Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/ May 5, 2021
Today, the Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health (BOH) held its regular meeting for May 2021. The meeting was conducted by teleconference as part of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s (HPEPH) COVID-19 safety measures.
Board Receives Audited Financial Statements
The BOH acknowledged and thanked HPEPH staff for their work completing Audited Financial Statements for 2020 as pandemic related challenges continue. The Draft Audited Financial Statement was presented by Dan Coleman, Partner, Welch LLP.
HPEPH received $442,200 from the province to contribute to extraordinary costs in 2020 related to COVID-19. The extraordinary costs included overtime for staff, IT equipment and software, PPE supplies, plexiglass, internet and telephone costs and radio advertising.
This funding helped HPEPH avoid a deficit position in 2020 and avoided the need to cover these costs with existing municipal reserves.
COVID-19 Case Rate Trending in Right Direction
Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Resident, updated the BOH on local COVID-19 case rates, and advised that since reaching a peak in cases in early April, with more than 160 active cases in a single day, HPEPH case rates are slowly improving. He credited the tireless efforts of the community to adhere to public health measures, the work of HPEPH Case and Contact Management staff, as well the Provincial Stay-at-home order for the decline in cases. Today, HPEC has 72 active cases.
While case counts have decreased locally and provincially, Dr. Toumishey cautioned that the virus continues to circulate in the community and the risk of COVID-19 remains high. In order to protect our progress and avoid another spike in local rates, the community must remain vigilant.
“To avoid potential spread of illness, avoid non-essential contact with anyone outside your household,” said Dr. Toumishey. ”If you believe you have come in contact with someone with COVID-19 despite your best efforts, or if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even mild ones, get tested. This is the best way to identify cases of COVID-19 quickly, and help stop the spread to others.
HPEPH Benefitting from Stable and Reliable Increase in Vaccine Supply
Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, reported that 36% of HPEC residents have now received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine – 57,538 with their first dose of vaccine and 4,098 with their second dose.
He told the board that vaccination rollout will be ramping up in the May due to a stable and reliable increase in vaccine supply. Beginning tomorrow, booking eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination appointments in HPEC is expanding. In addition to groups that are already eligible, the following groups will be eligible to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments at ontario.ca/bookvaccine:
- Individuals turning 50 and over in 2021;
- Individuals with high-risk health conditions;
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals (in addition to the other channels previously available to book their appointment);
- People who cannot work from home who fall under Group One, which includes:
- Agriculture and farm workers
- Education workers in elementary and secondary schools
- Enforcement, inspection and compliance roles (by-law enforcement, building inspectors, food inspectors, border inspection officers, labour inspectors, and WSIB field workers)
- Foster care agency workers (including customary care providers)
- Food manufacturing and distribution workers
- Funeral, crematory, and cemetery workers
- Workers responding to critical events (police, fire, special constables, children’s aid society workers, infrastructure restoration workers)
- Priority groups previously required to book by phone.
Eligible individuals are encouraged to book online at ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Online booking is encouraged. If you are unable to book online, please contact the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900. The Booking Line is available 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Monday-Sunday. You will need your health card number to book, and you may be asked qualifying questions such as where you work, and the nature of your employment. As booking is managed by the province, please do not contact HPEPH to inquire about appointment booking.
Dr. Oglaza urged patience from all those who are eligible and stressed that while the province has expanded eligibility to book appointments, HPEPH can only administer the amount of vaccines received each week. Unfortunately, this means that being eligible to book does not guarantee that an appointment will be available right away. He encouraged eligible residents to continue checking Ontario.ca/bookvaccine as new clinic dates are added frequently.
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Media contacts
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
mhyland@hpeph.ca
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
