Waterloo Region adds 61 new COVID-19 cases Monday as hospitalizations, outbreaks rise
Health officials in Waterloo Region logged 61 new COVID-19 infections Monday, continuing the trend of an alarming spike in cases and hospitalizations in the community.
The new batch of cases brings the region's total caseload since the pandemic began to 17,089, with 16,275 considered resolved, 530 considered active and 260 deaths.
One new COVID-19-related death was confirmed this past weekend, a woman in her 90s living in a long-term care home. The woman had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to health officials.
Hospitalizations also rose in the past 24 hours, up by three to 57. Of those, 22 people are receiving care in area intensive care units.
There are now 11 active COVID-19 outbreaks in Waterloo Region, the bulk of which are workplace or facility outbreaks. Monday, health officials announced an outbreak at Grand River Hospital's adult inpatient mental health unit at the KW campus.
DELTA VARIANT TAKING HOLD
Three more COVID-19 cases were confirmed as variants of concern in Monday's update, bringing the total number of variant cases to 3,565.
Confirmed cases of the Delta variant continue to grow in Waterloo Region, with health officials confirming late last week that Delta is now the dominant strain in the community.
Waterloo Region's variant breakdown is as follows:
- 3,069 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
- 115 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 PUSH CONTINUES
Meanwhile, health partners across Waterloo Region administered another 5,730 COVID-19 vaccine doses on Sunday. More than 466,994 jabs have been put in arms since the vaccine rollout began.
More than 74.9 per cent of adults have now received at least one dose, while 18.98 per cent of residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
PROVINCE-WIDE SNAPSHOT
Across Ontario, health officials logged the lowest daily increase in COVID-19 infections since mid-September, adding 270 cases.
The province also recorded three more deaths in the past day, bringing the total death toll to 9,022.
Outside of Waterloo Region, most of the new cases were in Peel, with 42, and Toronto with 47.
Monday’s new infections bring Ontario’s total number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases to 542,469, including deaths and recoveries.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.