COVID 19 Update Sept. 18

COVID-19 Update from Mayor Wade Mills

September 18, 2020

The number of new COVID-19 cases throughout the province continue to rise. Today there were 401new cases reported in Ontario which is the highest daily increase since June 7^th.  The majority of those new cases are being reported from Toronto, Peel, Ottawa, York, and Halton. Alarmingly, a majority of the new cases are individuals younger than 40 years old. Province-wide, our cumulative reported totals now sit at 46,077 cases, 40,600 resolved cases, and 2,825 reported deaths.

Within the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health region, we now have had a total of 598 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the DWGPH website, there are currently 35 active cases being reported throughout the region with one new case within past 24 hours and one current hospitalization. Within Dufferin County, our cumulative total now sits at 208 cases which is up four from the September 11th report. There are currently five active cases being reported within Dufferin but no hospitalizations.

The upward trend in the number of new daily cases is cause for concern and it is certainly getting the attention of leaders at all levels. This week, some new measures have been implemented as a result of these growing numbers.

The Premier announced that social gatherings in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel Region will be reduced from 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. It was also made clear that these reduced numbers may begin to be rolled out in other regions of the province should that be deemed necessary.

Locally, our Medical Officer of Health has amended her mask-wearing order to include additional establishments. Within Wellington, Dufferin, Guelph, masks are now required in banquet halls, galleries, museums, private transportation vehicles (buses, limos, taxis, ride shares), as well as churches and places of worship. Dr. Mercer indicated that she is enlarging this list due to the rise in COVID-19 cases at the same time that schools and campuses are reopening.

Federally, it was announced this week that the Canada-US border will remain closed now until at least October 21 to all non-essential travel.

Locally, we are keeping a close eye on local numbers. While we have not yet experienced the surge of new cases that many other areas in the province has, we are prepared and at the ready to make adjustments and implement measures to protect our community if and when those should become necessary again.

I cannot stress enough the importance of remaining on top of this at a local level. We continue to see very low numbers within Dufferin County but unfortunately, we cannot control the movement of individuals coming into or out of our community. Please remain vigilant and continue to make responsible choices - for yourselves, your family and our community more broadly. The medical advice is clear when it comes to prevention - wear your masks, continue to wash and sanitize your hands regularly, continue to practice physical distancing, and limit your exposure to crowds as much as possible. Let’s all continue to do our part!

Have a great weekend, stay well, and look after each other.

Mayor Wade Mills