The North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit reports an additional four people cases of COVID-19 today.
It brings to 102 the number of cases in the district since the pandemic started. Three were contracted by close contact and the other by community spread.
Two are under 19 and one is in the 20-39 age bracket and the fourth is between 40-59. All are isolating.
We now have 11 active cases, seven in Parry Sound District and four in Nipissing.
The district remains a green zone for now. Sudbury is yellow, Témiscamingue is orange, and Muskoka red.
Meanwhile, Ontario will be distributing additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine to 17 more hospital sites over the next two weeks, including regions with the highest rates of COVID-19 infection.
This is part of the initial phase of the government's three-phase vaccine implementation plan that began on December 14 with the initial vaccinations administered at Toronto's University Health Network.
Ontario is expecting to receive up to 90,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses from the federal government before the end of the year to continue vaccinating health care workers and essential caregivers who work in hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings caring for seniors. To prepare for the rollout of these next shipments, the following 17 hospital sites will receive the vaccine next.
- Windsor Regional Hospital
- London Health Sciences Centre
- Grand River Hospital
- Halton Healthcare
- Hamilton Health Sciences
- William Osler Health System
- Trillium Health Partners
- Southlake Regional Health Centre
- Mackenzie Health
- Humber River Hospital
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- Michael Garron Hospital
- Unity Health Toronto
- Scarborough Health Network
- Lakeridge Health
- Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
- Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
"Following a successful pilot, we are excited to continue onto the next stage of our rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines to Ontarians," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "While we are planning to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine will receive one, we need to first protect our frontline workers and those providing essential care to our most vulnerable."
All of these sites already have the equipment necessary to safely store the Pfizer vaccine at -70 degrees and the required staff are ready to receive and administer vaccines. Since this vaccine cannot be transferred beyond the initial delivery location at this time, vaccinations will continue to be administered to health care workers in high-risk settings first, such as long-term care homes and hospitals.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre was selected to test the travel logistics in northern Ontario and support the administration of the vaccine to Indigenous and remote communities.
To date, as part of the pilot project, Toronto's UHN and The Ottawa Hospital have administered over 2,300 doses and will continue to aim to vaccinate over 2,500 health care workers providing care in hospitals and long-term care homes.
"Our guiding priority is to ensure frontline health care workers and vulnerable populations receive the vaccine in this initial phase to ensure they are protected," noted Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. "As the supply of available dosages increases and is delivered to Ontario, we will be prepared to provide the vaccine in communities across the province."
