Ontario sees lowest COVID-19 numbers in past month

Written By ALYSA PARKHILL

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Peel Region is slowly seeing decreased numbers of COVID-19 cases, as “stay-at-home” orders remain in place across the Province. 

Peel has reported 346 new cases as of January 19, a decrease from previous numbers of 507, 585 and 639 reported this past Saturday. 

Peel Region has surpassed 50,000 positive cases of the virus, with Mississauga reporting 17,615, Brampton 31,293 and Caledon at 1,931. 

Caledon has had four school/child-care outbreaks including BrightPath Bolton, which reported their second outbreak on December 29 and was declared over as of January 18. Peel has also reported seven workplace/facility outbreaks in Caledon.

The Province has reported 1,913 new cases, a significant drop from previous numbers this past month. 

Toronto reported 550 new cases and 235 in York Region, but the Province states due to technical issues at Toronto Public Health, the numbers are likely to be inaccurate due to underreporting.

The provincial government has declared a key milestone in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, stating the first round of vaccinations in long-term care homes in the major hotspots are ahead of schedule. 

“This is the first of many victories to come against this deadly and ruthless enemy we face,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We are making steady progress, but we will not rest until the residents and staff of every long-term care home and all Ontarians have had the opportunity to get a vaccine.

“Only then will we be able to get our lives back and return to normal.”

Peel Region, Toronto, York Region and Windsor-Essex include the four highest COVID-19 areas in the Province and continue to be priority. 

As of press time, more than 40 per cent of long-term care homes across Ontario have received the first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, which includes over 83,000 residents, staff and caregivers. 

“To have the first round of vaccinations completed at long-term care homes in these hard-hit regions is a significant achievement, and I'd like to recognize all those who contributed to this effort,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Together with our partners we continue to expand our capacity and we are ready to administer more doses as soon as we receive them.”

Due to the work being done in the expansion of the facility manufacturing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Federal government received notice that there is to be a reduction of “Canada's allocations.” 

Due to these impacts, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health has updated the second dose administration stating, long-term care and retirement homes residents and staff will receive the second dose in 21 to 27 days. 

Anyone else who has received the first dosage of the vaccine must receive the second after 21 days and before 42. 

224,134 doses have been administered in Ontario so far, with 25,609 being completed.