Board of Health Meeting Summary – February
Written by Comms Team, February 10, 2023
Opioid-Related Harms Update
Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health, shared an update about drug poisonings based on data featured on Peterborough Public Health’s Opioid Harms Data Portal. Dr. Piggott began by sharing a personal reflection on the worsening drug poisoning crisis in the community based on observations from recent outreach work carried out in collaboration with a local community organization. Key observations included individuals with untreated medical needs and response to a severe drug poisoning that required multiple doses of naloxone. Turning to the data, Dr. Piggott shared that there were 10 suspected drug poisoning deaths in January 2023, the highest on record. Additionally, there were 64 drug poisoning deaths between February 2022 and January 2023. Furthermore, paramedics responded to 26 suspected opioid poisonings in January, and the hospital emergency room treated 33 suspected drug poisonings. Paramedic call-for-service data provides further insight into the distribution of drug poisonings across the city. In the previous month, 1/3 of all opioid-related calls occurred outdoors, with an additional 1/3 in private residences. According to Dr. Piggott, these conditions point to the need for more and urgent efforts by all levels of government and across the 4 Pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and community safety to address significant challenges resulting from an increasingly toxic and deadly drug supply.
COVID-19 and Respiratory Viruses Update
Donna Churipuy, Director of Health Protection, reviewed current data from the COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Index. According to Churipuy, risk indicators across the index remain at moderate levels, despite increasing case rates, hospitalizations, and PCR test positivity rates. Further evidence indicates that the waste water signal is decreasing. At the time of the update, there was only one active outbreak in a local long-term care facility. Churipuy also shared that demand for vaccination continues to decline. Local public health agencies anticipate further guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and other advisory bodies on future vaccination efforts. While the current status of COVID-19 and respiratory virus in the region is similar to previous months, Churipuy noted that Peterborough Public Health continues to encourage residents to be vigilant and adopt protective measures where indicated. Public Health Ontario has also advised that prevalence of the new XBB.1.5, or ‘Kraken,’ subvariant is increasing, with early evidence suggesting a higher level of transmissibility.
Q4 2022 Status Reports
Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health, explained the quarterly reporting process to the Board of Health and reviewed Q4 results. Dr. Piggott noted that status reports, which are tabled one month after the completion of the preceding quarter, are separate from the annual accountability reports required by the Ministry of Health. The reports are designed to provide Board of Health members with data to understand Peterborough Public Health’s performance in meeting the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS). Reporting was paused during COVID, but three reports have now been delivered since regular reporting activities resumed. 2019 data was recently added to the reports to allow comparison of OPHS compliance before the pandemic. Current Q4 results demonstrate that PPH continues to fall behind in multiple areas. While improvements are anticipated as COVID-recovery efforts progress, Dr. Piggott noted that resource deficits and stagnant funding in specific program areas is hampering recovery efforts. In summary, Dr. Piggott explained that Peterborough Public Health continues to experience challenges due to lack of resources, despite strong efforts by staff to catch up and meet local public health needs.