For Immediate Release
January 4, 2022
Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre Positivity Rate Report
The Haliburton-Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR DHU) is currently reporting a total of 263 confirmed COVID-19 cases for Haliburton County since the outset of the pandemic; at the time of this report, there are 76 unresolved cases.
---
Positivity Rate for COVID-19
Dec 13 - Dec 24: 13.43%
Nov 29 – Dec 10: 2.25%
Nov 15 – Nov 26: 2.96%
Nov 1 – Nov 12: 2.31%
Average tests completed each week
Dec 13 - Dec 24: 126.5
Nov 29 – Dec 10: 133
Nov 15 – Nov 26: 84.5
Nov 1 – Nov 12: 65
Positivity rate for Variants of Concern, as a percentage of total positive tests
Dec 13 - Dec 24: Not available*
Nov 29 – Dec 10: Not available*
Nov 15 – Nov 26: Not available*
Nov 1 – Nov 12: 66.67%
---
* Variant of Concern data reporting is delayed
Variants of Concern
Variants of Concern (VOCs) continue to be linked to community transmission, as they are more easily spread between people. The latest VOC, the Omicron Variant, is more easily spread than any VOC to date. The Omicron Variant is now the dominant VOC, however the Delta Variant is still present in the province.
As COVID-19 case numbers are rapidly rising locally as well as provincially, it is critical that public health measures continue to be followed in order to help prevent further spread of the virus and the VOCs. These measures include frequent handwashing, wearing a face mask in public spaces, limiting social gatherings, and maintaining social/physical distancing.
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 testing at the Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre is now limited to individuals who are eligible based on criteria provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health. If you are experiencing one or more COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, immediately self-isolate and consult the HKPR DHU or the Ontario Ministry of Health for guidance and to determine whether you are eligible to be tested at the Community Assessment Centre.
If you are eligible for a COVID-19 test or if you welcome a doctor’s check-up about your symptoms but don’t need to visit the emergency department, please call the Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre at 705-457-1212 (press 6) during regular business hours to book an appointment. If you welcome a doctor assessing you to determine whether or not you qualify for a test be sure to ask for this when you call as this will affect your booking time.
Get the COVID Vaccine – Protect Yourself and Help Bring an End to the Pandemic
• COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness and/or being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
• It is recommended that everyone get the COVID vaccine unless they have a medical exemption. COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Possible side effects from the vaccine are far less compared to the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
• It is also recommended that anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine booster (third dose) do so to help further reduce the risk of severe illness.
• If you are not sure that you should receive the vaccine, please talk with your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
• Even if you have had COVID-19, it is still safe and still important to receive the vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider about when to get your vaccine after infection.
• Being vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of illness and transmission of the virus, however there is still a chance that fully vaccinated individuals could become ill and/or could carry and transmit the virus to others; because of this, you must continue to follow the usual precautions for now even after receiving the vaccine:
o Stay Home if you have symptoms and get tested.
o Continue Physical Distancing, Wearing a Mask, and Hand Washing.
Positivity Rates & Report Reminders
• The positivity rate represents the percentage of persons tested at the Haliburton County Community Assessment Centre who test positive for COVID-19, over the two-week period noted.
• HKPR DHU reports are based on geographical boundaries, which means the cases reported for the Haliburton region only include those among persons residing within the boundaries of Haliburton County, regardless of where the testing takes place.
• The positivity rate may not represent all positive COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County – only those who are identified through testing at our local Assessment Centre.
• Some persons in our community who reside outside of Haliburton County borders may be tested at other locations, and are not captured in this report.
• All cases reported through HKPR DHU for Haliburton County may not be included in the local positivity rate, as some tests may have been completed elsewhere.
January 4, 2022
Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre Positivity Rate Report
The Haliburton-Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR DHU) is currently reporting a total of 263 confirmed COVID-19 cases for Haliburton County since the outset of the pandemic; at the time of this report, there are 76 unresolved cases.
---
Positivity Rate for COVID-19
Dec 13 - Dec 24: 13.43%
Nov 29 – Dec 10: 2.25%
Nov 15 – Nov 26: 2.96%
Nov 1 – Nov 12: 2.31%
Average tests completed each week
Dec 13 - Dec 24: 126.5
Nov 29 – Dec 10: 133
Nov 15 – Nov 26: 84.5
Nov 1 – Nov 12: 65
Positivity rate for Variants of Concern, as a percentage of total positive tests
Dec 13 - Dec 24: Not available*
Nov 29 – Dec 10: Not available*
Nov 15 – Nov 26: Not available*
Nov 1 – Nov 12: 66.67%
---
* Variant of Concern data reporting is delayed
Variants of Concern
Variants of Concern (VOCs) continue to be linked to community transmission, as they are more easily spread between people. The latest VOC, the Omicron Variant, is more easily spread than any VOC to date. The Omicron Variant is now the dominant VOC, however the Delta Variant is still present in the province.
As COVID-19 case numbers are rapidly rising locally as well as provincially, it is critical that public health measures continue to be followed in order to help prevent further spread of the virus and the VOCs. These measures include frequent handwashing, wearing a face mask in public spaces, limiting social gatherings, and maintaining social/physical distancing.
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 testing at the Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre is now limited to individuals who are eligible based on criteria provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health. If you are experiencing one or more COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, immediately self-isolate and consult the HKPR DHU or the Ontario Ministry of Health for guidance and to determine whether you are eligible to be tested at the Community Assessment Centre.
If you are eligible for a COVID-19 test or if you welcome a doctor’s check-up about your symptoms but don’t need to visit the emergency department, please call the Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre at 705-457-1212 (press 6) during regular business hours to book an appointment. If you welcome a doctor assessing you to determine whether or not you qualify for a test be sure to ask for this when you call as this will affect your booking time.
Get the COVID Vaccine – Protect Yourself and Help Bring an End to the Pandemic
• COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness and/or being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
• It is recommended that everyone get the COVID vaccine unless they have a medical exemption. COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Possible side effects from the vaccine are far less compared to the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
• It is also recommended that anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine booster (third dose) do so to help further reduce the risk of severe illness.
• If you are not sure that you should receive the vaccine, please talk with your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
• Even if you have had COVID-19, it is still safe and still important to receive the vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider about when to get your vaccine after infection.
• Being vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of illness and transmission of the virus, however there is still a chance that fully vaccinated individuals could become ill and/or could carry and transmit the virus to others; because of this, you must continue to follow the usual precautions for now even after receiving the vaccine:
o Stay Home if you have symptoms and get tested.
o Continue Physical Distancing, Wearing a Mask, and Hand Washing.
Positivity Rates & Report Reminders
• The positivity rate represents the percentage of persons tested at the Haliburton County Community Assessment Centre who test positive for COVID-19, over the two-week period noted.
• HKPR DHU reports are based on geographical boundaries, which means the cases reported for the Haliburton region only include those among persons residing within the boundaries of Haliburton County, regardless of where the testing takes place.
• The positivity rate may not represent all positive COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County – only those who are identified through testing at our local Assessment Centre.
• Some persons in our community who reside outside of Haliburton County borders may be tested at other locations, and are not captured in this report.
• All cases reported through HKPR DHU for Haliburton County may not be included in the local positivity rate, as some tests may have been completed elsewhere.