COVID LEVELS 'REMAIN ELEVATED' IN PEEL WASTEWATER: REPORT

NUMBER OF PEEL LONG-TERM-CARE OUTBREAKS MORE THAN DOUBLES IN APRIL

COVID-19 levels "remain elevated" in Peel's wastewater, according to a recent report from the region public health unit, but indicate a plateau in the virus overall.

Peel Public Health's May 6 report shows that COVID-19 levels in wastewater continue to be elevated in the region, though levels of the virus don't appear to be near the heights of the Omicron wave around the beginning of 2022.

The report also says COVID-19 levels in wastewater, which provides a view of the prevalence of the virus across Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, "indicate an overall plateau."

The wastewater report comes almost three weeks after the Easter long weekend, when a number of public health officials expressed concerns about a potential spike in COVID as many families gathered indoors.

While not nearly as severe as the strain during the height of the Omicron wave, Peel hospitals have seen an uptick in patients with COVID-19, including in the intensive care unit.

Trillium Health Partners had nine COVID-19 patients in intensive care as of May 6, up from two as of

March 29, according to the health system's daily reports.

Trillium also reported an outbreak in its oncology and palliative unit at Credit Valley Hospital, involving two patients testing positive for COVID-19. The report said the cases are "suspected to have been hospital acquired."

William Osler, which has a hospital in Brampton, has averaged around four COVID-19 patients in intensive care so far this month.

Twenty-one long-termcare homes had COVID-19 outbreaks declared in April, according to Peel Public Health data, which resulted in one resident death.

The number of April outbreaks is almost triple the eight outbreaks Peel Public Health reported in March.