67 new COVID-19 cases in Waterloo Region, active infections dip slightly
Health officials in Waterloo Region logged 67 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday, continuing a trend of spiking cases in the community.
Despite the double-digit jump in new infections on Wednesday, active cases in Waterloo Region declined slightly, down to 503.
There have been 17,206 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region since the pandemic began, including 16,425 resolved infections and 260 deaths.
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND OUTBREAKS DIP
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Waterloo Region dropped by five in the past day, now sitting at 57 people. Of those, 21 are receiving treatment in intensive care units.
Active outbreaks also dipped slightly, down from 18 on Tuesday to 16 on Wednesday. The majority of the outbreaks are in workplace or facility settings.
VARIANTS OF CONCERN
Health officials have confirmed the more infectious Delta variant is now the dominant virus strain in Waterloo Region.
Another seven COVID-19 cases were confirmed as variants on Wednesday, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed variant of concern cases to 3,574. Six of the new confirmed variant cases were linked to Delta.
The region's variant breakdown is as follows:
- 3,072 are the Alpha variant, first identified in the United Kingdom and originally known as B.1.1.7
- 11 are Beta variant, originally detected in South Africa and previously referred as B.1.315
- 61 are the Gamma variant, initially discovered in Brazil and labelled as P.1
- 121 are the Delta variant, first found in India and previous called B.1.617
- 309 cases have had a mutation detected, but have not yet had a variant strain confirmed
VACCINE UPDATE
Meanwhile, health partners across Waterloo Region administered another 8,337 COVID-19 vaccine doses on Tuesday.
That brings the total number of jabs in arms to 482,664.
More than 75.3 per cent of adults have now received at least one dose, with 21.73 per cent of residents 18 and older are now fully immunized.
As of Wednesday, anyone who received an mRNA vaccine as their first dose before May 30 is now eligible to book an earlier second dose appointment in Waterloo Region.
An updated booking system also launched Wednesday.
PROVINCE-WIDE SNAPSHOT
Across Ontario, health officials logged 255 new infections on Wednesday, a number not seen since Sept. 15.
The seven-day rolling average of daily COVID-19 cases now stands at about 316. A week ago that number was 443.
Another 11 deaths related to the disease were reported on Wednesday, bringing the death tally related to the virus to 9,093.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.