Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Monday, October 25, 2021:
- There have been 597,515 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 370 cases from the previous day (VAX: 190 unvaccinated, 22 partially vaccinated, 123 fully vaccinated, 35 unknown). There were 492 cases on Friday and 373 on Saturday. There have been 584,411 people recovered from the virus while 9,846 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 18,777,293 of which 7,990 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total (as of Friday) is 1,695,914. The country has 28,729 deaths from the virus – 10 in the Yukon, nine in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,109 in British Columbia, 3,026 in Alberta, 812 in Saskatchewan, 1,235 in Manitoba, 9,839 in Ontario, 11,466 in Quebec, 106 in New Brunswick, 15 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 98 in Nova Scotia.
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added one case Friday to bring the regional total to 1,935 confirmed cases, of which eight are active (one fewer than Thursday) and 1,864 are recovered (two more than Thursday). The number of deaths to date is 63. There is no one in hospital. There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 430 cases (four active), Lanark County West 433 cases (four active), Leeds-Grenville Central 239 cases (zero active), Leeds-Grenville East 390 cases (zero active), Leeds-Grenville West 213 cases (zero active) and Unknown/Out of Region 22 cases (zero active).
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added eight cases Friday – one in Prescott-Russell, four in SD&G and three in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 5,757 confirmed cases, of which 136 are active (seven fewer than Thursday) and 5,500 are resolved (15 more than Thursday). The total number of deaths is 120. There are 25 people in hospital (one more than Thursday) and six in the ICU (no change from Thursday). There are three institutional outbreaks (two fewer than Thursday – Residence St-Francois in Casselman, Sandfield Place in Cornwall and Heritage Heights in Cornwall). Testing increased 245 to 165,215. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,247 cases (62 active), SD&G 1,330 cases (24 active), Cornwall 1,710 cases (35 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 470 cases (15 active)(Akwesasne health department had three new cases Friday: 476 total cases, 12 active, nine deaths to date).
- Vaccines: Ontario 22,385,190 (+19,285, last update Oct. 24); EOHU 326,264 (last update Oct. 22, +990 from previous update Oct. 21); LGL 149,626 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 142,818 with second doses (last update Oct. 19, -1,298 first doses, +1,148 second doses since previous update Oct. 13, health unit has added third dose statistics with 2,133 third doses).
- The Ontario government plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions in a staged approach over the next six months. Starting today (Oct. 25), capacity limits are lifted for many places where proof of vaccination is needed. As well, other businesses will be allowed to lift capacity limits and physical distancing requirement if they choose to require proof of vaccination. That includes barber shops, hair salons, real estate open houses, photography studios, museums, art galleries and boat tours. The long range rate for all measures to be lifted, including indoor masking and proof of vaccination, is March 28, 2022.
- As the six month plans goes into effect, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says vaccines are the best course to get out of the pandemic. Moore says if more lockdowns are needed they should be localized.
- Canadian Senator Jesee Forest-Niesing, from Sudbury, Ont., is in hospital after contracting COVID-19. She is fully vaccinated. She is out of ICU and expected to recover.
- New Brunswick’s health department reported Sunday that 83.7 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated. Of those with at one dose, it’s 92.1 per cent.
- A requirement for federal civil servants to be vaccinated is being investigated by the federal privacy watchdog. While there’s no details as to why, privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien says his office is looking into complaints about it.
- Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says the country is getting close to having 90 per cent of the eligible population with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Pfizer says it’s kid-sized doses of its vaccine are nearly 91 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic infections. Study details were released Friday ahead of Canadian regulators reviewing the vaccine for those aged 5 to 11.
- Pop singer Ed Sheeran says he’s tested positive for coronavirus. He’s doing interviews and singing from home while is self-isolates. Sheeran is scheduled to be a musical guest on Saturday Night Live in two weeks.
Have a story or news release related to COVID-19? Send it along for possible inclusion in a future digest on Brockville Newswatch. Email editor@brockvillenewswatch.com. Please put “COVID-19 Digest” in the subject line.