Hospitalisations from COVID remain stable in KFL&A as case rates continue to soar

Jeff Green | Apr 20, 2022

With case rates at historically high levels in the region, medical officer of Health, Dr. Piotr Oglaza, said late last week that the number of people requiring hospitalisation has risen, moderately, as well.

“However, we have found that the average length of stay in hospital continues to become shorter. While the turnover is greater, at any given time the number of people in hospital has remained relatively low, especially when you consider the rate of infection in the region,” he said, at a media briefing on April 13.

He did not have a ready explanation for the increase in the local death rate to 43, making April, at or near, the deadliest month in the KFL&A, (Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) over the entire pandemic.

He said that it is difficult to draw conclusions based on the numbers that we see in KFL&A, because of the size of the population.

He said that KFLA Public Health recommends masking in indoor settings, where distancing is not possible, “especially when people with other risk factors such as age or other factors are in the room”. He did not indicate, however, that he is considering introducing a masking mandate in KFL&A, which he can do by issuing an order under Section 23 of the Public Health Act.

“The reality of Omicron is that it is so highly transmissible that it has been able to spread globally, even in locations where strict measures are in place. No one measure, on its own, will stop this variant from spreading,” he said, adding that vaccination is the best defence that we have at this time.

The rate of vaccination in KFL&A remains high as compared to the rest of the province. The 3rd dose rate, at just under 66% of the eligible population, which is anyone over 18 years old, and 59% of the total population, is the second highest in the province, but the rate of vaccination has slowed in recent weeks. In the third week of April, only 0.2% of the eligible population sought out a third dose of COVID vaccination.

Ontario has approved a second booster dose, a 4th overall dose, for anyone who is over 60, and those over 18 with compromised immune systems, who are 5 months removed from their third dose. This, despite advice from the National Advisory Council on Immunisation (NACI) that the 4th dose is recommended only for those over 70, 6 months after a 3rd dose.

Dr. Oglaza said that “Ontario has consistently taken the approach of expanding eligibility, even though we recognise that the magnitude of benefit is greater for those over 70. The impact can make a difference on an individual level, and also on a societal level.”

He added that the NACI recommends that anyone who has been infected with the Omicron variant delay taking a booster shot for 3 months (84 days).