Mississauga in good position to handle COVID-19 sixth wave, mayor says
Published April 7, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Mayor Bonnie Crombie says while there are growing concerns over the sixth wave of COVID-19 cases sweeping the province, Mississauga–and Peel–are strongly positioned to weather the storm.
“I know people are tired of COVID and want to move on, but the unfortunate reality is that cases are once again on the rise,” Crombie said today (April 7) at Mississauga’s weekly media briefing.
“Yes, I am concerned. I see that our rates are escalating and they’re equal to the height of Omicron right now,” she continued, adding she’s in constant touch with Peel Region’s medical officer of health Dr. Lawrence Loh. “…and he does not see a need to introduce further measures at this time, and we know the provincial government is also monitoring the situation very closely and I know that should there be a need to move forward with restrictions that they would be the first to do so.”
Crombie noted that as Ontario enters a sixth wave, Mississauga and Brampton are not seeing the high numbers that other municipalities are experiencing.
“I’ve spoken with Dr. Loh and we have seen a modest increase in transmission here in Peel, which was expected as we transitioned into a full reopening with most public health measures lifted,” the mayor said.
“Dr. Loh has told me, however, that Peel is continuing to experience the lowest rates of transmission in the province and we are not seeing transmission rise to the same extent that other jurisdictions in Ontario are. That’s because…Peel was one of the hardest-hit areas of the country in previous waves. We have a reduced susceptibility thanks to the immunity developed from those waves built on our very high rates of vaccination.”
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The number of COVID-19 patients at Trillium Health Partners (THP) hospitals–Mississauga and Credit Valley hospitals in addition to Queensway Health Centre in Etobicoke–has also remained relatively low, Peel Public Health numbers show.
As of today (April 7), 93 patients are being treated for COVID-19 at THP, including three in critical care.
Those numbers are significantly lower than figures reported during the height of the Omicron wave in January, when THP was treating more than 320 people, including 32 who were in intensive care.
Still, Crombie says, people should not let their guard down.
She noted Peel Public Health and Loh continue to monitor trends in the region.
“In the meantime, I encourage residents to continue masking indoors as circumstances warrant,” said Crombie, adding those with symptoms should stay home and isolate.
“What gives me great hope is that 94 per cent of residents (ages) 12-plus in Peel have at least two doses of the vaccine.”
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