COVID-19 Update

Situation Update

Peel’s current incidence rate is 354 per 100,000 population, which exceeds the high rates seen in January.  Our 7-day moving average is 829 new cases daily. Per cent positivity is very high at 17.9% and all age groups are at peak rates (except among those 80+ years).  The number of variant cases continues to increase. 

Hospital capacity continues to be challenged with a high number of transfers from local hospitals to out of region hospitals.  Hospitalizations are higher with variants than non-variants, particularly among older age groups. 

Section 22 Update

Peel Public Health has started to notify the first businesses required to close by midnight because of an updated Class Section 22 order for workplaces issued on Tuesday. The major changes to the Section Order are now in affect.

Business and employee notification has been prioritized. Public disclosure of the affected workplaces started, April 24. Visit here.

Peel Public Health will be reviewing workplaces that meet the closure criteria on a daily basis to determine what action is required. The list will be updated daily, Monday – Friday at noon. It will include the business name, address, date of closure and whether the closure is full or partial. Case numbers will not be provided.

• Closure will happen with 5 cases that are identified to have been reasonably acquired in the workplace over a 14-day span.

• Modified closure criteria apply to large businesses. Based on a preliminary risk assessment, it will be determined if full or partial closure is warranted. Closure may last 10 calendar days, with day 1 starting the day after the business is notified they must close. This will allow Peel Public Health to investigate the outbreaks and provide additional guidance without the risk of ongoing spread of COVID-19.

• All affected employees must self-isolate unless otherwise directed by public health. Employees who are isolating are not permitted to work in any other workplace. This further restricts spread should they have been exposed in their workplace. 

• Absent legislated paid sick days, employers required to close under these provisions are strongly recommended to provide paid leave for impacted employees. Information about additional supports available through the High Priority Communities Strategy Lead Agencies is included in the employee letter.

Vaccine Update

As of April 19, Peel was allocated 503,125 vaccines from the province, which represents 10% of the total provincial allocation. For the week of April 19, Peel received 39,780 vaccines, and for the week of April 26, we expect to receive 65,520 vaccines. As of April 22, 423,162 doses have been administered. This, and other data, are available on the COVID-19 Vaccine Status tab on our dashboard.

One of our courageous clinic supervisors, May, shares her story about how her work is helping to end the pandemic. Please watch and share.

The province issued a statement confirming Ontario’s first case of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) in a patient after receiving the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine. Our message remains that the Health Canada approved vaccines are the best way to protect your health and those around you, and we continue to encourage Peel residents to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible and monitor their health after receiving their vaccination.

Eligible groups

Starting today, all pregnant individuals will be eligible to register for vaccination appointments under the highest risk health conditions in the Phase 2 prioritization guidance. Pregnant individuals can book their appointments through the provincial call centre at 1-888-999-6488. 

Pregnant individuals may choose to receive the vaccine at any time during their pregnancy. However, essential consideration should be made for those in the later stages of their pregnancy. It is recommended, but not required, that pregnant individuals have discussion with their treating health care provider, or with a health care provider familiar with their pregnancy prior to vaccination.

More Vaccine Opportunities

More vaccination opportunities have arrived in Peel with a total of 152 pharmacies offering vaccines and 37 primary care clinics. Seven pharmacies in Peel will operate 24/7. New this past week is that adults aged 40+ can book appointments through pharmacies and primary care. Residents can self-book at participating pharmacies and primary care sites.

The Region of Peel is expanding clinic hours and making improvements at COVID Vaccination Sites. The Caledon East clinic is expanding which will allow for an additional 650 appointments per day. This is good news for residents to the north and will offer more appointment times when the expansion is complete.  The date for this is planned for mid-May. 

Two community COVID vaccination clinics will be open for additional hours each day. This will result in an increase of 750 appointments per day. Effective May 1, the Save Max Sports Centre in Brampton will now be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Previously, this location has been open from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Effective May 8, the clinic location at Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Previously, this location has been open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additionally, the clinic at 7120 Hurontario Street has been reconfigured to allow for an improved flow through the facility. Changes to clinics will continue to occur to better serve Peel residents.

The community pop-up at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir continues to operate and is available to some Peel residents who are 18 years and over who live in L6S and L4T postal areas.  This clinic has had a lot of success since opening, and appointments book quickly. Booking link - COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic - William Osler Health System (williamoslerhs.ca).

Vaccination of Adults Living or Working in Hot Spot Communities

The vaccination of adults living or working in hot spot communities in Peel will begin in select workplaces and community settings in the weeks to come as vaccine supply becomes more available. The province has selected the following initial workplace partners to run on-site and community vaccination clinics across Peel hot spots: Amazon, Maple Leaf Foods and Maple Lodge Farms.

The provincial criterion for selecting workplaces includes hot spot location, outbreak data, and willingness of the employer to operate and fund an on-site clinic for their employees and a separate clinic for the community.