COVID cases down across WDGPH region; hospitalizations steady

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Confirmed COVID-19 cases are down this week across the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) region, while hospitalizations remain steady.

Cases

As of Jan. 18, there are 173 confirmed active cases in the region, down 15 per cent from 203 a week ago.

In Wellington County, there are 52 known active cases, up slightly from 44 on Jan. 11. Over half of the county cases (28) are concentrated in Centre Wellington.

In Dufferin County there are 27 active cases (down from 42 a week ago) and in Guelph there are 86 (down from 109).

Health experts have previously stated the actual number of cases circulating in a community is at least five times higher than the confirmed case count due to changes in reporting/testing criteria.

WDGPH COVID-19 case data as of Jan. 18, 2023.

 

Hospitalizations

Hospital data obtained by the Advertiser shows there are 18 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the region as of Jan. 18 (down from 19 on Jan. 11).

There are:

  • three COVID patients between the three hospitals in Wellington County;
  • 13 at Guelph General Hospital (GGH); and
  • two at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville.

There is one COVID patient in intensive care unit (at GGH) – unchanged from a week ago.

Vaccinations

On Jan. 18 public health considered 27% 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 60% of area residents, noting they are eligible for another dose and six months has passed since their previous dose.

That leaves 13% without a dose.

In Wellington County the figures are 26.9, 58 and 15.1% respectively.

Deaths

As of Jan. 18, the WDGPH dashboard shows a total of 196 deaths across the region have been attributed to COVID-19.

That’s up from 194 on Jan. 11.

Wellington County residents account for 61 of the regional COVID-19 deaths, unchanged from a week ago.

Facility outbreaks

As of Jan. 17, there were active COVID-19 outbreaks at the following health care facilities:

• Village of Arbour Trails in Guelph (retirement home, Williamsburg unit), declared Dec. 15;
• Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home in Aboyne (Cedar Gorge), declared on Jan. 4;
• Guelph General Hospital (5 West), declared Jan. 5;
• The Elliott Community Long-Term Care Home in Guelph (Wellington unit), declared Jan. 7; and
• Caressant Care Arthur Retirement Home (facility wide).