COVID-19: What you need to know for June 4 - TVO

Provincewide

• Per today's government report, there are 914 new cases in Ontario, for a total of total of 534,675 since the pandemic began; 687 people are in hospital, 522 of them in intensive care, and 357 on ventilators. To date, 8,820 people have died.
• According to data from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, there are 26 outbreaks in long-term-care facilities, 39 confirmed active cases of positive residents, and 77 confirmed active cases of positive staff. To date, there have been 3,776 confirmed resident deaths and 13 confirmed staff deaths.
• Per the government's report on Ontario’s vaccination program, as of 8 p.m. yesterday, Ontario has administered 168,322 new doses of COVID-19 vaccines, for a total of 9,661,327 since December 2020. 7,869,197 people have received only one dose, and 896,065 people have received both doses. 70.27 per cent of Ontarians over the age of 18 have received their first dose of vaccine and 7.39 per cent have received their second.

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Data from the Province of Ontario; visualizations by John Michael McGrath.​

Data from the Province of Ontario; visualizations by John Michael McGrath.

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Data from the Province of Ontario; visualizations by John Michael McGrath.

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Data from the Province of Ontario; visualizations by John Michael McGrath.

• Ontario is accelerating the schedule for second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Starting today, individuals who are 70 and older, or those who received their first vaccine dose on or before April 18, can book their second dose of an mRNA vaccine at a participating pharmacy. These individuals will be able to book through the provincial portal as of June 7 at 8 a.m.
• The province announced relaxed restrictions for residents of long-term-care homes. Thanks to high vaccination rates and reduced community spread of COVID-19, residents can soon expand their social interactions. Starting June 9, residents who have been fully immunized can leave the home for day and overnight social outings and trips; for residents for whom outdoor visits are highly unlikely or impossible, one visitor at a time can come inside, in addition to a caregiver; and brief hugs can now take place regardless of vaccination status. Where both the resident and visitor is fully immunized, close physical contact, including handholding, is allowed.
• Ontario's updated guidance for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca takes effect today. People who received a first dose of the vaccine but have not yet received a second can now receive an mRNA vaccine, if desired. This comes after the National Advisory Council on Immunization updated its recommendations earlier this week. 

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area 

• According to data as of June 3, there are 266 new cases in Toronto, for a total of 167,640 since the pandemic began; 768 of them are in hospital (18 new). In total, 3,400 people have died (4 new). 
• The City of Toronto says that more than 45 per cent of children aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• For an update on the city's vaccination progress and a list of available city clinics, click here. 
• This Saturday, the city of Toronto will expand its ActiveTO program to Allen Road. Northbound lanes will be closed to cars between Eglinton Aveue West and Lawrence Avenue beginning at 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. For a full list of ActiveTO sites this weekend, click here. 
• Mississauga council voted to give hard-hit businesses some relief in the form of waived or reduced fees.

• The Hamilton Spectator reports the city is passed the COVID-19 vaccination target for the first step of Ontario's economic re-opening plan, as about 65 per cent of adults have received at least one dose. The plan calls for 60 per cent. As Hamilton sees a slight increase in cases, possibly attributable to the May long weekend, and the Delta variant first identified in India continues to spread quickly, vaccinating more people will be crucial to keeping cases down.

• Hamilton will extend planned operations of a temporary shelter to the end of the year. As the Spectator reports, it was set to close at the end of this month, but officials say there continues to be high demand for shelter space due to the pandemic. Shelters need more space for physical distancing, and more people are facing acute financial need.

• While the public board in Niagara has not confirmed its plans, it appears the Catholic board will not be hosting outdoor graduation assemblies. Representatives from both boards tell the Welland Tribune it takes a long time to plan ceremonies and would be hard to change course now. Niagara's acting medical officer of health Mustafa Hirji says the risk of outdoor ceremonies increasing COVID-19 transmission is low if people spread out, but that participants would likely be tempted to group up and hug, which would not be safe.

Indigenous

• As of June 2, Indigenous Services Canada is aware of 690 active cases of COVID-19 in First Nation communities across Canada. They are also reporting 343 COVID-19 related deaths in total, across all First Nation reserves in Canada. To date, Ontario First Nation communities have had a total of 2215 COVID-19 cases.

• As of June 1, Indigenous Services Canada is aware of 687 communities across Canada with vaccinations underway. 508,883 doses have been administered. ISC reminds the urban Indigenous population that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis living off reserve will receive COVID-19 vaccination through their provincial or territorial health services.

• On Tuesday, June 8, there will be an Indigenous vaccination clinic for youth ages 12-17 and their families in the Greater Sudbury area.

