Covid Case Rate Spikes In KFL&A

Nov 03, 2021

With 73 active cases, a case rate of 28.6 per 100,000 population in the preceding 7 days, and a testing positivity rate of 1.68%, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington is in the throes of the highest rate of community spread it has seen throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic, just behind the rate in early May of this year.

The breakdown of the cases is different this time, however, and according to Dr. Oglaza, who is starting his second week as Medical Officer of Health in the region, the risks are different for the general public this time around.

KFLAPH (Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health) does not publish information about the vaccine status of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, but Dr. Oglaza told the Frontenac News on Friday (October 29) and CBC Ottawa on Monday (November 1) that most of the current cases are among the unvaccinated population.

The demographics of the positive cases lead in that direction as well. For the week ending on November 1, over a third (20 of the 69 reported cases in the region) were among those under 9, a group that is not yet eligible for vaccination.

Dr. Oglaza said that while there have been outbreaks declared at several Kingston primary schools, the spread has not taken place in the schools, but rather at gatherings outside the schools, among children and their families.

“Schools remain safe places for students to learn and interact, and our partners in the school boards can be thanked for the efforts they have made to keep COVID from spreading while students are attending classes,” he said.

The demographic with the second highest case count in the preceding week, those aged 20-29, account for 18 cases. The 25-29 year old demographic is the least vaccinated cohort in the region among eligible cohorts, with a vaccination rate of 75%, but the 18-24 year old demographic is one of the highest, at 95.6%.

Dr. Oglaza said that the well publicized weekend parties among Queen’s students in late October have not resulted in the spread of COVID among students and the community. The high rate of vaccination among 18-24 year old residents, the population most prevalent in post-secondary institutions, is at least partially attributable to vaccine mandates at those institutions.

Of the remaining cases, most (26) are scattered relatively evenly among the 30-60 year old population.

There were 3 cases among 10-17 year old residents, and one each among 60-69, and 70-79 year old residents.

Also, as of November 1, there were no COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization in KFL&A.

The cases are also heavily weighted towards the City of Kingston. There were 55 new cases in Kingston over the week, 2 in South Frontenac, 2 in Addington Highlands, and none in Central and North Frontenac and Frontenac Islands.

(There were 3 cases in Loyalist Township, 2 in Napanee, and 1 in Stone Mills Township.)

Unvaccinated people attending gatherings where social distancing is not being observed, are the most likely to contract COVID-19 in the region, Dr. Oglaza said.

“This is something that should be viewed as an invitation to avoid becoming complacent,” he said. “With that added margin of safety that immunization offers, the risk of contacting COVID is lower but it is still there. Eligible people should get immunized. People should, even if they are not sick and symptomatic, and more so if they are.”

The full vaccination rate in KFL&A has reached 85.7% of the 12 and over population as of November 1, and 89.5% have had at least one dose of vaccine. The provincial target for full vaccination is 90%.