With Brampton accounting for 70% of COVID-19 cases in Peel, should it be left behind in Stage 2?

Brampton | Ontario | COVID | Latest News |

Published November 1, 2020 at 11:06 am

Throughout the pandemic Brampton has often reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in Peel, a trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon.

On Saturday, October 31, Brampton reported 199 new cases, making up the majority of the 282 new cases that were reported by Peel Public Health.

It’s also reported that the positivity rate in Brampton has become nearly 10% — the highest it’s been since May.

With all of Peel having been moved back into a modified Stage 2 in early October, residents have begun wondering when the region will be able to reenter Stage 3 — and if Brampton will reenter with it or be left behind due to the city’s higher case numbers.

So far, officials don’t seem to suggest the latter option. Brampton mayor Patrick Brown said in a recent interview that he didn’t believe there was enough data to support moving the region back into Stage 2, and says he has been pushing the province to allow Peel to reenter the third stage.

“I didn’t think this decision to close restaurants and fitness facilities was warranted three weeks ago,” said Brown, who added that he wasn’t sure if the province would allow Peel to reopen by November 7.

“Your guess is as good as mine on what the province is going to do. I hope that going forward it will be data-driven.”

Additionally, Peel’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lawrence Loh said at a past press conference that the focus was on moving all of Peel Region together, without singling out or leaving behind any one city.

Ontario reported a record number of 1,015 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, October 31, with nine new deaths — an increase of 119 new cases from Friday.

Of Saturday’s new cases, more than half were from Toronto and Peel—Toronto Public Health reported 325 new cases, while Peel Public Health is reporting 282 new cases.

Ottawa Public Health reported 94 new cases, York Region Public Health Services reported 88 new cases, Hamilton Public Health Services reported 41 new cases, and Halton Region Health Department reported 31 new cases.

This brings Ontario’s total number of cases to 75,730 with 64,749 recovered, 7,876 still active, and 3,135 deaths as of October 31.

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