those ages 5 and up. Uptick in vaccinations across the province, including locally, has been especially slow, at a pace 70% slower from fall 2021. This is true for those getting their first or second dose, or those getting booster shots (including the now available bivalent booster dose.)
Over 660 million cases of COVID-19 have now been recorded globally, since the start of the pandemic; 6.7 million people have died.
**Vaccine booking: Fourth doses (second booster doses) of vaccine are now available for anyone in Halton age 12 and up, though fourth doses must be at least five months since your last dose and 90 days since having COVID-19.
Halton continues to book first and second-dose vaccinations for all residents age six months and older, plus third-dose boosters for anyone age 12 and up.
Oakville COVID-19 Update:
- 32 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported (12 less than last week)
- 3 people were hospitalized (3 less than last week)
- 2 new deaths (2 less than last week)
- 3 active outbreaks in Oakville – plus 1
Halton COVID-19 Update:
- 147 new cases of COVID-19 (43 less than last week)
- 9 people were hospitalized (5 less than last week)
- 7 new deaths (1 less than last week)
- 9 active outbreaks in Halton – minus 1
Vaccinations in Halton Region:
- At least 1.53 million doses have been administered in Halton
- 94% of Halton residents have at least two doses (the primary series)
- 28% of eligible Halton residents (age 12+) are up to date on their booster shots (have had the primary series and a booster dose in the last six months)
Ontario COVID-19 Update:
- There have been 1.56 million cases in Ontario to date
- 15,802 deaths to date (+85 this week)
- 1,380 people are in hospital with COVID-19 (-188 this week)
- There are 115 people in ICU (-17 this week)
Summary of provincial vaccinations
Canadian COVID-19 Update:
- Canada has had 4.46 million cumulative cases of COVID-19
- There are 505,500 active cases in Canada (+2,600 this week)
- 4,783 people are currently in hospital (-471 this week)
- There are 48,946 deaths to date (+202 this week)
- 83.02% of Canadians are fully vaccinated (+0.01%)
Global COVID-19 Update:
- U.S. cases to date are now above 101.87 million; 1.09 million have died
- 663.64 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic started; 6.71 million people have died
The evidence is clear: vaccination is the best way to be protected. Local, provincial, national and international health units affirm the same data that Canada’s approved vaccines effectively protect you from COVID-19 and significantly reduce your risks of getting sick, going to the hospital, and dying from the disease.
Pictured right is a graph from Halton region in 2022 showing how dramatically your risk of getting sick or being admitted to hospital is when vaccinated – numbers that have remained consistent since vaccine deployment began in early 2021.
Sources:
**Note: Halton Regional Health has notified news organizations that COVID-19 data will not be reported next week during the holidays. COVID-19 figures will return in early January.
