New COVID death in Haldimand-Norfolk

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit has announced the recent deaths of two residents who had COVID.

Both were unvaccinated, but only one - whose death was announced Friday - was determined to have been killed by the disease.

In a media release, the health unit said the deceased resident also had severe underlying health conditions" but COVID was the cause of death.

On Tuesday, the health unit announced another unvaccinated resident who had COVID recently died, but in this case the disease was not the cause of death.

The individual is believed to have died from other causes," the health unit said in a press release.

Haldimand-Norfolk's health unit distinguishes between COVID patients who die of the disease and residents who test positive for COVID but are believed to have died of other causes.

That can delay death reporting while the patient's personal doctor and the acting medical officer of health, Dr. Matt Strauss, investigate the cause of death.

Strauss said the health unit does not release the date of death or any other information about the deceased in the interest of safeguarding the privacy of patients and their families.

Since the start of the pandemic, 56 residents in Haldimand-Norfolk have died of COVID. Eight other people had COVID at the time of their death but were found to have died of other causes.

As of Tuesday, 75 per cent of residents five years old and up in Haldimand-Norfolk were fully vaccinated against COVID.

That percentage reflects some 8,500 children five to 11 years old having been added to the health unit's vaccination tracker.

J.P. Antonacci's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about the regions of Haldimand and Norfolk.