Local public health units launching new viral activity dashboards

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is gearing up for respiratory virus season and changing its approach this year when it comes to virus reporting.

Instead of just offering an online dashboard on COVID-19 trends, the health unit has broadened its approach with the launch of a new Respiratory Illness Activity Dashboard.

It provides data on COVID-19, the flu and RSV — including virus trends, related hospitalizations, and related deaths.

Locally, something similar is in the works for next year.

Region of Waterloo Public Health has confirmed that its developing a new ‘integrated respiratory dashboard’, which will likely launch in early 2024.

For now, the online Waterloo Region COVID-19 Summary dashboard is still being updated weekly on Fridays.

The 2023-2024 Influenza Surveillance Bulletin is also now available and includes information on weekly influenza case trends, and influenza and RSV hospitalizations.