COVID-19 cases down, hospitalizations up slightly across WDGPH region
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) region are down slightly this week, while hospitalizations are up slightly.
And public health officials say two-thirds of area residents are still not up-to-date with vaccinations.
Cases
As of Oct. 12, there are 142 confirmed active cases in the region, down slightly from 152 on Oct. 5.
In Wellington County, there are 30 known active cases, down from 35 a week ago.
In Dufferin County there are 28 active cases (down from 34 on Oct. 5) and in Guelph there are 73 (down from 79).
Many health officials have previously suggested actual case numbers are five times the reported figures.
Hospitalizations
As of Oct. 6, there are 19 people hospitalized across the region who tested positive for COVID-19, up from 14 three days earlier.
Just one COVID-positive individual was admitted to an ICU (steady since Sept. 14).
Vaccinations
Starting Oct. 5, WDGPH changed the way it presents COVID-19 vaccination information on its website, “based on the latest provincial vaccination recommendations.”
Instead of including percentages for those who have received one, two and three doses, the dashboard now classifies residents into three categories:
- “up to date” with vaccination;
- “additional dose recommended;” or
- “initiate population” (those who have not yet received any vaccinations).
Public health considers 20% 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 66.8% of area residents, noting they are eligible for another dose and six months has passed since their previous dose.
That leaves 13.2% of the population that have not yet received a dose.
In Wellington County the figures are 19.8, 65.1 and 15.1% respectively.
Deaths
As of Oct. 12, a total of 181 deaths across the WDGPH region have been attributed to COVID-19, including 58 in Wellington County (both unchanged from a week ago).
Facility outbreaks
As of Oct. 7, there are two active COVID-19 outbreaks:
- Elliott Community retirement home in Guelph, declared Sept. 18; and
- Headwaters Healthcare Centre (F wing) in Orangeville, declared Sept. 29.
