Six new cases of COVID-19 reported in Haldimand Norfolk
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Six new cases of COVID-19 were being reported by the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit on Sunday.
In addition to six new cases reported on Jan. 30, the total number of known cases of the virus in the two counties is 1,321 since the start of the pandemic in March.
The number of residents with active cases of COVID-19 dropped from 64 on Saturday to 56 on Sunday, according to the health unit.
Of the total positive cases, 1,222 people are considered recovered. Thirty-eight residents of Haldimand and Norfolk have died of COVID-19.
On Jan. 29, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, medical officer of health, said the United Kingdom variant of the virus has been identified in Haldimand-Norfolk.
Nesathurai said this more easily-transmittable variant of COVID-19 underscores the importance of continuing to follow public health guidance, including keeping a distance from others, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and avoiding close contact with those outside your household.
Although the variant is more contagious, it’s believed vaccines distributed in Ontario will be effective against it.
According the health unit, there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 at Cedarwood Village long-term care home in Simcoe where one staff member has tested positive; Dover Cliffs long-term care home in Port Dover (three staff); Edgewater Gardens long-term care centre in Dunnville (four staff); Grandview Lodge in Dunnville (four staff); Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home in Simcoe (three staff); and Norview Lodge in Simcoe (two staff).
An earlier outbreak at Parkview Meadows long-term care home and retirement home in Townsend (one staff) was declared over on Jan. 24.
The province declared a state of emergency on Jan. 12 due to an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases across Ontario. Enhanced public health and workplace safety measures and a province-wide stay-at-home order were put in place. The state of emergency was expected to remain in place until at least Feb. 9 and, on Friday, was extended by another two weeks.
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