Vaccination rates are continuing to increase in the region, but we’re still dragging behind the provincial average for second doses.
In the Northwestern Health Unit’s latest report from September 28, staff say they’ve administered 121,980 doses of the vaccine, with an overall positivity rate of 1.01 per cent to date. That rate dipped to 0.92 per cent in late September.
Overall, the NWHU is reporting that 86.2 of residents have received their first dose of the vaccine, while 78.6 per cent have received their second dose.
Across Ontario, 86 per cent of residents have their first dose, a difference of 0.2 per cent from northwestern Ontario. But for second doses, Ontario is reporting a rate of 80.5 per cent, just above NWO’s rate by about 2 per cent.
Also on September 28, Ontario reported a total of 466 new COVID-19 cases – comprised of 277 unvaccinated residents, 27 partially vaccinated residents, 119 cases were fully vaccinated and vaccination status was unknown for 43 of the cases.
NWHU recommends that everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, assume COVID-19 is in their community and practise preventive measures like physical distancing, wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is a challenge, good hand hygiene, and not touching their face.
Anyone who has symptoms, or who has been in contact with a positive case, should self-isolate, get tested and remain in isolation until your test results are known.