• Effective June 2, Six Nations of the Grand River entered Alert Red level of its pandemic response plan. Under Alert Red, private gatherings are not permitted except with immediate household members; weddings and funerals may have five people maximum indoors and 10 maximum outdoors; outdoor dining and curbside pickup are allowed but indoor dining is still prohibited. Previously, the community was in Level Black with further restrictions.

• Nipissing First Nation will re-open its offices to staff starting on June 14.

• Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte status members age 12 and older, and members of their household, who live in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Hastings Prince Edward County, or Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington County can now book their COVID-19 vaccine appointment through Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

• The Mindimooyenh vaccination clinic in Thunder Bay is now booking appointments for second does vaccination appointments for the urban Indigenous community.

• In preparation for Indigenous youth vaccinations, the clinic is also taking registration for youth aged 12 and older.

• Appointments are available for both first and second doses at the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Six Nations of the Grand River. Call to book.

• First Nation, Inuit and Métis community members who are age 16 and older, as well as their spouses and family household members, can book an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine at the St. Laurent Complex, in Ottawa.

• Beginning June 7, the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte administration and Community Wellbeing Centre will be resuming in office operations. The Kanhiote Library will continue to offer curb-side pick-up and beginning on June 8 will allow access to computers or copier by appointment. Tyendinaga Fitness Resource Centre will open on June 7 with a schedule of outdoor classes.

• Tungasuvvingat Inuit has put together a list of vaccination clinics happening for Inuit living in Ontario including ones in Ottawa, Kingston, Durham, and Peel Regions.

• There will be an Indigenous youth COVID-19 vaccination clinic on June 6, for First Nation, Inuit and Metis individuals 12-15 years of age at Rideau High School, in Ottawa. Call Ottawa Public Health to book an appointment.

• Vaccine clinics for youth aged 12-17 start next week in the James and Hudson Bay Region. Visit their website to learn more about Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

Northern

• Timmins Today reports that three James Bay communities have declared states of emergency related to COVID-19. Moosonee, Fort Albany First Nation, and Attawapiskat First Nation are all under a state of emergency. According to the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, there are 102 active cases in the region as of yesterday. There are 50 in Fort Albany, 22 in Attawapiskat, 18 in Moosonee, 11 in Moose Factory, and one in Kashechewan.
• The Porcupine Health Unit says that shortened second-dose intervals are now available for certain groups. Individuals 80 and older, Indigenous adults 18 and older, healthcare workers who provide direct patient care, medical responders, and essential caregivers are all eligible. A full list of eligible people can be found here.
• The North Bay Nugget reported no new cases or resolved cases from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. There are 17 cases in the region: 13 in the Nipissing District and four in the Parry Sound District. The health unit delivered 520 vaccine doses, for a total of 75,888

• Janet DeMille, the medical officer of health at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, told TBNewswatch that a return to in-class learning would have been beneficial for students. “When that is disrupted, especially the way we have seen it disrupted for the last year and a half, this kind of impact, I think, could last for years,” she says. DeMille also expressed concern over the impact of school closures on kids’ mental health, as well as the way it exacerbates disparities between families who are struggling and those who are not.

• The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has administered over 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Over 53 per cent of the population has received at least one vaccine dose, while over 10 per cent of the population has been fully immunized against the virus.
• The Northwestern Health Unit has administered over 50,000 COVID-19 vaccines. At least 55 per cent of residents in the health unit’s catchment have received at least one vaccine dose.

Eastern

• The City of Belleville announced Thursday that it will hold COVID-safe outdoor activities in city parks for children this summer, starting July 5, according to inQuinte.ca.

• With the announcement Wednesday that children will not return to in-person learning in June, the Kingston Community Health Centres is focusing on getting students vaccinated, the Kingstonist reports. KCHC is hoping that many students will have their second dose before returning to school in the fall.

• Ottawa researchers are working to create tests that will detect the latest COVID-19 variants in the city’s wastewater, the Ottawa Citizen reports. A cell biologist at CHEO is working with his team to test for the Delta variant, which was first identified in India, and the Gamma variant, which was first identified in Brazil.

• Ottawa parents are planning a walk on Friday to protest the decision to not allow students to return to in-person learning this school year, CTV News reports. “It was pretty heart-wrenching. I thought this is not right, all the messaging here is schools should be open,” said one parent.

Southwestern

• According to CBC London, there were 18 new cases of COVID-19 reported by Middlesex London Health Unit on Thursday and no additional deaths. 

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COVID-19: What you need to know for June 4 - TVO
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