Well, it’s the last day of 2020 and Burlington and Halton are in a province-wide shutdown due to COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. on December 26 for 28 days (until Saturday, January 23, 2021). Here’s what that means for our lives:

  • No indoor organized public events and social gatherings except with members of the same household.
  • Outdoor organized public events and social gatherings are limited to 10 people, following all public health advice on physical distancing.
  • Religious services, weddings, and funerals are limited to 10 people indoors and outdoors.
  • Supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores may not exceed 50% capacity.
  • Discount and big box retailers that sell groceries to the public may not exceed 25% capacity.
  • Restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments are limited to takeout, drive-through, and delivery only.
  • All other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc., are only able to offer curbside pickup or delivery.
  • Child care remains open.

COVID-19 numbers today

According to Halton Region’s data posted online, Burlington currently has 185 active cases. The ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in Burlington are in long-term care homes (6), retirement homes (4), congregate living (3), and workplaces (2).  Health system capacity is now available online as well; as of the time of writing, the acute care bed occupancy rate is 93%, ICU bed occupancy rate is 89%, 57 COVID-19 patients are at Halton Region hospitals and 15 of these patients are currently in ICU. Joseph Brant Hospital’s website indicates that they are “currently caring for 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19.”

Testing

Joseph Brant Hospital follows the COVID-19 testing criteria provided by the Ministry of Health. Book a COVID-19 test if:

  • you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms;
  • you require testing because you have a scheduled surgery or procedure or are receiving oncology treatment at the hospital;
  • you are eligible for testing as an employee or volunteer in long-term care or congregate setting;
  • you have been notified by a public health unit or the COVID Alert app that you have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus;
  • you belong to a specific group outlined in guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
  • you are eligible for testing as part of a targeting testing initiative as determined by the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Long-Term Care or public health.

Book an appointment at the Joseph Brant Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Centre. Book online at https://covidtesting.josephbranthospital.ca/ or call 905-632-3737 ext. 6550. Phones are answered Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Assessment and testing is by appointment only. No walk-ins.

What we are hoping for in 2021

Vaccines that are distributed efficiently to priority groups and are then made available to all residents. As stated by the Government of Canada: “Everyone who lives in Canada will have access to a safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.”

We are hoping for a spring that blooms with the possibility of special events, family gatherings, friendly barbeques, and the anticipation of summer holidays.

What we know now about COVID-19 vaccines

Health Canada gave approval to a vaccine made by US-based Pfizer and German BioNTech. As of December 30, 2020, 18,603 doses have been administered in Ontario. The Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine must be stored in ultra low temperatures, between -70 and -80 °C and must be used within six hours after thawing and mixing. It is a two-stage vaccine injected into the upper arm; the two shots are given a few weeks apart. Vaccines have been allocated to provincial and territorial governments on a per capita basis.

Vulnerable seniors and their caregivers will be among the first to receive the vaccine in Ontario. People over the age of 80, adults in indigenous communities, residents of long-term care and their caregivers, and healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients are priority high-risk groups.

The second vaccine is produced by Massachusetts-based Moderna Therapeutics. Moderna’s vaccine must be stored at -20 °C and is stable after thawing for about 30 days. Two shots are given several weeks apart.

Key messengers about COVID-19

  • Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam;
  • Health Canada Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Supriya Sharma;
  • Public Health Agency of Canada and National Advisory Committee on Immunization (through canada.ca)
  • Special Advisory Committee on COVID-19, co-chaired by Dr. Theresa Tam;
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Government of Canada officials;
  • Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams;
  • Ontario Health Minister and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott;
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford;
  • Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hamidah Meghani (through halton.ca).

Happy New Year!

We’ve made it through 2020, which will certainly be a year to remember. Enjoy a quiet celebratory New Year’s Eve and all the best for a wonderful 2021!

Sources:

Government of Canada, 2020. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Vaccines: Overview. Url: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/vaccines.html (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Government of Ontario, 2020. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Ontario. Url: covid-19.ontario.ca (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Government of Ontario, 2020. COVID-19: Provincewide Shutdown. Url: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-provincewide-shutdown#section-0 (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Halton Region, 2020. COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus). Url: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Halton Region, 2020. Halton Region by Demographics. Url: https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiYzRkNmE4NTUtNmI0NC00NGYzLWI0MTQtMzg1YjQ2MWRkZDhlIiwidCI6ImI2OWE0ODdkLWJlN2EtNGRmYy04NjQ0LTZlYTM5YjE5N2U2ZiJ9 (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Halton Region, 2020. Status of COVID-19 Cases in Halton. Url: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus/Status-of-COVID-19-Cases-in-Halton (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Joseph Brant Hospital, 2020. COVID-19. Url: https://www.josephbranthospital.ca/en/quality-and-performance/covid-19.asp (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Joseph Brant Hospital, 2020. COVID-19 Assessment & Testing. Url: https://www.josephbranthospital.ca/en/redevelopment-expansion/covid-19-assessment-testing.asp?_mid_=33548 (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).

Joseph Brant Hospital, 2020. COVID-19 Assessment Centre. Url: https://covidtesting.josephbranthospital.ca/ (accessed Dec. 31, 2020).