COVID-19 outbreaks have more than tripled at Mississauga and Brampton long-term care homes

Mississauga | Brampton | COVID | Latest News |

Published August 3, 2022 at 6:03 pm

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Peel Public Health data for the month of July indicates a major increase in COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care (LTC) settings.

A total of 26 outbreaks were declared in July at LTC/retirement homes in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, more than tripling the eight outbreaks reported in June.

Only five of the outbreaks have been declared over as of today (August 3rd), with the other 21 considered to be ongoing.

Three resident deaths have been reported in relation to the July outbreaks.

The following facilities had outbreaks last month:

Public Health attributes the sharp increase in outbreaks to the BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant, which is currently causing the majority of cases in the current COVID-19 wave.

In July, Ontario’s chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore said the province is in a seventh wave after COVID test positivity was reported to be above 10% for the first time since May.

However, data indicates that the BA.5 subvariant is not significantly more severe than previous Omicron subvariants in the number of deaths and hospitalizations it causes.

“The forecasting has shown it’s roughly 66% of circulating strains now are of the BA.5 variety of COVID,” said Moore.

“It’s causing an increase in positivity of tests, a slight increase in hospitalizations, slight increase of those in the intensive care unit.”

In recent vaccine news, the province recently began offering COVID-19 vaccinations for kids aged six months to under five years old, as well as fourth COVID-19 doses (second boosters) to all residents 18 and up.

Moore says young, healthy adults who are not at risk of hospitalization are not absolutely required to get a second booster, and is encouraging residents to consider the second booster based on their own needs and any potential health risks, such as underlying illness.

Peel Public Health’s full COVID-19 case data is available at the Region’s website.

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