Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Nearly a week after KFLA moved into Step 3 of the province’s re-opening plan, the region has reported just a single new case of COVID-19.
Thursday marked six straight days of new cases, while the active case count in the region remains at one, though that case currently requires a stay in a local hospital ICU with a ventilator.
During his weekly media call, KFLA acting medical officer of health Dr. Hugh Guan said it’s been a positive start to Step 3.
“We are starting off on a very good standpoint with a very low active case count therefor if there is any blip in cases we’ll be more than enough prepared and have the capacity to respond,” said Guan.
On the vaccination front the region seems to have stalled a bit in terms of people rolling up their sleeves to get their first dose, though the number does continue to climb ever so slightly. Just under 81 per cent of people age 12 and older have gotten their first shot, slightly better than the provincial average of 79 per cent. For second dose the number is at 65.3 per cent, once again better than the province rate of 62 per cent.
“First doses are quite slow but at least it’s steady, with a few hundred folks getting their first doses about every day or so and if we continue to have that slow but steady increase we’ll definitely reach a higher vaccination rate,” said Guan. “Our second dose rate continues to go up about point five per cent to one (per cent) a day depending on supply and the day, but things are looking good there.”
Based on those numbers the region has met one requirement to exit Step 3, which is to post an 80 per cent first dose rate. The next goal is 75 per cent for second dose.
In highlighting the benefits of getting the shot, Guan pointing to the data pulled from June’s COVID-19 cases across the province.
“It was 4.7 times higher in unvaccinated individuals compared to fully vaccinated individuals in terms of risk of COVID infection and 3.4 times, even for those partially vaccinated, those unvaccinated are still 3.4 times of greater risk of catching COVID,” said Guan. “Really, the benefits of COVID vaccination are pretty clear because the vast majority of cases across Ontario are in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals and it seems to even then be in mostly unvaccinated individuals. We saw that locally too when we had that tiny surge in cases about a week or two back.”
Mass vaccination clinics at Napanee’s Strathcona Paper Centre as well as Kingston’s Invista Centre, Kingston Health Sciences’ Community Health and Burr Gymnasium are well stocked with supply and are taking walk-ins for first and second shots. Evening hours have been added to the Invista Centre as well in an effort to make it more convenient. The SPC and Invista sites are scheduled to close Aug. 2.
“The count down is a bit on to get all youth 12 and over as well as young adults who will be attending post secondary institutions locally and around the province to get at least their first dose because if they can get their first dose in the next few days, it means that in about a month they can also get their second dose before school starts,” said Guan. “We really want to get people two doses before school starts as people start congregating a bit more together when school starts, vaccinating is the best thing folks can do to protect themselves and others in terms of COVID transmission.”
Guan says its recommended for people who have tested positive COVID-19 to still get the shot in order to get full protection. Vaccines are also available to those with an expired health card or even to those without one at all. They do require some form of ID when they go for their shot.
As KFLA closes in on having no active cases, Guan says it’s a major accomplishment but the battle isn’t over just yet.
“I think is shows how good the community is in terms of getting vaccinated as well as adhering to Public Health measures prior to vaccinations,” he said. “It really is that community effort in terms of everyone’s doing their part in controlling COVID. We can’t let our guard down. We still haven’t reached the adequate levels of vaccination. I believe (Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health) Dr. (Kieran) Moore at the province is hoping for 90 per cent whereby he thinks COVID will be able to settle down even more so. We still need to keep our guard up, we can’t become totally laxed, but again the best thing we can do is get our two doses.”
To book an appointment or for more information on vaccine locations, visit https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/covid-19-vaccine.aspx.