For the first time since spring 2020, there are no patients infected with COVID-19 being treated at the Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH).

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre, located in the Community Addiction and Mental Health Services Building, has also recently reported a two-week positivity rate of 0%.

At the height of the pandemic’s third wave on April 15^th, CCH had 19 patients admitted with COVID-19.

“We have reached this point because our community has been working hard to follow effective public health measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect our healthcare system,” says Jeanette Despatie, President and CEO of CCH.

This encouraging milestone also coincides with growing vaccination efforts locally, in which over 80% of eligible residents in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit region have received at least one dose. Recently the CCH Vaccination Clinic celebrated 10,000 doses administered.

Although the hospital hopes the worst of the pandemic is over, it foresees receiving new patients infected with COVID-19 as long as there is some community transmission. Several patients also continue to be treated for long-haul symptoms.

“The COVID-19 patients we’ve been caring for, young and old, have mostly been unvaccinated individuals. Now that the vaccines are widely available, we encourage people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Although our situation has improved, the virus still exists and we are beginning to see more contagious variants such as Delta,” says Despatie.

Still, it’s a moment worth celebrating, especially for frontline staff and physicians. “It’s been a long year and a half, let’s take a moment to celebrate and be proud of the progress we’ve made. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter,” she says.

CCH continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and make adjustments to its operations as required. Follow CCH online or visit the hospital’s website at www.cornwallhospital.ca for the latest updates.

Visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit website at www.eohu.ca to book your vaccine appointment today.