May 6, 2023 coronavirus update for Oakville

by

This is Oakville's coronavirus update for Saturday, May 6, 2023. Active cases, new cases and hospitalizations have all risen in both Oakville and Halton this week.

The biggest coronavirus story of the week, however, comes at a global scale: the World Health Organization (WHO) declared yesterday, Friday, May 5, that after more than three years the COVID-19 global health emergency is now over.

WHO has determined that "COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)."

In local news, Oakville's outbreak at Post Inn Village's Willow Home has been resolved; two outbreaks remain open in other areas of Halton.

Halton continues to fall behind on our booster shots: only 1 of every 7 people in Halton have a full series of immunization, and the percentage of residents with outdated immunization has grown every week since the start of 2023. Among those 50 and under, those fully immunized is now below 10%.

Isolation requirements have changed in Ontario: you now only need to isolate until you have been symptom free for 24 hours. 

The province also has not updated its case and vaccination data for two weeks, similarly to February 2023. No reason has been given about the pause in public reporting. The bivalent booster vaccine is now available to those ages 5 and up.

765 million cases of COVID-19 have now been recorded worldwide since the start of the pandemic; 6.9 million people have died.

**Vaccine booking: Fourth doses (second booster doses) of vaccine 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-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

Oakville COVID-19 Update:

  • 13 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported (3 more than last week)
  • 4 people were hospitalized (4 more than last week)
  • 1 new death (1 more than last week)
  • 1 active outbreaks in Oakville - minus 1

Halton COVID-19 Update:

  • 43 new cases of COVID-19 (4 more than last week)
  • 8 people were hospitalized (3 more than last week)
  • 1 new death (1 more than last week)
  • 3 active outbreaks in Halton - minus 1

Vaccinations in Halton Region:

  • At least 1.55 million doses have been administered in Halton
  • 93% of Halton residents have at least two doses (the primary series)
  • 14% 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)
  • 49% of eligible residents have a primary series and a booster more than six months ago

Ontario COVID-19 Update: (as of April 15, 2023)

  • There have been 1.60 million cases in Ontario to date
  • 16,404 deaths to date (+36 this week)
  • 812 people are in hospital with COVID-19 (+29 this week)
  • There are 80 people in ICU (+6 this week)

Summary of provincial vaccinations

Canadian COVID-19 Update:

  • Canada has had 4.55 million cumulative cases of COVID-19
  • There are 553,300 active cases in Canada (+2,400 this week)
  • 3,154 people are currently in hospital (-18 this week)
  • There are 50,292 deaths to date (+70 this week)
  • 82.70% of Canadians are fully vaccinated (+0.0015%)

Global COVID-19 Update:

  • U.S. cases to date are now above 104.61 million; 1.13 million have died
  • Only 16.8% of Americans are up-to-date with all recommended vaccine booster doses
  • 765.22 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic started; 6.92 million people have died

The evidence is clear: vaccination (including all recommended booster shots) is still the best way to be protected. Local, provincial, national and international health units affirm the same data that Canada's approved vaccines effectively protect you from COVID-19 and significantly reduces your risk of getting sick, going to the hospital, and dying from the disease. 

Pictured right is a graph from Halton region last year showing how dramatically your risk of getting sick or being admitted to hospital is when vaccinated - numbers that have remained consistent since vaccine deployment began in early 2021.

Sources: