Vaccines best defence against Delta resurgence as Waterloo Region reopens: Dr. Wang
Waterloo Region's medical officer of health says COVID-19 vaccines remain the best defence against resurgence of the Delta variant as the economy reopens.
The region joined Ontario with a move into Step 3 last Friday. Step 2 was delayed in the area due to wide community spread of the Delta variant earlier this summer.
"The risk of Delta will increase as we reopen our economy and society," Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said at the region's COVID-19 update on Friday. "Therefore, we need to protect ourselves. Residents should not delay getting their first or second doses."
She encouraged people to continue following all public health measures, avoid crowded indoor spaces, gather outdoors whenever possible and wear a mask if physical distancing isn't possible.
"The Delta variant continues to be the predominant strain in Waterloo Region and is estimated to have accounted for 97 per cent of cases in the previous two weeks," Dr. Wang said.
Trends in the community have improved in recent weeks. The weekly incidence rate is now down to 25 cases per 100,000 people, according to Dr. Wang.
Dr. Wang added the majority of new cases continue to be in people who aren't vaccinated, or anyone who has only received one dose.
"Fully vaccinated people are the most protected possible against infection and, in particular, severe illness that can lead to hospitalization or even death," she said.
She said there is a possibility of breakthrough cases in people who are fully vaccinated, but they are less likely to have severe symptoms or to spread the disease to others.
"The more there's spread of the virus, the more everyone is at increased risk, because there's more exposure to the virus," Dr. Wang said. "But, those who are vaccinated, especially those that are fully vaccinated, are the most protected."
The region continues to have some of the highest first-dose coverage in Ontario, but Dr. Wang reminded residents that it's too soon to relax restrictions completely.
"We may feel done with the pandemic, but the pandemic is not done with us," she said.
CONTINUED PUSH FOR ACCELERATED SECOND DOSES
Regional officials continue to encourage people get their second vaccine dose as soon as they are eligible to do so. The interval between mRNA vaccines is 28 days, and people can get a second shot eight weeks after receiving AstraZeneca.
All regional clinics are offering walk-ins for first and second doses, and all other appointments will be honoured.
"I encourage every resident who has an appointment in August, September or October to book an earlier appointment or pop into one of the clinics," said Dept. Chief Shirley Hilton, who is leading the region's vaccine rollout.
The region launched a new mobile vaccine bus this week, which is aimed at making doses more accessible to people who may not be able to get to a clinic, pharmacy or primary care facility.
Hilton said the vaccine task force is beginning to look at ramping down some of its mass vaccine clinics as more and more residents receive both first and second doses. She said they will continue to offer mobile and other vaccine options into the future.
'NOT THE TIME TO BE PICKY'
Hilton said supply is no longer an issue in the region. However, she did address hesitancy over the Moderna vaccine in Friday's update. Thousands of doses at local pharmacies might expire soon. After thawed, Moderna doses have a shelf-life of 30 days.
The region's supply is stored in freezers and not at-risk. Hilton said pharmacies are sending refrigerated doses to regional clinics ahead of their expiration date so they don't get wasted.
"The best vaccine is the one that's being offered to you," Hilton said. "Now is not the time to be picky about which vaccine you get. It's about being protected."
ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Officials reported one enforcement action at this week's COVID-19 update. Regional bylaw officers issued one ticket to a business for failing to comply with the face covering bylaw. That ticket was worth $240.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.