COVID-19 prevalence in Mississauga exceeds Toronto as 29 new cases confirmed Tuesday

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Mississauga has increased nearly fivefold in less than a week, new numbers from Peel Public Health show.

On Tuesday morning, the region’s public health unit confirmed 29 new cases of COVID-19 in the city, bringing the total to 154 in the continuation of a steep trend of new infections confirmed since March 25 when the city had only 32 confirmed cases. 

It’s a disturbing increase which, on a per capita basis, means the COVID-19 virus is now more prevalent in Mississauga than it is in Toronto, Canada’s largest city. 

In Toronto, the city’s 591 confirmed cases, on a per capita basis, means that 1.9 residents per 10,000 are infected with the virus. In Mississauga, Tuesday’s 29 new confirmed cases push the city’s per capita number to 2.05 per 10,000 residents. These numbers are based on a Mississauga population of 750,000.

On a per capita basis, COVID-19 is now more prevalent in Mississauga than it is in Toronto, Canada’s largest city.

According to Trillium Health Partners, there have been 175 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in its hospitals (along with two Mississauga hospitals, including the Queensway Health Centre in Toronto) and 15 of them are currently being treated in hospital.

The spike in Mississauga’s COVID-19 prevalence comes amid a number of measures to contain the virus, both at the municipal and provincial levels.

On Monday, Premier Doug Ford announced sweeping closures of public and private outdoor facilities in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The strong measure, which the Premier has said could be extended to a full lockdown, comes following a weekend of warm spring temperatures that saw people flock to Toronto’s streets and waterfront, despite advice to be socially and physically distant from one another. 

In response, the Peel Regional Police (PRP) issued a news release Tuesday morning urging residents to call 311 to report non-compliant businesses that have remained opened, despite not being on the list of “essential” services released by the province, or people who are using closed outdoor facilities and not practicing physical distancing. 

“Health experts at all levels of government remind residents to employ physical distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19. Peel Regional Police along with Peel Public Health and the Peel Emergency Management have maintained regular communication to ensure that we are working together to safeguard against the transmission of the virus to keep our community safe,” the PRP release reads. “If residents in Brampton or Mississauga wish to report a non-compliant business, the use of city owned facilities that are closed (other than essential services) or gatherings of more than 5 people, we ask the community to contact 3-1-1. A by-law enforcement officer and/or security personnel will investigate the complaint to ensure compliance with the orders set out by the respective governments and may lay charges when appropriate.”

Social lives are not the only things being impacted by the continued spread of COVID-19.

The Peel Regional Police have urged residents to call 311 to report people who are using closed outdoor facilities and not practicing physical distancing.

In an effort to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Mississauga has launched a new online resource to direct local business owners to aid programs set up by both the federal and provincial governments. 

“We understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on local businesses. Many are concerned about how they will weather this economic storm,” stated Mayor Bonnie Crombie in a news release on the city’s website. 

The city has also deferred taxes for businesses and residents to help those who have lost work or have been forced to close their businesses as a result of COVID-19. “We will continue to consult with our Economic Development Advisory Board as this situation unfolds and support local manufacturers interested in retooling their operations to produce essential medical supplies needed to battle this virus,” stated Crombie.

The new portal comes as the federal government has once again expanded the access to aid for business owners in the country. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government would be helping to cover 10 percent of wages for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. However, when criticism arose that this measure did not go far enough, Prime Minister Trudeau expanded the wage subsidy to 75 percent for small businesses. Then, on Monday, the assistance was expanded to all businesses, regardless of size. 

The new subsidy states that any business that has lost 30 percent or more of its revenue as a result of COVID-19 can receive up to 75 percent of wage costs, up to a salary of $58,700.

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