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
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.