January 20, 2024 coronavirus update for Oakville

This is Oakville's coronavirus update for Saturday, January 20, 2024. Several COVID-19 tracking metrics have improved in Oakville this week: New cases and hospitalizations are both down nearly 50% and seven outbreaks have been resolved.

Testing positivity has slightly decreased too, which is finally moving in the right direction after months of rising infectivity. But the rate is still at a dangerously 19.5%, and that only includes tracking confirmed by a PCR test - the number is almost certainly much higher when counting unreported rapid test results.

Canada-wide, there are over 3,100 news cases of coronavirus this week. While that number is still large, the rate of new cases is slowly starting to go down, having decreased by 5-7% each week so far this year (also counting the last week of 2023.)

1 in 6 Halton residents are up-to-date on their correct dosage. But a significant majority of that group are seniors: among those under age 60, less than than 9% of the population had any booster dose in 2023.

Confirmed global deaths hit a grim milestone last week: 7 million people worldwide have died due to COVID-19, though the real count of unofficial deaths is millions higher. The worldwide case total has surpassed 770 million confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic.

**Vaccine booking: All doses and booster doses are now available for anyone in Halton age 5 and up. First doses are available for those six months and older.

While Halton's vaccine clinics are now closed, most pharmacies and health care centres are offering all numbered doses and boosters to patients.

**CLICK HERE to book a vaccination appointment at a local pharmacy or primary care office for any numbered dose of vaccine, including all boosters

New data from Halton Regional Health as of this week:

Halton is averaging 8.6 new COVID-19 cases per day, a nearly 50% decrease from last week's 16.4 average daily cases.

There are 3 active outbreaks in Halton (7 less than last week)
19.5% of locally administered COVID-19 tests are coming back positive (5.4% less than last week)
14 people are being treated in hospital with COVID-19 (10 less than last week)

Vaccinations in Halton Region:

At least 1.66 million doses have been administered in Halton
93% of Halton residents have at least two doses (the primary series)
17% 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)
46% of eligible residents have a primary series and a booster more than six months ago

Canadian COVID-19 Update:

Canada has had 4.66 million cumulative cases of COVID-19
There are 657,400 active cases in Canada (+3,100 this week)
3,794 people are currently in hospital (-193 this week)
There are 52,130 deaths to date (+79 this week)
82.60% of Canadians have at least two doses of vaccine
51.64% of Canadians are vaccinated including one or more booster doses

Global COVID-19 Update:

U.S. hospitalizations are down 1% this past week
U.S. deaths have increased 10.3% this week
Americans with up-to-date with all recommended vaccine booster doses are no longer being reported by the CDC
774.07 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic started; 7.01 million people have died
126,900 people worldwide have been infected in the last seven days

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.

Book a vaccination appointment for any numbered dose of vaccine, including all boosters, online here

Sources:

January 20, 2024 coronavirus update for Oakville

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