20 new COVID-19 cases reported in Waterloo Region
Health officials in Waterloo Region logged 20 new COVID-19 infections along with more than a dozen variant of concern cases.
The 20 latest cases bring the region's total case count to 18,719, including 18,291 resolved infections, 134 active cases and 288 deaths.
Among the new cases, four are people aged 10 to 19, and five are people in their 20s.
The number of infections confirmed as variant of concern cases rose by 13 in Thursday's update, up to 4,951.
The region's variant breakdown is as follows:
- 3,124 are the Alpha variant, first identified in the United Kingdom and originally known as B.1.1.7
- 21 are the Beta variant, originally detected in South Africa and previously referred to as B.1.315
- 98 are the Gamma variant, initially discovered in Brazil and labelled as P.1
- 1,440 are the Delta variant, first found in India and previously called B.1.617
- 268 cases have had a mutation detected, but have not yet had a variant strain confirmed
Hospitalizations rose by one in the past 24 hours, now up to 17. There are 10 people receiving treatment in area intensive care units.
Across Waterloo Region, there are four active COVID-19 outbreaks.
Another 1,792 COVID-19 vaccine doses were put into arms on Wednesday.
Since the vaccine rollout began, 805,385 doses have now been administered in Waterloo Region.
More than 84.5 per cent of residents 12 and older have now received at least one dose, while 76.59 per cent of the eligible population in the region are fully vaccinated.
Province-wide, 531 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Thursday's update.
Ontario's rolling seven-day average has ballooned to 498, a jump from 375 at the same time last week.
Health officials have now confirmed 557,451 COVID-19 cases and 9,448 deaths since the pandemic began.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Almost 2 months after it destroyed Baltimore's Key Bridge, the Dali cargo ship has been moved
The cargo ship Dali is being moved from the site of its catastrophic collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in a crucial step toward fully reopening the busy Port of Baltimore.