Niagara sees 136 new virus cases
Region fourth-worst in Ontario for cases per 100,000 residents
As Niagara’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout swung into its second day Thursday, the region reported 136 new cases.
The first vaccines were given Wednesday, administered by Niagara Health at the St. Catharines hospital for front-line health-care workers.
Niagara Region Public Health crews, meanwhile, vaccinated 142 seniors at two long-termcare homes, at Gilmore Lodge in Fort Erie and Garden City Manor in St. Catharines.
Niagara Health said in the first day, 322 needles were given. It hopes to provide more than
11,000 vaccinations over the next three weeks, which would require at least 525 vaccinations daily to meet that goal.
Niagara Region Public
Health’s redesigned COVID reporting page also reveals new facts on Niagara’s struggle with the coronavirus.
For instance, there are currently 120 active cases among residents ages 20 and younger.
Also, approximately one-third of the 6,110 coronavirus cases in the region since the start of the pandemic have occurred in people between the ages of 20 and 30, the highest total among five age groups.
So far in Niagara, there have been at least 208 Covid-related deaths and 1,538 cases remain active region-wide.
On Thursday, the outbreak at West Park Health Centre in St. Catharines was declared over.
Meanwhile, Monarch Memory Care retirement facility in Niagara Falls has declared an outbreak.
Numerous other outbreaks continue in long-term care and retirement residences across
Niagara.
In Niagara Falls, at Meadows of Dorchester, River Road Retirement Residence, Oakwood Park Lodge, Chippawa Creek at Bella Care Residence (Willoughby and Vineyard units), and Millennium Trail Manor.
In St. Catharines, at Heidehof Home for the Aged, Henley House, Radiant Care Tabor Manor long-term care, Tufford Manor, Pioneer Elder Care, Linhaven nursing home (Lincoln, Henley, Brock floors), Royal Henley Retirement Residence, Tufford Nursing Home, Extendicare, Garden City Manor.
In Niagara-on-the-lake, at Niagara Long-term Care Residence (Riverview unit) and at Pleasant Manor long-term care. In Lincoln at United Mennonite Home and Albright Manor, and in Grimsby at Shalom Manor.
In Welland at Villa de Rose Retirement Suites, Rapelje Lodge (houses 400, 500) and Seasons Retirement Communities.
In Fort Erie at Crescent Park Lodge and Maple Park Lodge (Robin, Cardinal units).
Several hospital outbreaks continue, including at Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. Catharines (entire facility).
Niagara Health reported two new outbreaks in medical units — on the sixth-floor unit at Welland hospital after 11 patients tested positive, and in Unit 2A at the St. Catharines hospital where three patients tested positive.
In St. Catharines there are also ongoing outbreaks in Unit 4A and in the emergency department, which remains open.
At Greater Niagara General Hospital, a facility-wide outbreak was declared over after the site went 14 days with no new cases reported.
However, outbreaks continue in the pharmacy and in units C, D, Trillium and in intensive care. Niagara Health reports 18 patients and 41 staff members remain active cases, and so far 11 patients have died.
The emergency department remains open at the Niagara Falls hospital.
Niagara Health said Thursday it had 80 COVID-19 patients in its care, three more than the previous day.