*NOTE: Going forward, the Advertiser will no longer provide weekly COVID-19 case data updates and instead provide updates only in certain situations, including but not limited to: large fluctuations in cases/hospitalizations/deaths/outbreaks, the emergence of new variants, and extreme changes in vaccination trends. For those interested, case data is updated every Wednesday morning on the WDGPH COVID-19 dashboard.
WELLINGTON COUNTY – The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has stabilized across the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) region, while overall cases have increased slightly.
Cases
As of Feb. 22, there were 177 confirmed active cases in the region, up 11 per cent from 159 two weeks ago.
In Wellington County, there were 30 known active cases as of Feb. 22, up from 26 on Feb. 15. In Dufferin County there were 34 active cases (up from 27) and in Guelph there were 102 (down from 105).
Health experts have previously stated the number of cases in a community is at least five times higher than the confirmed case count.
Hospitalizations
Hospital data on the public health COVID-19 dashboard shows there were 18 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the region as of Feb. 20.
That is down slightly from 20 a week prior, but still double the total from three weeks ago (nine on Feb. 8).
There were three people in an intensive care unit in the region, up from zero two weeks ago.
Vaccinations
On Feb. 22 public health considered 25.9% 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 61% of area residents, noting they are eligible for another dose and six months has passed since their previous dose.
That leaves 13.1% without a dose.
In Wellington County the figures were 26.2, 58.6 and 15.2% respectively.
Deaths
As of Feb. 22, the WDGPH dashboard shows a total of 198 deaths across the region have been attributed to COVID-19.
Wellington County residents account for 62 of the regional COVID-19 deaths.
Both figures are unchanged over the last three weeks.
Facility outbreaks
As of Feb. 24, there were active COVID-19 outbreaks at the following facilities:
– Village of Riverside Glen in Guelph (long-term care home, facility wide), declared Jan. 28;
– Dufferin Oaks in Shelburne (long-term care home, facility wide), declared Feb. 7;
– Elliott Community Retirement Home in Guelph (Ellington Unit), declared Feb. 15; and
– Strathcona long-term care home in Mount Forest (first floor), declared Feb. 24.
