Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Friday, November 19, 2021:
- There have been 609,429 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 711 cases from the previous day (VAX: 322 unvaccinated, 28 partially vaccinated, 314 fully vaccinated, 47 unknown). There have been 594,602 people recovered from the virus while 9,955 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 19,445,070 of which 12,480 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total is 1,759,560. The country has 29,462 deaths from the virus – 12 in the Yukon, 12 in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,290 in British Columbia, 3,209 in Alberta, 905 in Saskatchewan, 1,281 in Manitoba, 9,955 in Ontario, 11,550 in Quebec, 122 in New Brunswick, 17 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 105 in Nova Scotia.
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added six cases Thursday to bring the regional total to 2,022 confirmed cases, of which 37 are active (one fewer than Wednesday) and 1,921 are recovered (seven more than Wednesday). The number of deaths to date is 64. There are two people in hospital (one fewer than Wednesday). There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 445 cases (three active), Lanark County West 459 cases (15 active), Leeds-Grenville Central 250 cases (five active), Leeds-Grenville East 408 cases (nine active), Leeds-Grenville West 227 cases (five active) and Unknown/Out of Region 26 cases (zero active).
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added 17 cases Thursday – 10 as part of data catch-up for Akwesasne and seven new cases: two in Prescott-Russell, two in SD&G and three in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 5,964 confirmed cases, of which 69 are active (three more than Wednesday) and 5,764 are resolved (14 more than Wednesday). The number of deaths to date is 131. There is one person in hospital (one fewer than Wednesday) and zero in the ICU (one fewer than Wednesday). There are two institutional outbreaks (no change from Wednesday). Testing increased 308 to 170,968. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,281 cases (14 active), SD&G 1,376 cases (16 active), Cornwall 1,794 cases (20 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 513 cases (19 active)(Akwesasne health department reported eight new cases Thursday: 522 total cases, 23 active, nine deaths to date).
- Vaccines: Ontario 22,762,199 (+13,862, last update Nov. 18); EOHU 334,751 (last update Nov. 18, +344 from previous update Nov. 17); LGL 151,329 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 147,313 with second doses, 3,982 with third doses. (last update Nov. 16, +316 first doses, +605 second doses, +690 third doses since previous update Nov. 9).
- Across the border in St. Lawrence County, there were 111 new cases Thursday to bring the total case count to 13,890. There are 604 active cases in the county with most in Gouverneur (90), Canton (70), Massena (69) and Ogdensburg (32). There are 23 people in hospital. The number of deaths to date is 142. Nearly 56 per cent of the county’s nearly 112,000 residents are vaccinated. The positivity rate is nearly 6.5 per cent.
- The Ontario government is rolling out more options for people to get COVID-19 testing during the winter. They include take-home PCR test kits that can be picked up and dropped off at certain local pharmacies. They are for eligible people, including close contacts of a confirmed case. The province will also distribute 11 million rapid antigen tests to schools for students to use over the winter break. Each student will have a pack of five tests.
- An announcement is expected today (Friday) from the federal government that Health Canada has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 for children five to 11 years old. There’s also an announcement expected on changes to that pricey molecular test at the Canadian border – for short trips to the U.S. less than 72 hours.
- New Brunswick has imposed a new measure to address the rising case count in the province. Starting today at 6 p.m., if someone tests positive regardless of their vaccination status, their entire household has to isolate for two weeks. Not doing so will come with hefty fines. This is also the day provincial workers in N.B. had to be vaccinated, meaning around 2,000 could be put on unpaid leave.
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