By the time COVID-19 subsides, numerous projections show small businesses including restaurants will continue to suffer for many months. Some likely won't open their doors again. Despite these looming concerns, it’s not enough to stop residents, local politicians and business owners who are offering services to help people during the crisis.
The province of Ontario has extended its emergency declaration after more than 400 new cases were confirmed Friday evening.
The announcement also came with a number of new initiatives to make it easier for hospitals to expand capacity, something Peel’s previously stretched healthcare facilities have already benefited from.
With the implementation of mandatory physical distancing measures, many people have been cut off from organizations they rely on. This includes victims of domestic violence, who may not be able to seek help when they need it most. Others across the region in desperate need because of the impacts of the pandemic have also been cut off from support.
For the second time, a Mississauga hospital has had to declare a COVID-19 outbreak. Trillium Health Partners has said approximately 10 staff members at Mississauga Hospital are infected with the virus.
The news comes as Peel confirmed 46 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the region Friday morning.
Deemed non-essential, restaurants and small eateries across the province have been tossed into limbo. Forced to close their doors and attempt to survive on take-out orders, many face the grim reality that COVID-19 could leave them shuttered for good.
Brampton restaurateurs say they need government assistance immediately to survive the pandemic.
Canadians are anxious and fearful during this global pandemic, new data from Statistics Canada shows.
However, a closer look at Peel’s numbers reveals a flicker of light as the region hopes to move toward the other end of the crisis, for now.
Latest Episode
The details around the man’s death Thursday morning remain unclear, but Peel Public Health has released a brief statement.
Before recent changes at the provincial level, paramedics did not have adequate protocols to protect themselves against the spread of COVID-19. Part of what they did have included the words of the patients they help each and every day. Unfortunately, not all those who depend on these everyday heroes are being honest.
Trillium Health Partners is constructing an 80-bed care facility on the grounds of Mississauga Hospital to deal with increased demand created by COVID-19.
The facility is the latest attempt by the hospital system to expand its ability to care for residents, as the number of those requiring treatment in hospitals for COVID-19 continues to rise in Canada’s sixth largest city.
Brampton has seen another significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases as residents wait to see if strict physical distancing measures are having an impact.
In order to slow the spread, city staff have closed burial grounds and plan to reduce bus service to a temporary Sunday schedule.
Shuttered recreation centres and free transit are necessary for Mississauga’s response to COVID-19. The measures, introduced over the past few weeks, are in place to keep people apart and slow the spread of the virus. The fallout: ending public life and a massive drop in revenues is emptying city coffers which are predicted to finish the year tens of millions in the red.
Only days after reporting a lack of resources, the health networks covering Peel’s two cities have added extra ICU beds and ventilators. Now, Brampton is part of a network of hospitals with more than 80 percent of its ventilators free, waiting to fight the novel coronavirus.
It’s been described as the “wild west” of procurement. Right now, all countries are trying to stock up on necessary personal protective equipment for front line workers, making international competition fierce.
As the battle for PPE continues, the City of Mississauga and its hospitals are bracing for the full impact of the virus.
As the provincial government moves to provide further information to first responders to warn them about potential exposure to COVID-19, Brampton saw a spike in cases.
The new cases are part of the bad news across Peel according to the Region’s data for confirmed cases each day, as the only full-service local hospital looks for ways to increase alarmingly low critical care capacity in the city.
The federal government is in the middle of rolling out its enormous relief package to Canadians impacted by COVID-19. The support is aimed at keeping food on the table for families around the country. However, even as the money comes out, thousands are relying on food banks, bursary funds and other sources of funding to plug the gaps.
O-Two Medical Tech has been producing medical equipment for the last 50 years, shipping it out to more than 60 countries around the world. With hundreds of lives on the line across Ontario, this latest job is its most important yet.
After a weekend when the number of new infections reached a brief plateau in Brampton, the city registered a jump of 34 infections Monday morning.
In an effort to help those impacted by the virus, further funds have been announced by the province to support social service organizations and frontline workers.
The city’s healthcare network is expanding capacity for critical care as Ontario enters a critical stage in its battle against COVID-19.
As Mississauga continues to experience a spike in new infections, and community spread sets in, more hospital-admitted patients with the virus are being reported by the local health network.
