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While a third outbreak — at a Callander elementary school — has since been declared in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, the medical officer of health is cautiously optimistic about the direction of the outbreak at North Bay's Chartwell Barclay House Retirement Residence, while the Health Unit continues to investigate the outbreak at Au Chateau Home for the Aged in West Nipissing.
"I'm pleased to say no one who tested positive for COVID-19 in either outbreak has had a severe illness and we have had no deaths," said Dr. Jim Chirico. "Although the outbreaks are not yet over, I believe we would be in a completely different situation — should these outbreaks have taken place just a year ago — before COVID-19 vaccines were available."
The Barclay House outbreak declared in early November has affected 43 individuals, while a second outbreak reported earlier this week has seen two positive COVID-19 cases in the Au Chateau long-term care facility.
Chirico announced during the Health Unit's weekly press conference, as of Thursday, seven active cases remain at the Barclay House, with 36 resolved. The two positive cases remain at Au Chateau.
See related: Barclay House outbreak update: 'Spirits are good'
And: COVID-19 outbreak declared at Au Château Home for the Aged
"No vaccine is one hundred per cent effective but we have seen the vaccine can help prevent serious illness and lessen the burden on our health care system," added Chirico. "We know that some vulnerable populations are experiencing reduced immunity. If you are eligible for a third dose, please get it."
See also: Ontario reports 793 new COVID cases Friday
Chirico also explained, due to Ministry of Health reporting practices, an individual positive for COVID-19 admitted to the hospital is counted as a hospitalization related to the virus whether that was the reason for admission or not.
A hospitalization related to the outbreak at Barclay House has consistently appeared on the Health Unit's dashboard.
"Due to privacy considerations, we do not release case-level data — including data related to admission diagnosis of individuals in the hospital," advised Chirico. "Therefore, not all hospitalizations in cases reported by the Health Unit are necessarily COVID-19 related."
Shannon Mantha, Executive Director of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer advised the investigations into the first two outbreaks continue. The index case has not been determined in either outbreak.
"Sometimes we are able to determine how individuals acquired COVID-19," Mantha said, "or how an outbreak started, for instance, in a facility, but sometimes we're not able to determine that."
Chirico concluded, "Vaccines save lives and, along with public health measures, they are the best defence against COVID-19."
