WELLINGTON COUNTY – Confirmed COVID-19 cases are up 43% in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) region and cases within Wellington County have doubled over the last week.
Hospitalizations across the region are up slightly, while public health officials say two-thirds of area residents are still not up-to-date with vaccinations.
Cases
As of Oct. 19, there are 203 confirmed active cases in the region, up 43% from 142 on Oct. 12.
In Wellington County, there are 63 known active cases, more than double last week’s total of 30.
Most of the new cases (21) are in Minto, followed by Centre Wellington and Mapleton (five apiece).
In Dufferin County there are 22 active cases (down from 28) and in Guelph there are 98 (up from 73).
Many health officials have previously suggested actual case numbers are five times the reported figures.
WDGPG COVID-19 case data as of Oct. 19, 2022.
Hospitalizations
As of Oct. 17, there are 23 people hospitalized across the region who tested positive for COVID-19, up from 19 on Oct. 6.
Three COVID-positive individuals are admitted to an ICU, up from one since Oct. 6 (ICU cases had been steady at one since Sept. 14).
Vaccinations
Starting Oct. 5, WDGPH changed the way it presents COVID-19 vaccination information on its website, “based on the latest provincial vaccination recommendations.”
Instead of including percentages for those who have received one, two and three doses, the dashboard now classifies residents into three categories:
• “up to date” with vaccination;
• “additional dose recommended;” or
• “initiate population” (those who have not yet received any vaccinations).
Public health considers 20.6% of the local population up to date with vaccination, which it defines as having received a vaccine in the last six months.
It recommends an additional dose for 66.1% of area residents, noting they are eligible for another dose and six months has passed since their previous dose.
That leaves 13.3% of the population that has not yet received a dose.
In Wellington County the figures are 20.5 64.4 and 15.1% respectively.
Deaths
As of Oct. 19, a total of 181 deaths across the WDGPH region have been attributed to COVID-19, including 58 in Wellington County (both unchanged over the last two weeks).
Facility outbreaks
There are seven active COVID-19 outbreaks at four health care facilities as of Oct. 19:
- Royal Terrace retirement home (facility-wide) in Palmerston, declared Oct. 11;
- Homewood Health Centre (Manor 1 and 2 units) in Guelph, both declared Oct. 11;
- Village of Arbour Trails (Becker unit) in Guelph, declared Oct. 11; and
- Guelph General Hospital (4 West, 7 East and 6 West units), declared Oct. 19.
