Brampton announces further closures, reduces transit service as 29 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Wednesday

Peel Public Health has confirmed an additional 29 cases of COVID-19 in Brampton on Wednesday. The increase is marginally lower than Tuesday’s rise of 30, but is a day-on-day jump of 12 percent. 

The Region of Peel as a whole saw an increase of 47 cases to bring its total to 684. Brampton saw a larger spike than Mississauga, which had 17 new cases for a total of 378. Caledon has 33 cases and three are pending further information. 

The region did not announce any further deaths, with the total remaining at nine. 

Across Ontario 550 new cases of the virus were confirmed with 21 additional deaths recorded. Data accurate to 4pm on Tuesday shows the province has 5,276 cases of the virus with 174 deaths. A total of 605 people are in hospital as a result of COVID-19, 246 in ICU and 195 requiring ventilators to support their breathing. 

William Osler, the health system that operates Brampton Civic, the city’s only full service hospital, Peel Memorial and Etobicoke General, has returned 490 positive results for COVID-19. According to figures on Osler’s website, there are currently 32 patients under its care, but it is unclear if they are in Brampton or Etobicoke and whether patients are in ICU or require ventilation. 

Service changes, closures and further disruption to daily life in Brampton have continued as a result of the still spreading virus.

Effective Wednesday, April 8, Brampton has taken the step of closing its cemeteries to the public until further notice. The move means visitors will no longer be allowed into the city’s burial grounds at will, with only some specific circumstances being approved. 

Burials and the sale of burial plots will continue through the COVID-19 pandemic, but only with specific appointments. In order to inform residents of the move, signage similar to that on playgrounds in the city will be posted outside all cemeteries to advise Bramptonians of the closures. 

The City of Brampton is responsible for Brampton Cemetery at 10 Wilson Avenue, as well as 25 other sites.

Brampton Transit will also undergo its third service reduction of the pandemic. Since Brampton announced its buses would be free, with rear-door boarding and a cap of 50 percent capacity, service cuts have been regular and vehicles have struggled to keep up with demand. 

For the third time, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Brampton Transit to reduce service. 

So far two Brampton Transit drivers have tested positive for COVID-19, with the second positive case confirmed on April 3. 

In a tweet on Tuesday, the bus service implied significant confusion and even chaos on its routes. “We’re doing our best to provide as much service as possible with the resources we have,” Brampton Transit tweeted. “Many of our routes aren’t able to strictly adhere to schedules. We’ve allocated resources to some of our busier routes to help provide access for essential trips. Please be patient.”

Soon after the tweet was shared, more cuts were announced. Brampton Transit has been running an enhanced Saturday Service since waiving fares, with some smaller weekend routes cut altogether. Now, effective April 13, buses will switch to an enhanced Sunday service instead. 

This means off-peak timetables will see Sunday service throughout the week, with slightly more regular options during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

The bus routes that will now operate enhanced Sunday service instead of Saturday are: 

• 501 Züm Queen (Highway 7 to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre only)

• 502 Züm Main

• 511/511A Züm Steeles

• 1 Queen

• 2 Main

• 3/3A McLaughlin

• 4/4A Chinguacousy

• 5 Bovaird

• 6 James Potter – Peak Service only and no Sunday Service

• 7/7A Kennedy

• 10 Industrial – Monday-Friday Service only

• 11/11A Steeles

• 14/14A Torbram

• 15 Bramalea

• 18 Dixie

• 20 East Industrial – Monday-Friday Service only

• 23 Sandalwood

• 26 Mount Pleasant – Service until 7 pm only and no Sunday Service

• 29 Williams Parkway – Peak Service only and no Sunday Service

• 30 Airport Road

• 31 McVean – Peak Service only and No Sunday Service

• 50 Gore Road

• 51 Hereford - Peak Service only and No Sunday Service

• 53 Ray Lawson (no Sunday Service)

• 56 Kingknoll (no Sunday Service)

• 60 Mississauga Road – Monday-Friday Peak Service only and no Saturday/Sunday Service

• 115 Airport Express

The reduced service has created frustration among residents, with several of them taking to social media to express their anger, stating that many essential workers rely on transit to get to work, and the service reduction harms them disproportionately. 

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown also took to Twitter yesterday to promote new advice from Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Doctor Theresa Tam, that non-medical masks could help slow the spread of COVID-19. The new guidance from the country’s top medical official represents an important change, with masks previously suggested only for healthcare workers. 

Canada is still recommending medical grade masks, such as N-95 respirators, are saved for professionals, with a global shortage. People are encouraged to make their own equivalents from cloth or other materials at home.

“Masks are an option when physical distancing is not and Canada’s Chief MOH says they keep people around you safer even with no symptoms,” Brown tweeted. “It’s OK to wear them on public transit, at grocery stores or spots where it’s hard to keep apart. Just keep medical masks for our front liners.” 

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Twitter: @isaaccallan

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