Pandemic claims two more Niagara lives
Public health focusing on protecting unvaccinated students
Two more patients have died while being treated for COVID-19 at Niagara hospitals.
Niagara Health reported the Niagara residents died Friday, bringing the number of deaths among hospitalized patients being treated for the virus to 227 since the pandemic began, while nine patients have died since Aug. 7 during the fourth wave.
As of Monday morning, the hospital system reported there were six patients being treated for the virus, including five in intensive care. Two of those patients were fully vaccinated.
Niagara Region Public Health is reporting there have been 437 deaths throughout the region since the pandemic began.
Protecting children at Niagara elementary schools remains a top priority for public health officials — with 171 cases reported so far this school year and the majority of those among unvaccinated students.
Niagara acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji said there have been 20 new infections among students within the past two weeks.
The overwhelming majority of the 70 schools where cases have been reported — 77 per cent — are elementary schools, where children are still too young to be vaccinated, he said while updating media on the spread of the virus in Niagara.
District School Board of Niagara reported five facilities with seven active cases of the virus, as of Monday afternoon.
Niagara Catholic District School board had five cases at two schools, including an outbreak affecting four people at Notre Dame Catholic Elementary in Niagara Falls.
Hirji said 171 cases involving schools have led to contact tracing of 2,687 contacts, including about 350 contacts within the past two weeks.
“That gives you a scale of even a small number of cases — 20 cases can lead to 350 additional contacts. It’s a huge impact … and, of course, a lot of work that happens and a lot of disruption to student learning,” he said.
“We really are looking forward to a day where vaccinations will be an option for more of these students so they can get that protection and they don’t see their education disrupted in this fashion anymore.”
Although some spread of infection is occurring within schools, Hirji said most cases are a result of children becoming infected at their homes and bringing the virus to class with them.
Calling it an “unfortunate statistic,” Hirji urged anyone who is around children — who have children in their home or may be visiting extended family members who have children — to get vaccinated.
He said ensuring that people who may be in contact with students are vaccinated could cut the number of students getting sick with COVID-19 in half.
“I really think getting that group of people vaccinated could be an easy win here to make sure we prevent the spread of infection,” he said.
Health-care workers administered 419 doses of vaccine to Niagara residents Sunday, increasing the number of fully vaccinated residents to 73.4 per cent, while 76.9 per cent now have their first dose.
Hirji said the 12 to 29 age group is the least vaccinated group in the community that is eligible for vaccination, and they are second highest in terms of cases compared to the under-12 age group.
Public health reported 16 new COVID-19 cases Monday, among 154 active infections.
There was one new community outbreak declared, for a total of 11 active outbreaks, including outbreaks at Heidehof Home for the Aged in St. Catharines that has been ongoing since Oct. 4 and at Maple Park Lodge in Fort Erie that began Sept. 29.