COVID 19 Update February 12

COVID-19 Update from Mayor Wade Mills

February 12, 2021

There were 1,076 new COVID-19 cases reported in Ontario today producing a test positivity rate of 2.2% which is the lowest we have seen since October 16^th.  Province-wide, our cumulative reported totals now sit at 283,587 cases, 264,459 resolved cases, 6,632 reported deaths, and 763 patients currently hospitalized. It is also being reported that there are currently 295 patients currently in ICU and 204 of those are on ventilators – both of these metrics continue to be on the decline.

Within the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health region, we have seen an additional 28 new cases reported since yesterday. We currently have 170 active cases throughout the region which again is down from last week. There are currently 10 health unit residents in hospital. Within Dufferin County specifically, we have had seven new cases reported within the last 24-hour period and our current active case count stands at 28. Headwaters Healthcare Centre is reporting that they currently have six patients with COVID-19 but only three Dufferin County residents are currently listed as being hospitalized. Public Health is also reporting that we have three cases among residents of Shelburne which is up by two from last Friday.

The phased roll-back of lockdown measures will continue into next week when many local health units are expected to be put back into the colour-coded system. An announcement is expected today to indicate which colour level we will be phased back to but it is widely expected that we will begin to see things opening up. Provincial health officials have been clear that these decisions will be made based on local virus case rates and any sudden spikes could delay re-openings. At this point it is also expected that “hot spot” parts of the GTA could remain in lock-down through next week.

The provincial Minister of Education yesterday announced that “March Break” will be postponed this year until the week of April 12^th. The reasons cited for this change have been stated are to limit further disruptions to in-person learning as well as to limit community spread of the virus.

We very much continue to be in a state of flux as we battle this virus. I understand that this extremely challenging on a number of levels but as I have said before, I am incredibly proud of the response that we have seen from our community. We have answered the calls with determined action and we have been able to successfully moderate the number of cases on a local level. I ask that you keep doing what you’re doing and keep pressing forward until we are all able to cross the finish line together.

Thank you as always and please be well!

Mayor Wade Mills