MAPLETON – Numerous area families currently isolating due to multiple cases of COVID-19 at local schools.
Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) declared an outbreak at Community Christian School in Drayton on Nov. 7. Two student cases have been confirmed at the school as of Nov. 8.
Drayton Heights Public School has also been impacted, with four confirmed cases and three classrooms closed as of Nov. 8, although no outbreak has been declared.
The Mapleton Health Centre, a medical clinic located in Drayton, issued a statement through Facebook on Nov.5.
“We are aware that many patients and their families are currently isolating due to multiple cases of COVID-19 at Drayton Heights Public School. It is important that we remain vigilant in our efforts to control this virus,” the message states.
The statement urges parents of children identified as “a high risk contact” to take them to a testing centre for a PCR test, rather than “just isolating.
“This will help to understand the true spread of infection within our community and allow us to respond accordingly,” the statement continues.
Parents are also advised that if their children is “feeling unwell” and possibly in need of assessment or treatment, local health care providers are seeing symptomatic patients in office with precautions and PPE “as well as in our local ER.
“If you or your family are not yet vaccinated our providers would be happy to speak with you to review any concerns or answer any questions that would help to support an informed choice,” clinic officials state.
Clinic patients were urged to reach out to their health care provider to book a vaccination appointment or call the provincial vaccine hotline at 1-833-943-3900.
Citing low vaccination rates, WDGPH has added an additional vaccination clinic in Mapleton, the location of 21 of the 32 active COVID-19 cases in Wellington County as of Nov. 8.
WDGPH statistics show Mapleton also has the lowest vaccination rate among Wellington County municipalities, with less than 70% of the eligible population fully vaccinated and less than 70% having received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
County wide, 80.8% of the eligible population has received at least one dose and 78.8% are fully vaccinated.
“With the expected rise in cases in Mapleton as a result of low vaccination rates we have worked with [WDGPH] to host an extra vaccination clinic,” stated Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson in late afternoon tweet on Nov. 8.
The clinic will be held on Nov. 11, from 5 to 8pm at the PMD Community Hall. Citizens are urged to drop in for their first or second dose.
In response to the situation, Drayton Minor Hockey announced a temporary halt to hockey activity for groups in the U13 and under age categories over the past weekend.
“We are being proactive and taking pause this weekend due to the cases in the community,” stated minor hockey president Mike Norris in a Nov. 5 text message in response to an inquiry from the Advertiser.
“We’re just erring on the side of caution and always keep our members’ safety a priority,” added, Norris, who noted the group planned to reassess the situation after the weekend.
In a post on the organization’s website Monday evening Drayton Minor Hockey announced the pause would continue for groups from U11 down until Nov. 11, after which the situation would again be re-assessed.
