COVID 19 Update July 31

COVID-19 Update from Mayor Wade Mills July 31, 2020

For the past two days, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario remained below 100 but today we see a slight uptick with 134 new cases.  Today’s new cases bring our cumulative reported provincial totals to 39,209 cases, 35,079 resolved cases, and 2,775 total reported deaths. Luckily, the provincial upward trends do not seem to be translating locally.

Over the past week we have experienced only a few new cases throughout the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health region but none within the past 24 hours. Our cumulative regional totals rest at 527 cases, 20 active cases and no hospitalization. Within Dufferin County, our cumulative case total is 194, with five active cases and no hospitalizations. It seems fair to say that Phase Three has not yet had any significant or noticeable impact on our numbers locally.

The big news from this week was the announcement yesterday regarding Ontario’s school re-opening plan. Beginning in September, Ontario’s schools will be open for in-pupil attendance with some notable changes and protocols. All students from grades four to 12 will be required to wear masks while indoors and children in the earlier grades will be “encouraged” to wear masks while in close contact with others.  Elementary students will be “cohorted” only with their own class for the day to limit exposure. Some high school students (mainly in the GTA) will be attending only on alternating days to limit the number of students in the school on any particular day. The Upper Grand District School Board is NOT included in this list, so students attending CDDHS will be attending on a regular daily basis. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic Board however, is going to be operating on the alternating schedule. The Ontario government is providing $309 million in new funding to help with the safe re-opening.

Going forward, I will be proving weekly COVID-19 updates (typically on Fridays) but will also share pertinent or timely information as it becomes available.

Please enjoy the long weekend and please remain safe!

Mayor Wade Mills