Public health reports 21 new COVID-19 cases in region over weekend

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is reporting 21 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend (June 18 to 20).

The region’s active case count now sits at 55, down from 71 on June 14, and the lowest it has been since early November.

Active cases in the region peaked with a record high of 679 on April 18.

The region’s case rate per 100,000 population also continues to drop dramatically, from 96.8 in the first week of May to 11.9 as of June 19.

As of June 17, 2.2 per cent of COVID-19 tests are returning positive for the virus.

There are three people hospitalized due to COVID-19 as of June 17, with two in intensive care at either Guelph General Hospital or Headwaters Health Care in Orangeville (Wellington County hospitals do not have ICUs).

Variants

Across the health unit to date there have been 2,088 confirmed cases of the Alpha (UK) variant, a single case of the Beta (South African) variant, 60 cases of the Gamma (Brazilian) variant, and 33 of the Delta (Indian) variant.

On June 10, the province declared the WDGPH region a COVID-19 “hotspot” due to the presence of the Delta variant.

An additional 186 individuals have screened positive for a variant of concern not yet identified.

Local trends

Wellington County had five new cases over the weekend, bringing the total active cases in the county to 10, up from eight on June 14, but a significant decrease from the record high of 122 set on April 19.

To date, there have been six cases in Wellington County identified as the Delta (Indian) variant.

Dufferin County has 11 active cases as of June 21, down from 20 reported on June 14.

Guelph has 32 active cases as of June 21, down from 43 on June 14.

The death toll across the region remains unchanged from last week, with 123 COVID-related fatalities, including 40 in Wellington County.

Municipality-specific active COVID-19 case counts as of June 21, 2021. (WDGPH image)

 

Vaccines/outbreaks

Since June 14, another 7,758 residents in the WDGPH region have received at least one vaccine dose, bringing the total as of June 21 to 201,722 residents or 74.8% of the population aged 12 or older.

As of June 21, 68.8% of Wellington County’s eligible population is at least partially vaccinated.

Public health was aiming to have 75% of the region’s eligible population at least partially vaccinated by June.

To date, 50,546 residents, or 18.7% of the eligible population in the WDGPH region, are fully vaccinated.

At least 249,660 doses have been administered in the region to date.

There are currently no facility or childcare centre outbreaks and four workplace outbreaks in the WDGPH region.

Reporter