WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is reporting 107 new COVID-19 cases over the long weekend (May 21 to 24) as active cases in the region continue to drop.
After reporting 264 active cases on May 18, WDGPH reported 250 on May 25, a far cry from the all-time high of 679 set on April 18.
The region’s case rate per 100,000 population has also dropped dramatically, from 96.8 at the beginning of the month to 59.9 as of May 23.
As of May 21, 5.9 per cent of COVID-19 tests are returning positive for the virus.
The number of people hospitalized has decreased significantly since last week’s update, from 23 to 12 as of May 20, with six in intensive care at either Guelph General Hospital or Headwaters Health Care in Orangeville (Wellington County hospitals do not have ICUs).
Variants
As of May 19, WDGPH reports 72.7% of all COVID-19 cases confirmed the region (seven-day moving average) are variants of concern.
To date there have been 1,929 confirmed cases of the B117 (UK) variant, 28 cases of the P1 (Brazilian) variant and none of the B1351 (South African) variant.
An additional 208 individuals have screened positive for a variant of concern not yet identified.
Local trends
As of May 25, Wellington County has 57 active cases, up from 53 on May 18 but a significant decrease from the record high of 122 set on April 19.
Dufferin County has 64 active cases as of May 25, down from 79 reported on May 18.
Guelph has 124 active cases as of May 25, gradually decreasing from the 129 cases previously reported on May 18.
Public health is also reporting two new COVID-19 related deaths since last week’s update.
WDGPH spokesperson Danny Williamson confirmed a Guelph woman in her 70s died with the virus and a male resident of Dufferin County in his 60s also died.
As of May 25, there have been 113 deaths attributed to the virus across the WDGPH region, including 37 in Wellington County.
Municipality-specific active COVID-19 case counts as of May 25, 2021. (WDGPH image)
Vaccines/outbreaks
Since May 18, another 13,407 residents in the WDGPH region have received at least one vaccine dose, bringing the total as of May 25 to 144,234 residents, or 56.5% of the population aged 16 or older.
Public health is aiming to have 75% of the region’s eligible population at least partially vaccinated by June.
A total of 151,436 doses have been administered in the region as of May 25.
Previously reported outbreaks of COVID-19 on the east units of floors four and seven at Guelph General Hospital were declared over on May 23 and 20, respectively.
A total of eight patients and two staff members tested positive for the virus between the two units, and a Guelph man in his 60s, who was a patient on the four east unit, died from the virus.
There are currently three workplace outbreaks in the WDGPH region and two outbreaks at child care facilities:
- Eureka Kids in Erin, one student case and two staff cases, declared on May 14; and
- Hyland Centre Child Care in Dufferin County, one student case and one staff case, declared on May 18.
A previous outbreak at Eh to Zed PreSchool in Guelph was declared over on May 18.
