Local COVID-19 cases surge
Health unit urging people to keep New Year’s Eve celebrations to their households, limit contacts
A surge in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation was reported Wednesday afternoon by Peterborough Public Health.
There had been 318 cumulative confirmed cases as of Tuesday and that total rose by 17 to 335 on Wednesday. The health unit called 11 of the cases new, leaving it unclear whether the other six cases had been transferred from other health units.
It’s the second highest local daily count of the pandemic, behind the 21 cases that were reported on Saturday.
The new cases come on the heels of the Christmas holidays.
The health unit urged people on Wednesday to only hold New Year’s Eve parties with members of their immediate households and to connect virtually with their loved ones as a month-long lockdown continues across southern Ontario.
There are now 60 active cases, up from 47 on Tuesday. The health unit is also monitoring 203 people considered to be at high risk because of close contact with a confirmed case.
The jurisdiction now has a cumulative rate of 226.6 cases per 100,000 people, less than a fifth of the provincial cumulative average of 1,260.5 cases per 100,000 people as of Wednesday. Of the 335 cases, 270 are now resolved and there were five earlier deaths, including three a few weeks ago at Fairhaven long-term-care home.
As of Tuesday, Peterborough Regional Health Centre had two COVID-19 patients, one in
an unnamed in-patient unit and the other in an intensive care unit after being transferred from another hospital.
Outbreaks were declared Dec. 23 at Riverview Manor nursing home and Community Living’s Romaine Street congregate living facility, but no further details have been provided.
Curve Lake First Nation reports having between one and four cases as of Wednesday.
More than 39,100 people, or 26.4 per cent, have now been tested at least once, the health unit also reported Wednesday.
COVID-19 testing continues at PRHC and Northcrest Arena, both by appointment only. To book a spot, visit prhc.on.ca and at peterboroughpublichealth.ca. The Northcrest Arena clinic will close at noon on Thursday and won’t reopen until Monday. The PRHC clinic will be closed Friday and reopen Saturday.
Two new cases in City of Kawartha Lakes, one in Northumberland County
Two new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the City of Kawartha Lakes and another in Northumberland County were reported Wednesday by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit.
Three cases in the City of Kawartha Lakes and six in Northumberland County have also recovered, the health unit reported, resulting in 36 active cases — 20 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 14 in Northumberland County and two in Haliburton County.
Four of the active cases are males under 20 and three are females under 20, Public Health Ontario reported.
Following reassigning of some cases between health units, the jurisdiction now has 507 cumulative cases, 246 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 232 in Northumberland County and 29 in Haliburton County with 34 earlier deaths.
The jurisdiction now has a cumulative rate of 268.4 cases per 100,000 people, less than a quarter of the provincial cumulative rate of 1,260.5 cases per 100,000 people as of Wednesday.
The health unit is also monitoring 163 people in Northumberland County, 42 in the City of Kawartha Lakes and three in Haliburton County who are considered to be at high risk because of close contact with a confirmed case, while another 28 high-risk contacts are also being monitored.
The Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay now has an active case, which was first reported on Dec. 22.
An outbreak that was declared Dec. 21 at the Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg is continuing. There are also outbreaks at a schools and at a “congregate setting,” but the health is not saying where.
Two cases at Warkworth Institution have recovered this week, but one case at the federal prison 55 kilometres southeast of Peterborough remained active as of Wednesday.
Another 822 tests have been administered to Warkworth inmates, Correctional Service of Canada reported Wednesday.