One of the challenges with reporting COVID-19 data is that the way data are recorded and presented has changed as the pandemic goes on. At the time of writing this article, the Region of Halton is adopting a new provincial database. The region’s website notes, “[D]uring this transitional period, all counts should be considered preliminary and are subject to change as information is reconciled.” An online dashboard now provides a summary of COVID-19 in Halton to date; tables with numbers of cases broken down by age group, municipality, etc., are no longer being updated.
As of September 16, 2020, Halton Region has reported a total of 1055 cases, 964 of which were confirmed and 91 were probable; sadly, 25 individuals have died as a result of COVID-19. Though severity is unknown, 64 cases were active as of Sept. 16, 2020.
For Burlington, again, as of Sept. 16, 222 cases have been reported (203 confirmed and 19 probable); 7 individuals have died as a result of COVID-19 and 13 cases were active. More females (58%) than males were identified as having COVID-19. Milton and Oakville have reported a greater number of cases than Burlington (294 and 363 respectively), while Halton Hills has reported 176 cases; 11 individuals in Halton Hills died of COVID-19, 4 in Milton and 3 in Oakville. The age groups most affected in Burlington are 40-59 years old (79 cases), 20-39 years (63 cases) and 60-79 years (45 cases).
Burlington reported 8 of Halton’s 22 institutional outbreaks; of the remaining outbreaks, 9 were in Oakville, 4 in Halton Hills, and 1 in Milton. Burlington’s outbreaks were primarily at long term care homes (4 outbreaks) and at retirement homes (3 outbreaks). The remaining Burlington outbreak was at Joseph Brant Hospital.
As of September 5, 2020, there were 43,214 COVID-19 cases confirmed with a public health unit in Ontario. Similar to Burlington, more females than males have tested positive. Province wide, those aged 20-39 years show the highest number of cases (13,677), followed by ages 40-59 (12,831), 60-79 (7,635) and 80 and over (6,118).
Sources:
Halton Region, COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus); url: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
Government of Canada, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); url: canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
Mayo Clinic, Learn About COVID-19; url: mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/public-guidance (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
Public Health Ontario, Ontario COVID-19 Data Tool; url: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/infectious-disease/covid-19-data-surveillance/covid-19-data-tool (accessed Sept., 16, 2020).
WebMD, Coronavirus and COVID-19: What You Should Know; url: webmd.com/lung/coronavirus (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
