20 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Brampton Thursday as local firm pledges to make 10,000 ventilators; almost 70% of those infected in Ontario are below the age of 60

On Thursday, Peel Public Health confirmed 25 new COVID-19 cases in Brampton, a rise to 137 total cases in the city. The new figure is an increase of more than 20 percent from Wednesday, when 112 cases were reported.

The first death as a result of the virus also occurred in Brampton, with a 70-year-old man passing away at Brampton Civic Hospital on March 26, after testing positive for COVID-19 the day before.

With 25 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Thursday in Brampton, the city's total rises to 137.

In Ontario, 401 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 2,793 positive cases and 53 deaths. Thursday marked the second consecutive day that more than 400 cases were confirmed in the province, with 426 reported Wednesday, for a combined total of 827 cases in just two days. Meanwhile, 831 cases have been resolved, meaning the previously infected individual no longer shows any signs of having the virus, according to the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Surprisingly, people aged 59 and younger represent 67.6 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario at a total of 1,889. This is in stark contrast to those aged 60 and older who are at a greater risk of becoming severely ill and make up just 32.3 percent of cases. The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen to 405. Of those, 167 are in the ICU with 112 currently requiring the help of a ventilator.

827 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Ontario over the past two days.

As cases continue to grow, the City of Brampton is continuing to try to slow the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus.

While Brampton Transit has mandated buses keep vehicle capacities at 50 percent, some routes are still experiencing overcrowding. As a result, the city has altered and cancelled several of its weekend services. Changes to Saturday and Sunday service hours come into effect on April 4 to free up vehicles and drivers, allowing passengers to practice physical distancing. 

The announcement of cancellations and reduced service is the second such change, with the cancellation of some routes during peak hours implemented on March 31. 

Saturday:

• 32 Father Tobin – service cancelled; will continue to operate Monday-Friday

• 33 Peter Robertson - service cancelled; will continue to operate Monday-Friday

• 56 Kingknoll – service cancelled; will continue to operate Monday-Friday

• 52 McMurchy – frequency reduced to every 50 minutes all day

Sunday:

• 32 Father Tobin - service cancelled; will continue to operate Monday-Friday

• 56 Kingknoll - service cancelled; will continue to operate Monday-Friday

• 52 McMurchy – frequency reduced to every 50 minutes all day

While Brampton’s transit system steps up physical distancing measures, the city has been proactive in its attempts to ensure people keep space between themselves and others. At a special council meeting on March 25, councillors and Mayor Patrick Brown resolved to enact their own rules on top of provincial guidelines, something they achieved on the last day of March. 

Now, bylaw officers in Brampton can hand out fines to those not adhering to physical distancing guidelines. These range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $100,000 for each offence. Standing closer than two metres to someone you do not live with is one situation in which a fine can be issued. 

More than 15,000 residents tuned into Brampton's latest tele-town hall, joining Mayor Patrick Brown and Regional Councillor Rowena Santos.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Region of Peel issued strong recommendations to keep residents inside and slow the spread of COVID-19. In a press release on the region’s website, Interim Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lawrence Loh said Peel is restricting the movement of all residents with COVID-19, those who have been in close contact with them or anyone classified as a probable case. People who fit into these categories are required to stay home for 14 days or risk incurring fines as high as $5,000 per day. 

"Our opportunity to flatten the curve is coming to an end,” Loh said. “We must act now to save lives and protect our healthcare system and frontline workers. We know that COVID-19 does not travel on its own; it is transmitted from person to person. These measures are intended to limit interactions that can spread the virus and break chains of transmission in our community."

The region is now strongly recommending that essential trips, including those to the grocery store or to pick up medical supplies, happen only once per week, while daily exercise is still acceptable so long as residents keep their distance from others and only work out with members of their household and pets. 

All residents of Peel over the age of 70 or with underlying health conditions are being told to remain inside and, if possible, have essentials delivered to their doors. 

Measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 are enforced by city bylaw officers and security staff, with the back-up of the police. Brampton is advising residents who see non-compliance to call 311 to allow the city to deal with the issue before the Peel Regional Police become involved.

On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford told reporters the list of 74 essential businesses allowed to operate during the pandemic was under review. “We’re going to do everything we can to reduce that list,” Ford said, adding more details would be available in the “next day or so.” 

The list currently includes construction sites, stores selling alcohol, pet stores, cannabis retailers, banks and supermarkets. 

For frontline health workers, the Region of Peel is also opening free, emergency child care centres. Located close to hospitals in the region, some centres will be open 24 hours per day, seven days a week for eligible parents with children aged 12 and under to accommodate shift schedules. A full list of available centres will be posted on Monday (April 6) on the province’s website. 

Small businesses in Brampton, essential or otherwise, have been struggling as a result of the pandemic and the shutdown of public life. On April 1, the day rent is due for many, the city offered relief to tenants in its buildings. 

“The city will defer rent payments for its not-for-profit and small for-profit tenants for a period of three months, and will waive payments for its non-profit tenants who are unable to access new Federal programs, for a period of 3 months,” a statement read. “This relief will support more than half of the City’s 81 tenants.”

In addition, Brown wrote to Queen’s Park asking for a provincial solution to help small businesses struggling with cash flow. “We have held consultations with our business community and they have told us that, although they understand and support the closures of non-essential businesses as an integral action in combating COVID-19, they are very anxious about the necessity to pay their rent, and the consequences which may arise if they are unable to do so,” he wrote. 

Wednesday also saw a business based in Brampton take centre stage in the provincial fight against COVID-19. O-Two Medical Technologies, which operates out of the city, signed a deal with the Government of Ontario to provide 10,000 new ventilators to help COVID-19 patients whose lung capacity is diminished. “This is a Made-In-Brampton solution that will help us combat the spread of COVID-19,” Brown proudly tweeted. 

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