Waterloo Region reports one COVID-19 death, 27 new cases
The Region of Waterloo reported one COVID-19-related death and 27 new cases on Wednesday as hospitalizations declined.
The latest death, a woman in her 60s, brings the region's total death toll to 293.
Since the pandemic began, 19,313 cases have been logged in Waterloo Region. The overall case count only increased by 26 on Wednesday due to a data cleanup.
Of those, 18,817 infections are considered resolved and 199 are active.
Hospitalizations decreased by five in the past day, down from 13 to eight. The number of people receiving treatment in area intensive care units also declined, down from nine to six.
One COVID-19 outbreak was declared resolved in Wednesday's update. There are now five active outbreaks across Waterloo Region.
Another 61 infections were confirmed as variant of concern cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of variant cases to 6,095.
On Tuesday, Region of Waterloo Public Health updated their variant reporting and will now include all suspected and confirmed Delta variant cases in its dashboard.
The 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
- 2,586 are the Delta variant, first found in India and previously called B.1.617
- 262 cases have had a mutation detected, but have not yet had a variant strain confirmed
Meanwhile, health partners across the region have now administered 841,558 COVID-19 vaccine doses, with 1,066 jabs put into arms on Tuesday.
Among the eligible population – residents 12 and older – 81.27 per cent are fully vaccinated and 87.52 per cent have received at least one dose.
Across Waterloo Region's entire population, 69.98 per cent are fully vaccinated and 75.37 per cent have received at least one dose.
Province-wide, 593 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday.
Ontario's rolling seven-day average is down to 722, compared to 732 one week ago.
Of the new infections logged Wednesday, 447 involved unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, or people whose vaccination status was unknown. Another 146 infections were among fully vaccinated people.
Ontario has now confirmed 9,629 COVID-19-related deaths and 576,389 cases since the pandemic began.
With files from CTV Toronto.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.