Public Health is investigating COVID-19 cases in the Eastern Health region linked to large indoor social gatherings.
The COVID testing clinic at the Waterford Hospital in St. John’s was busy last night, with cars circling through the parking lot and back onto the road.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the cases are putting a strain on public health officials involved in contact tracing because of the large numbers associated.
She says the level of exposure is higher risk because the large gatherings were indoors with no masks.
Government Encouraged by Vaccination Rate, but Strives for More
(Photo: Atlantic Airports)
The province’s vaccination rate among those eligible to get the shot is high, but government wants to see it even higher.
Dr. Fitzgerald says the province’s vaccination rate is nearing 80 per cent.
The goal was to have 80 per cent of the province’s eligible population vaccinated by this date, but right now the rate sits at about 78 per cent.
While some breakthrough infections are being reported, Fitzgerald says the vast majority of COVID cases are among those who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
She says the vaccine is still “highly effective in doing what they are intended to do and that is preventing severe illness from COVID-19 causing hospitalization or death.” Fitzgerald says since vaccinations started in Canada, among cases where officials know the vaccination status – which is almost 700,000, only 1.4 per cent were in fully vaccinated individuals.
Fitzgerald says staff are on the ready and vaccine clinics are open to administer first and second doses of the COVID vaccine.
Meanwhile, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released guidance on third COVID vaccines for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
Dr. Fitzgerald, says a third vaccine may be recommended for certain people.
She says evidence shows that those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may have a lower immune response to vaccines compared to the general population. That includes people receiving certain medications that may suppress the immune system. NACI is recommending that in those cases, immunocompromised individuals receive three doses of an approved MRNA vaccine.
Public Health Monitoring Exposure at Laval High School
(Photo by Robert Couse-Baker via Flickr Creative Commons.)
Public Health officials are keeping a close eye on the situation related to a positive COVID case linked to Laval High School in Placentia.
Dr. Fitzgerald says contact tracing has been done and testing carried out. For the time being no further cases have been identified.
She says for now, they consider the situation under control.
