Vaccine program picks up steam in region

Jeff Green | Sep 29, 2021

Likely as a result of the requirement for a vaccine, for indoor dining and other events, the number of people getting first doses in Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington has seen the largest bump since early in the summer, and if it keeps up the number of eligible residents with at least one dose of vaccine will hit 90% by Halloween.

The region is also on pace for 90% of eligible residents to be fully vaccinated by the end of November.

The provincial target is for 90% of eligible Ontario residents to be fully vaccinated as soon as possible.

At present, 86.7% of eligible Ontario residents have received a first dose of vaccine, and 81.15 are fully vaccinated. KFL&A is marginally above the provincial average, with 87.25% of eligible residents having one dose, and 81.7% having received two doses.

The case load in KFL&A remains steady with 29 active cases and 10.3 per 100,000 population over the last seven days.

However there have been 6 cases among South Frontenac residents over the past 8 days, 2 of which are among Loughborough Public School students, constituting an outbreak at the school (see below).

Students in grade 4 cohort at LPS home for a week

Limestone District School Board media release

On Sunday, KFL&A Public Health reported a second positive case of COVID-19 in a student in the Grade 4 cohort at Loughborough Public School.

Identified students in this Grade 4 cohort are now required to isolate until October 3, returning to school on Monday, October 4, 2021. As a result of a second positive case, some students have been identified as close contacts because of a bus cohort, and there is a chance they could develop COVID-19. These affected students are isolating and will return to school as per guidelines outlined by KFL&A Public Health.

Due to the second positive COVID-19 case in a student in the same Grade 4 cohort, KFL&A Public Health has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at the school. Not all students will be affected by the outbreak. The school remains open and classes continue for all other students.

Families will receive more information from their students’ classroom teachers or school administration regarding virtual learning.

KFL&A Public Health and the school are taking all necessary steps to prevent further spread of the virus both in the school and the community.

Cases in schools must be reported locally and provincially. We are sharing this information with you to ensure you have accurate information. No further information will be released, to maintain privacy.

As of Tuesday, September 28, the total of current active cases in LDSB was 9, (cases are removed from the website once public health has deemed them resolved and the students can return to school).