Experts say Canadians should not be surprised by their anxious reaction to the global pandemic and all the uncertainty suddenly surrounding them. But it’s also important to know there are resources that can help ease the fear enveloping many.
The novel coronavirus cases are over a million worldwide and thousands have died. This crisis has also created a new imperative: humans have to slow down, to self-isolate, to retreat into a smaller world that centres on their home – whether that’s a sprawling mansion or a one-bedroom apartment. This is a challenge faced by the two major personality types in society: introverts and extroverts. How will they respond to this massive societal realignment, and which type is better equipped to thrive?
In the past, people moved to Mississauga to take advantage of the suburban dream, a single-family home complete with white picket fence.
As millennials enter the real estate market, with limited finances and a climate conscious perspective, housing patterns are changing. In recent years, more and more people are choosing to cut large areas of land in half and build two houses where there used to be one.
The region's public health unit now reports 177 total cases of COVID-19 in the city. Meanwhile, the province is now reporting more than 4,000 cases across Ontario.
In Mississauga, the latest COVID-19 case tally brings the city’s total to 279. The spike in new cases comes after the city announced the layoffs of 2,000 part-time employees in non-essential services.
As the province releases alarming projections for the impact of COVID-19 in the coming weeks and months, the premier has resisted pressure to implement stricter measures on individuals and companies. Instead, Doug Ford has further limited the number of essential businesses operating in the province and is begging people to stay home.
In Europe, many countries have had severe mobility restrictions in place since March, with residents told not to leave the house. For Ontario, questions remain about whether similar rules will be applied and what exactly they would look like.
With news that the pandemic’s grip on Ontario will continue for weeks, possibly months, The City of Mississauga announced Friday that it will have to lay-off 2,000 staff. The novel coronavirus has led to the partial or complete shutdown of many city services, while most facilities remain shuttered, making it impossible to keep everyone on the payroll, the same reality faced by businesses across Mississauga.
The old saying goes, “know your enemy”. In the case of the coronavirus, the knowing part is difficult, but not impossible. In the Region of Peel this task comes down to a small group of public health professionals relying on an epidemiological investigative technique known as contact tracing.
The use of contact tracing has assisted countries like Singapore and South Korea to reduce their infection rates. With case counts surging across Ontario, could it be the difference?
On Friday, the provincial government released projections suggesting 1,600 Ontarians could die by April 30 as a result of COVID-19, under current isolation measures. While increased measures take effect Saturday at midnight, the dire modelling shows the worst impact of the virus is still to come. In Peel, hospital beds are already filling up, with one struggling as of April 1 and others confronting worsening numbers. There is mounting concern that some local healthcare systems are not being open and transparent with the public about the reality they face.
In Mississauga, more than half of the fire service’s calls are for medical incidents, with many patients experiencing shortness of breath and respiratory issues.
Now, with a positive COVID-19 case confirmed in its own ranks, Mississauga Fire is preparing for staffing issues and a rise in call volume.
An unfortunate error led a number of Peel residents to receive negative results to their COVID-19 tests when in fact they were positive. The error comes as cases in Brampton more than doubled in four days.
In an effort to protect the mental health of those doing the right thing and staying home, the province has announced millions of dollars to expand online and virtual mental health resources for Ontarians. The investment comes amid the frightening release of projections for the number of new cases that could cripple the province by the end of the month.
The COVID-19 crisis in Ontario has created a new level of fear across the province, after health and government officials revealed the devastation that will be caused by the virus. If the current isolation measures are not increased there will be 80,000 cases and 1,600 deaths in Ontario by the end of April.
Mississauga resident Shrey Jain and a team of fellow university students are working on an online mapping app to track the local spread of infection caused by novel coronavirus. The group hopes its work can assist public health investigators frantically working to identify and contain the spread of COVID-19 as the numbers get worse by the day.
The Region of Peel has released strong recommendations and new penalties in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19 as 26 new Mississauga cases of the novel coronavirus were reported Thursday.
For the second consecutive day, the province of Ontario recorded more than 400 new cases, and a surprising number of people below the age of 60 being infected.
It will be a crucial week ahead for Brampton and the rest of the country as Peel Public Health announces new instructions to stay home and the city cancels some weekend bus services.
