COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in the Valley

As COVID-19 cases rise in Ottawa, similar trends are being noticed in the Valley as well.

There were eight outbreaks in the Valley as of March 31, 2022, according to Dr. Robert Cushman, the acting medical officer of health for Renfrew County and District Health Unit.

Cushman joined The Sam Laprade Show to provide an update on what he was seeing in regards to case numbers and hospitalizations.

“We're seeing a surge, that's for sure,” said Cushman. “I think a good indicator is hospitalizations, and we're up to 18. We even have a child at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and we have four patients at the Ottawa Hospital.”

Cushman said he has always been vocal about disagreeing with the lifting of mask mandates on March 21. He still believes Premier Doug Ford moved too quickly, and thinks mid-April would have been a better point to consider lifting the mandate. Despite Ford's moves, there are still a number of different precautions he suggested when dealing with the rise in infections.

“We don't want to close up anymore, but this is a new normal,” added Cushman. “Make sure your vaccinations are as up to date as possible, wear a mask in places where you don't really know who you're dealing with in large settings, and unfortunately, be very cautious with your social settings as we move to better weather and how we get through this.”

Although the Valley has a very good vaccination rate, according to Cushman, he mentioned that there is a big lag in third doses in those between the ages of 12 and 65. 

“I have talked to people that have had COVID, and you really see a range,” he said about the people in Renfrew County. “The good story is, the people that have had two or three vaccines tend to do quite well when they do get COVID.”

Cushman hopes that by Easter, they will know a lot more about where this new variant (BA2) is heading and different trends that should be expected heading into the summer.

Wastewater is another way they monitor COVID-19 cases in the Valley, but only in Pembroke and Petawawa, the two largest population centres. According to Cushman, it isn't as reliable as it is in Ottawa, but it is still a decent indicator.

Two thirds of deaths in the Valley have been during the Omicron wave of the pandemic, said Cushman.

“We're not out of the woods just yet,” added Cushman. “The good news is the death toll would have been much higher without vaccinations.”

Listen to the full interview with Cushman below: