Two COVID-19 deaths, 18 new cases reported in Waterloo Region
Health officials in Waterloo Region reported two COVID-19-related deaths and 18 new cases on Wednesday, as active infections dropped significantly.
The two latest deaths – a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s – bring the region's death toll to 297.
Waterloo Region has now confirmed 19,481 COVID-19 cases, with 19,010 infections considered resolved. The total case count only increased by 17 on Wednesday due to a data cleanup.
Active cases dropped by 46 in Wednesday's update, down from 216 to 170.
Hospitalizations in the region increased by two in the past day, now up to 12. There are currently six people receiving treatment in area intensive care units, an increase of two from Tuesday's report.
One new COVID-19 outbreak was declared in the past day, bringing the number of active outbreaks across Waterloo Region to nine.
Another 16 infections were confirmed as variant of concern cases on Wednesday, all of which were linked to the Delta variant.
Waterloo Region has lab-confirmed 6,246 variant cases since the pandemic began.
The region's variant breakdown is as follows:
- 3,127 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
- 2, 737 are the Delta variant, first found in India and previously called B.1.617
- 263 cases have had a mutation detected, but have not yet had a variant strain confirmed
Meanwhile, Waterloo Region passed another milestone in the vaccine rollout in the past day, with more than 850,000 doses having now been administered.
On Tuesday, 1,180 jabs were put into arms, bringing the number of doses administered to 850,288.
Among eligible residents 12 and older, 82.23 per cent are fully vaccinated and 88.23 per cent have received at least one dose.
Including Waterloo Region's entire population, 70.9 per cent are fully vaccinated and 75.97 per cent have received at least one dose.
Province-wide, 463 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday, marking the lowest single-day increase since Aug. 17.
Of the cases reported Wednesday, 332 are in individuals who are unvaccinated, not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 131 are in fully vaccinated individuals.
Since the pandemic began, Ontario has logged 581,231 COVID-19 cases.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.