Public health reports 32 new COVID-19 cases in region over weekend

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is reporting 32 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend (June 25 to 27).

The region’s active case count now sits at 65, an increase from 55 on June 21, reversing a nine-week downward trend in cases.

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

The region’s case rate per 100,000 population has dropped dramatically from 96.8 in the first week of May to 16.7 as of June 26. However, that rate is up from 11.9 reported a week ago.

As of June 24, 2.6 per cent of COVID-19 tests are returning positive for the virus.

There are three people hospitalized due to COVID-19 as of June 24, with all in intensive care at either Guelph General Hospital or Headwaters Health Care in Orangeville (Wellington County hospitals do not have ICUs).

Variants

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

The Delta (India) variant continues to be the most prevalent variant of concern (VOC) in the region, representing 44% of VOCs from June 21 to 27.

Local trends

Wellington County had 11 new cases over the weekend, bringing the total active cases in the county to 14, up from 10 cases on June 21 (eight on June 14). The record high of 122 was set on April 19.

An increase in cases is also reported in Guelph, which has 39 active cases as of June 28 (up from 32 on June 21, but still below the 43 reported on June 14).

Dufferin County’s active case count continues to decrease, with eight active as of June 28 (down from the 11 on June 21).

The death toll across the region has increased since remaining unchanged last week. Another death in Wellington County brings total COVID-related deaths in the county to 41 and the total for the region to 125.

Municipality-specific active COVID-19 case counts as of June 28, 2021. (WDGPH image)

 

Vaccines/outbreaks

Since June 21, another 4,886 residents in the WDGPH region have received at least one vaccine dose, bringing the total as of June 28 to 206,608 residents or 76.6% of the population aged 12 or older.

Public health was aiming to have 75% of the overall region’s eligible population at least partially vaccinated “by June” but did not surpass that threshold until June 22.

The amount of eligible residents in Wellington County who have received at least one dose hit 70.4% as of June 28 after lagging behind the rest of the region in weeks prior.

There are 83,543 residents who are fully vaccinated in the region as of June 28, or 18.7% of the eligible population.

At least 287,391 doses have been administered in the region as of June 28.

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

Reporter