Number of COVID-19 patients drops at Brampton Civic

The number of COVID-19 patients at Brampton Civic hospital is on the decline as the province moves forward with reopening. 

In a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor Patrick Brown said there has been a drop in the number of patients with COVID-19 at Brampton Civic.

He said there are currently 70 patients in the hospital with the virus, down from 110 patients one week ago, and the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has also declined from 17 down to 10.

Brown called the drop in patient numbers “a significant decline” and said he was “optimistic about the days and weeks ahead and our ability to get back on our feet as a community and put COVID-19 in the rear view mirror.”

Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel Region’s medical officer of health, said while there is a downward trend in hospitalizations, contacts and exposures are expected to increase following the province’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions this week.

Loh again stressed the importance of vaccination, and urged residents to get their COVID-19 shots and boosters.

He said the unvaccinated are six times more likely to end up in hospital when contracting COVID-19 and 10-12 more likely to end up in intensive care.

“So my message today is simple – if you are not vaccinated, please get your first two doses. If you’ve already got your two doses and are over the age of 18, get your booster,” he said.

Peel Public Health COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon are now accepting walk-ins.

Starting Tuesday (Feb. 1), anyone over 5 years old can get a first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose at Peel Public Health (PPH) clinics without an appointment.

Booster dose walk-ins are also available for anyone 18 and older.

On Tuesday, the Ontario COVID-19 science table said it is expecting hospitalizations “to rebound” as the province reopens, and the “pressure on ICUs will be prolonged.”

Loh said the models “are not weather forecasts, but they are information for action.”

The Ministry of Health said there were 2,939 people with the virus in Ontario hospitals on Wednesday, down from 4,016 a week ago.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said 56 per cent of those patients were admitted to the hospital for COVID-19, and 44 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.

Elliott 555 of those patients are in intensive care – down from 608 a week ago – and 337 are breathing with the help of a ventilator.

More than 80 per cent of ICU patients were admitted for COVID-19 and 17 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have tested positive.