COVID 19 Update April 16, 2021

COVID-19 Update from Mayor Wade Mills April 16, 2021

There were 4,812 new COVID-19 cases reported in Ontario today which is the highest single daily case count that we have seen since the beginning of the pandemic.  Province-wide, our cumulative reported totals are now 408,383 cases, 360,472 resolved cases, 7,664 reported deaths. It is also being reported that there are currently 701 patients currently in ICU with 480 of those on ventilators.

Within the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health region, we have seen an additional 64 new cases reported since yesterday. We currently have 634 active cases throughout the region which is up significantly from the 441 reported last Friday. There are currently 50 health unit residents in hospital which is also a marked increase over last week. Within Dufferin County specifically, we have had 10 new cases reported within the last 24-hour period. Our current active case count stands at 117 for the county which is also up from the 94 reported last week. There are 18 Dufferin County residents being reported as in hospital, and Headwaters alone is reporting seven patients with confirmed COVID-19. Within the Town of Shelburne, it is reported that we have 17 residents who are currently positive and Orangeville stands at 50.

With the record-breaking case numbers and growing fears that we are at or nearing a critical breaking point for our healthcare system, the Premier is set to announce his government’s latest plans today at 2:30.  New modelling is indicating that daily case counts could reach as high at 18,000 by the end of May if current trends continue without interruption. The same data suggests that those numbers could be reduced to 10,000 new cases per day if further measures are implemented. Cabinet has been meeting this morning in advance of the announcement to discuss those measures and it is widely expected that further restrictions are on the horizon. Specifically, we might expect to see the full closure of non-essential retail (including curb-side pick-up), more restrictive retail hours, a shuttering of non-essential construction, reduced capacity for indoor events and gatherings such as funerals and wedding ceremonies and places of worship, as well as increased fines for non-compliance with emergency orders and expanded enforcement powers. We will update the information as it becomes available later today.

On a slightly brighter note, WDGPH has been making steady progress on the vaccination effort and locally we are surpassing much of the province when it comes to vaccine administration. As of this past Monday, our health unit is now taking pre-registrations for all residents who are 16 years of age or older. Again, I urge all residents to register as soon as possible for your vaccination at the following link - https://register.wdgpublichealth.ca/

Please stay well and look out for one another,

Mayor Wade Mills