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October 21, 2023 coronavirus update for Oakville

Oakville News
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This is Oakville's coronavirus update for Saturday, October 21, 2023. Many of Halton's metrics on the risk of COVID-19 locally have improved this week. Infectivity, cases and hospitalizations are all down, but two new outbreaks have opened in local senior care.

Oakville's daily average of new cases and hospital admissions have both gone down for the second week in a row. Halton's testing positivity, however, is still too high to say COVID-19 is under control: positivity stands at 13.2%, meaning 1 in 7 local tests are currently coming back positive.

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Canada's hospitalizations and deaths, meanwhile, are increasing nationwide at concerning rates, both having gone up several weeks in a row. The country's cumulative case count since the pandemic began has surpassed 4.6 million.

The latest Omicron subvariants EG.5 and XBB are now present and infecting cases in southern Ontario and across Canada. 

Provincial government has announced that vaccines targeting these new variants are expected to be available in the province within the next 2-3 weeks.

After several months behind, the number of Halton residents with a full series of immunization has started to go up again. The total local percentage of those fully vaccinated has gone up from 4 to 5%. But among those 50 and under, those fully immunized has dropped to a worrying 1.2% of the population.

Canada's number of active cases and daily deaths from COVID-19 has risen every week this month. The rate of new cases is growing, but 20% slower than last week.

The worldwide case total to date, as predicted, surpassed 770 million cases recorded worldwide since the start of the pandemic. Confirmed global deaths are approaching 7 million people, though the real count of unofficial deaths is, almost certainly, millions higher.

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**Vaccine booking: All doses and booster doses are now available for anyone in Halton age 5 and up, though fourth doses must be at least five months since your last dose and 90 days since having COVID-19.

Halton continues to book first and second-dose vaccinations for all residents age six months and older, plus third and fourth dose boosters for anyone age 5 and up.

**CLICK HERE to book a first, second, third or fourth vaccination appointment at a Halton Region vaccine clinic

New data from Halton Regional Health this week:

Halton is averaging 7.3 new COVID-19 cases per day, slightly down from last week's reported 7.7 daily cases.

  • There are 5 active outbreaks in Halton (2 more than last week)
  • 13.2% of locally administered COVID-19 tests are coming back positive (3.4% less than last week)
  • 7 people are being treated in hospital with COVID-19 (7 less than last week)

Vaccinations in Halton Region:

  • At least 1.58 million doses have been administered in Halton
  • 90% of Halton residents have at least two doses (the primary series)
  • 5% of eligible Halton residents (age 12+) are up to date on their booster shots (have had the primary series and a booster dose in the last six months)
  • 58% of eligible residents have a primary series and a booster more than six months ago

Canadian COVID-19 Update:

  • Canada has had 4.60 million cumulative cases of COVID-19
  • There are 599,400 active cases in Canada (+3,400 this week)
  • 3,500 people are currently in hospital (+22 this week)
  • There are 51,211 deaths to date (+83 this week)
  • 82.64% of Canadians are fully vaccinated

Global COVID-19 Update:

  • U.S. hospitalizations are down 5% this past week, continuing to fall
  • U.S. deaths have increased 4.2% this week, continuing to grow
  • Americans with up-to-date with all recommended vaccine booster doses are no longer being reported by the CDC
  • 771.40 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic started; 6.97 million people have died

The evidence is clear: though transmission has dramatically slowed, vaccination (including all recommended booster shots) is still the best way to be protected from contracting COVID-19. 

Local, provincial, national and international health units affirm the same data that Canada's approved vaccines and all boosters effectively protect you from COVID-19 and significantly reduces your risk of getting sick, going to the hospital, and dying from the disease. 

Sources: 

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