Waterloo Region adds 26 COVID-19 cases on Friday
Health officials in Waterloo Region recorded 26 new COVID-19 cases in Friday's update, as the region's test positivity rate continues to rise.
Of the new infections, 21 are linked to the past day and five are from previous reporting periods.
The region has now logged 20,083 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, including 19,659 resolved infections, 120 active cases and 303 deaths.
Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 COVID-19 tests were processed in the region since Tuesday, bringing the total number of completed tests to 620,848.
As of Friday, the region's seven-day rolling positivity rate sits at 1.7 per cent, up from 1.5 per cent on Tuesday.
The reproductive rate of the virus remains unchanged at 1.1.
Hospitalizations increased by one on Friday, up to 12. Intensive care unit admissions decreased by one, down to two.
Another two COVID-19 outbreaks were declared in Friday's update. There are now seven active outbreaks across Waterloo Region.
Twenty-four more infections were identified as variant of concern cases on Friday.
The breakdown of the region's 6,728 lab-confirmed variant cases is as follows:
- 3,127 are the Alpha variant
- 21 are the Beta variant
- 98 are the Gamma variant
- 3,220 are the Delta variant
- 262 cases have had a mutation detected, but have not yet had a variant strain confirmed
On Thursday, another 682 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the region, bringing the total number of jabs put into arms to 894,129.
More than 87.4 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated and 90.90 per cent have received at least one dose.
Among the region's entire population, 75.33 per cent is fully vaccinated and 78.28 per cent have received at least one dose.
Region of Waterloo Public Health is now reporting the impact of COVID-19 vaccines in the region on its dashboard.
Between Dec. 22, 2020 and Oct. 27, 2021, public health says vaccines have prevented 6,966 cases, 742 hospitalizations, 785 cases with severe outcomes and 136 deaths.
In that same period, 721 of the region's hospital admissions have been among unvaccinated individuals. Another 86 have been among partially vaccinated people and 28 among fully vaccinated people.
Only four ICU admissions since Dec. 22, 2020 have been among fully vaccinated individuals, with 22 in partially vaccinated people and 164 among unvaccinated people.
Province-wide, health officials reported 419 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and no new deaths.
Ontario has confirmed 599,259 COVID-19 cases and 9,865 virus-related deaths since the pandemic began.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.