4 12 14 17
The
THIS WEEK • Editorials • Mental Health • Emergency • Obituaries
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 37 No. 18
Thursday, May 6, 2021
$1.50 GST included
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
Blyth BIA meets with Thompson By Denny Scott The Citizen
The view from the top Jordan and Tanner Griffey-Hann were on the hunt for a better vantage point recently, so they took to one of the most tried and true methods of obtaining a bird’s eye view: the ladder. Deb Griffey, a member of the Maitland Valley Camera Club, snapped this picture of her grandchildren out on a recent nature hike as the weather in Huron County begins to warm as spring arrives. (Photo courtesy of Deb Griffey of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)
The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) welcomed Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson to a virtual question-and-answer session last week that saw Thompson speaking extensively about COVID-19. On Tuesday night, Thompson, one of her staff members, a representative from the Wingham BIA and several members from the Blyth BIA attended a half-hour Zoom call. Thompson was given a list of questions from Blyth BIA members to answer which took the entirety of the call. VACCINES Thompson first addressed a number of questions regarding vaccines, but spoke in general terms about COVID-19 and vaccines first. “We’re very fortunate to have an excellent public health unit in Huron-Perth,” she said. “[HuronPerth Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen] and I work very, very closely.” She went on to say that she’s happy with the support of physician clinics and that she regularly discusses issues with the wardens of counties in her riding. She also said she was very happy with the percentage of adults who are vaccinated in both Huron and Bruce Counties. Thompson then addressed specific questions, starting with why Canada’s vaccination rates are so low compared to other firstworld countries. “One reason we have low vaccination rates is we’re waiting on regular vaccine deliveries,” she said. “Moderna has shortchanged all of Canada: Every province and territory. Everyone has hope for getting vaccinated, but the availability is just not there. That’s one reason we’ve been held up in terms of vaccination rates.” Thompson said that the province and the country are “picking up steam”. “In the next couple weeks, more
and more Pfizer vaccine [supply] will become available. That is in addition to the AstraZeneca vaccines available through pharmacies and we will see everyone who wants a shot in their arm will get one.” Thompson then spoke to the demands of teachers’ unions to have teachers vaccinated, and whether that made sense with the suspension of in-person classes. Thompson said she sincerely believes everyone needs to be vaccinated and the province still wants to focus on educational assistants and special needs teachers. She also said that, with more pharmacies providing vaccination clinics, more and more teachers will be getting their vaccines. “We want teachers to be safe, but part of that is the availability of the vaccine,” she said. Next, Thompson talked about vaccines being tested and made available for younger people, specifically comparing Canada to the United States where people 16 years of age and older are able to get the vaccine. “At the federal level, the Pfizer vaccine is soon going to be tested for use in patients ages 12 to 16,” she said. “It’s already available for people 18 years and older in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It’s good news hearing that Health Canada will test for people 12 to 16 years old.” Finally, Thompson addressed a question regarding when the province will be able to “fully open” again, and how that is tied to the percentage of people vaccinated. The question referenced “full vaccination” of all people, but Thompson said that’s not really an accurate way to characterize the requirement to return to normal. “It’s not fair to say we won’t be fully open before we’re fully vaccinated,” she said. “Other [locations], like the United Continued on page 3
Over 46,000 vaccine doses given in Huron, Perth By Denny Scott The Citizen COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in Huron and Perth Counties on both sides of the pandemic as new cases are being reported while percentages of vaccinated individuals rise as well. During a teleconference hosted by Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) last Thursday, Dr. Miriam Klassen announced that a more accurate system had been adopted
that shows COVID-19 vaccination rates climbing across the area. She said 46,000 doses have been distributed, with 37.2 per cent of Huron-Perth residents receiving at least one dose of vaccine and 3.3 per cent having both. Klassen explained that 94.1 per cent of residents over 80 in Huron and Perth Counties have been vaccinated while 91 per cent of residents 75 to 79 have. In residents 70 to 74 years old, 90 per cent have been vaccinated while 65.4 per cent
of 65-69 year olds have been vaccinated. New eligibility requirements have opened up recently, Klassen said, including those 55 and older being able to book appointments when available. For a full list of upcoming clinics and requirements, visit hpph.ca Klassen said that Huron and Perth Counties are doing well compared to the province, with incidence (weekly new cases per 100,000 people) and per cent positivity (as a
seven-day average) both in the yellow zone. No other local zones are close according to the Ontario Health West snapshot, which, on Monday, reported that all other zones except Grey-Bruce, Lambton and Chatham-Kent were in red. Grey-Bruce is in orange for both categories while Chatham-Kent is in yellow for incidence counts and red for per cent positivity. Lambton is in orange for per cent positivity and red in incidence counts. As for local numbers, numerous
Huron County municipalities posted new cases over the past week as the total cases across Huron and Perth Counties climbed 27 cases to 1,584 from 1,557. South Huron continues to have the most cumulative cases in Huron County, with two new cases bringing its total to 112. Central Huron also posted two new cases bringing its total to 61. MorrisTurnberry reported one new case, bringing its total to 54, while Continued on page 2