Despite harsh penalties for breaking physical distancing rules, municipal an ld provincial cases are spiking.
Mississauga and Brampton had strained healthcare systems well before COVID-19 turned everything upside down. As the pandemic continues and the number of positive cases in Peel grows, pressure on hospitals will only increase.
Instead of encouraging cities to build temporary treatment spaces, Ontario is hoping to coordinate care between different health networks and alleviate pressure on those hit hardest.
Peel’s healthcare systems were already struggling to keep up with patients before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as rates of infection spike and after Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital just declared an outbreak, the region and province can follow international examples of how to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent it from reaching the tipping point.
With the turn of the calendar page, thousands of Peel tenants now owe their landlords rent. Job loss and income disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have left many without the funds necessary for shelter.
Tenant advocates want definitive assurances from the provincial government there won’t be serious consequences for not paying rent.
The City of Brampton has signed a new bylaw that allows officers to fine individuals not following physical distancing measures. Meanwhile, Peel Public Health has confirmed 11 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Brampton Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Trillium Health Partners announced an outbreak at Credit Valley Hospital with four patients in one unit testing positive for COVID-19. Peel Public Health confirmed 20 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Mississauga Wednesday. Meanwhile, the city has enacted new measures to ensure residents practice physical distancing.
There’s a lot of fear, uncertainty and risk for those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, and one local politician has thrown herself into the middle of it.
Natalia Kusendova, a registered nurse, and Mississauga Centre MPP, talks about her transition from Queen’s Park to the emergency room, and how healthcare providers and the PC government are preparing for a looming wave of infection.
Politicians at all levels of government have told Canadians one thing: stay inside. The advice hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the strain on limited hospital resources.
One side effect of this shutdown is a near total lack of demand for private transit. The federal government has rolled out a series of aid programs for different workers that could help the taxi industry, with drivers and companies facing a bleak future.
Social and physical distancing measures are becoming increasingly significant in Mississauga as new numbers show COVID-19 is more prevalent in the city than Toronto on a per capita basis.
As the pandemic continues, the city has launched a new online resource directing local business owners to provincial and federal aid programs. Taxes have also been deferred for residents and businesses that have lost work or been forced to close as a result of the novel coronavirus.
Brampton continues to see an unsettling spike in new cases of the novel coronavirus. As the infection spreads, the city has shuttered outdoor recreational facilities and its transit system is limiting peak service hours.
As Peel saw its largest single-day increase of new cases of COVID-19 so far, including its first death, Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga has declared an outbreak after four patients in one unit tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Parents in Peel will have their children at home for at least another month, the province has announced. Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Premier Doug Ford confirmed the extended shutdown of Ontario schools as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. During the announcement, more details were also shared about how teachers will begin educating students at home, as many parents question why online learning has not been better integrated.
With public facilities shutdown and people working from home, physical distancing measures are having a big impact on city budgets.
Free transit, closed recreation centres and deferred property taxes are just a few of the financial pressures facing Brampton and Mississauga. While officials maintain public optimism that major projects will continue as planned, a bailout could be required in the long run.
In Peel, the rise in new COVID-19 cases shows no sign of slowing down. In its daily report, Peel Public Health revealed Monday the number of cases has risen by double digits for the seventh consecutive day. With more than 1,700 cases of the novel coronavirus now confirmed in Ontario, the provincial rate is spiking too.
Keeping your distance from other people is the number one tactic for limiting the spread of COVID-19, but what happens when you don’t have a choice?
The dynamic nature of a police officer’s duties can put them at particular risk of coming into contact with infected individuals. The Peel Regional Police are taking a number of steps to keep their officers and the public safe.
Tens of thousands of Canadians are unable to return home after sweeping border and travel restrictions were enacted by the Indian and Pakistani governments to halt the spread of COVID-19.
On Monday, some of those stranded received good news: the federal government has announced special flights for Canadians will begin this week.
It has been a troubling weekend across Peel and much of the world, as COVID-19 cases continue to climb. Peel Region now has 187 confirmed positive cases while Ontario reports a total of 1,355 cases. Meanwhile, a senior health expert in the U.S. is now warning of a devastating worst-case scenario there, projecting as many as 200,000 deaths.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for the poorly managed nationwide lockdown he ordered a week ago, which has left millions in chaos.
