Waterloo Region adds 15 new COVID-19 cases; suspected Delta cases now being reported
Waterloo Region added 15 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, as the health unit logged hundreds of confirmed or suspected Delta variant cases as part of a reporting update.
Of the 15 new infections, 12 are linked to the past day and three are from previous reporting periods.
Six of the latest cases are in youth between the ages of 10 and 19.
Waterloo Region has now confirmed 19,287 COVID-19 cases, including 18,802 resolved infections, 189 active cases and 292 deaths.
Another 824 cases were confirmed as variant of concern cases in Tuesday's update – all of which are linked to the Delta variant.
Health officials in Waterloo Region are now including all suspected Delta variant cases in addition to confirmed cases on the health unit's COVID-19 dashboard.
The change does not reflect an increase in the number of new cases, just how they are reported and classified.
The health unit has now logged 6,034 variant of concern cases since the pandemic began.
Waterloo Region's variant breakdown is as follows:
- 3,128 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
- 2,524 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, another 2,355 COVID-19 tests were processed in the region since Friday. Since the pandemic began, 579,078 tests have been processed.
As of Tuesday, the region's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.9 per cent, down from 3.1 per cent on Friday.
The reproductive rate of the virus is 1.1, up from 1.0 on Friday.
Hospitalizations in Waterloo Region increased by two in the past 24 hours, up to 13. There are currently nine people receiving treatment in area intensive care units.
One new COVID-19 outbreak was declared in Tuesday's update, bringing the total number of active outbreaks up to six.
Since the vaccine rollout began, 840,486 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Waterloo Region, with 1,223 jabs put into arms on Monday.
Among residents 12 and older, 81.14 per cent are fully vaccinated and 87.43 per cent have received at least one dose.
Across Waterloo Region's entire population, 69.87 per cent are fully vaccinated and 75.29 per cent have received at least one dose.
Province-wide, 577 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths were reported on Tuesday.
Of the new infections reported Tuesday, 452 cases involved people who are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown and 125 infections involved people who are fully vaccinated.
Ontario has now confirmed 9,624 COVID-19-related deaths and 575,796 cases since the pandemic began.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.