Niagara Health has reported 11 COVID deaths in past week

Two more patients have died at Niagara Health hospitals, as the sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

The hospital system reported both Niagara residents died Thursday while being treated for the virus that has claimed the lives of 11 patients in the past week.

There were 91 patients being treated for the virus, including eight in intensive care.

Niagara Region Public Health also increased the total COVID-19 patient deaths since the pandemic began to 547 on Thursday, up from 544.

One of the three newly reported deaths was in the 60-79 age group, while the remaining two were in the 80-plus age group.

Known active cases of the virus increased to 1,587 Friday, up from 1,570 Thursday.

In an interview earlier this week, Niagara Health’s medical director for infection prevention and control, Dr. Karim Ali, continued to urge people to protect themselves from infection.

“It’s sad that people continue to lose their lives to COVID. It’s unfortunate,” he said. “I think back to March 2020, when all of this started in Niagara and the first patient and then countless after that we have been involved in. I never forget that. Every time my colleagues and I are going to see a patient, we always have that in mind.”

Ali said he supports efforts by Niagara’s acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji, who is continuing to pressure the provincial government to temporarily expand mask-wearing requirements in some indoor public settings across Ontario.

Hirji sent a letter to Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, earlier this week, joining other medical officers of health in asking him to temporarily expand mask-wearing requirements.

As of Friday, Hirji said he has not received a response from Moore.

In the meantime, Ali said, “just because a mandate is lifted doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear a mask.

“If you’re at risk, try to wear a mask when you’re out and about in the community and you’re going to be in a high-risk indoor setting.”

Across Ontario, 17 new deaths were reported linked to COVID-19, while there was a small decrease in the number of people in hospital with the virus.

There have been 411 COVID-19-related fatalities in the past month, provincewide.

The Ministry of Health says there are 1,662 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, fewer than the 1,676 reported in hospital on Thursday.

There were 210 people in intensive care due to COVID-19, a small increase from 205 the day before.