As of Tuesday morning, from the vaccine allotment that Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has been given, 6,355 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered.
At this time, no area pharmacies are currently offering COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, medical officer of health at the NWHU said.
Certain populations can now book appointments for COVID-19 vaccines and there are still spots available in clinics.
Those currently eligible to receive the vaccine include anyone aged 75 years or older, healthcare workers including staff who work in congregate living settings, adult homecare recipients, faith leaders who provide end-of-life care, care of deceased, funerals, home visits to unwell persons or pastoral care in hospitals and long-term care homes and other health care facilities. Another eligible group is Indigenous adults including Métis.
Anyone who has an appointment booked in April, who would like an earlier appointment can use the method that they originally used to book. Using this method, you can check to see whether there’s an earlier appointment slot available. Young Hoon said there are currently spaces open for their March clinics.
When booking the new appointment, the old appointment will automatically be cancelled.
Young Hoon said individuals who are having trouble using the booking system or figuring out how to make it work for them, can call the NWHU hotline and the appropriate individual will assist them in booking an appointment.
Young Hoon adds to also check your spam or junk mail for the booking invitation if it is not in your inbox.
With respect to having open slots in the vaccine clinics, the general sense is that it is mainly caused by how the booking system works, Young Hoon said, adding that they are looking into fixing the problem.
Cases in the region have steadied from a jump in numbers last week.
Three new COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday. There are two in the Sioux Lookout health hub and one in the Kenora health hub.
There are currently 54 active cases in the region, two in the Dryden health hub, 25 in the Kenora health hub and 27 in the Sioux Lookout health hub.
During the week of March 15 to March 21, the NWHU catchment area had 51 new confirmed cases and 12 hospitalizations occurred. There are currently 10 people in the region hospitalized because of COVID-19.
Four people with COVID-19 have died in the region so far. Young Hoon said it is important to note that deaths include anyone who had COVID-19 but it does not necessarily mean that COVID-19 is the cause of death.
Of the 51 new cases last week, 21 were related to an outbreak, 18 were close contacts of previous cases and the source of exposure remains unknown for 12 of the new cases.
Young Hoon said through their investigation, they have identified 97 people who had high risk close contacts with cases.
Case numbers are still high in the region and there are concerns of whether the region will go into the grey-lockdown framework but Young Hoon said the region’s overall incidence rate is consistent with the red level.
“I don’t think we need to move into lockdown. However, it is important for people to be extra cautious,” Young Hoon said. “There is increased risk in certain areas within our catchment area, particularly in the Kenora area and the Sioux Lookout area where individuals need to be very strict with the following public health measures.”
Young Hoon encourages the public to gather outdoors in the warm weather, adding that the risk is much lower if gathering outdoors. The gathering limit is 25 under the red level.
Young Hoon reminds the public that even when gathering outside it is important to maintain a two-meter distance from others that are not with in your household and to wear a mask if coming within that two meters.
As well, Young Hoon said individuals should avoid gatherings if they are feeling unwell and to get tested if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
