Public health reports 100 new COVID-19 cases across region over weekend

Latest data shows Wellington County cases levelling off after dramatic increase in November

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is reporting 100 new cases of COVID-19 in the region over the weekend.

The Dec. 7 update notes there are currently 216 active cases in the region and 11 people hospitalized with the virus.

The most recent report marks a significant increase in cases over the previous two weekends, when new cases in the region totalled 76 (Nov. 30) and 75 (Nov. 23).

Seventeen of the new weekend cases are in Wellington County, which now has one person in hospital and 31 active cases:

  • 10 in Minto;
  • eight in Erin;
  • seven in Mapleton;
  • two in Wellington North;
  • two in Puslinch;
  • two in Centre Wellington; and
  • zero in Guelph-Eramosa.

The City of Guelph now has the most cases in the region (56 new and 109 active, with seven hospitalizations).

Dufferin County has 11 new cases, 26 active cases (10 in Orangeville) and two people in hospital.

In Wellington County, case counts have levelled off over the last two weeks, following a rough November that saw 230 new cases, with daily counts several times surpassing 20 and active cases often exceeding 60.

Many in the WDGPH region had anticipated the surge in Wellington could cause the region to be moved from the orange (restrict) to the red (control) level on the province’s colour-coded COVID-19 alert system.

However, the government’s latest system changes on Dec. 4 did not include WDGPH.

Regional COVID-19 indicators such as case rate per 100,000 population and test positivity rate (63.4 and 3.1% respectively on Dec. 7) still meet the criteria for the red level.

Yet others, notably those related to health system occupancy/capacity, are at the green or yellow level.

As of Dec. 7, 11 schools in the WDGPH region are reporting active cases of COVID-19, including two in Wellington County.

There are also three facility outbreaks in the region, including two in Wellington County.

WDGPH image (Dec. 7)

Editor