67 new COVID-19 cases reported in Waterloo region Thursday as province pledges help

Waterloo region had 67 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, equal with Toronto for the highest number of cases in the province.

The numbers released by Region of Waterloo Public Health Thursday afternoon also showed there were 530 active cases. There were 46 people in the region's hospital, a rise of one case from the previous day, with 16 people in the intensive care unit, also a rise of one.

There were no new deaths reported Thursday.

On Wednesday, Waterloo region reported 72 cases, the highest number of any health unit in the province.

Officials in Waterloo region are warning the recent high case numbers could mean the community may not be able to enter step 2 of the province's three-step reopening plan.

Delta variant 'circulating broadly'

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, said Wednesday night during a board of health meeting that the recent surge in cases is due to the delta variant, first detected in India and known as B.1.617.2, which is believed to be "circulating broadly" in the community.

Wang urged people to continue to follow public health guidelines:

• Wear a mask.
• Do not have close contact with people outside your household.
• If you have to gather, do it outdoors.
• Get vaccinated.

Wang said people who still need a first vaccination against COVID-19 can get an appointment within days. She said having the first dose helps protect people from serious illness and two doses are even better.

"If you haven't gotten a first dose of the vaccine, do not wait."

Shirley Hilton, the region's vaccine task force lead and a deputy chief with Waterloo regional police, said the province is sending more doses of the vaccine next week.

As well, two provincial mobile teams are expected to arrive in the region next week to give vaccinations and will remain in the region for two weeks. The exact locations of those teams have yet to be determined.

Variants of concern

There were 3,484 cases that have screened positive for a variant of concern in Waterloo region. Of those:

• 3,062 are confirmed to be the B117 variant, or alpha variant, first detected in the U.K.
• 60 are the P1 variant first detected in Brazil.
• 45 are the B1617 variant, or the delta variant, first detected in India.
• 11 are the B1351 variant first detected in South Africa.
• 306 have tested positive for a mutation but further testing is required.

9 active outbreaks

There were nine active outbreaks in the region.

There were six at workplaces:

• Two at trades and related service businesses: One with three cases, one with two cases.
• One in a general office setting with five cases.
• One at a food and beverage service business with three cases.
• One at Waterloo Regional Police Service central division in Kitchener with two cases.
• One at a chiropody office with two cases.

The other outbreaks were:

• One at a congregate setting of people who are homeless across multiple locations in Kitchener and Waterloo with 84 cases. That was a rise of seven cases from the previous day.
• One at long-term care home The Village at Winston Park with seven cases: Three in staff members, four in people who live at the home.
• One at Trillium Bilingual Montessori School child care with two cases.

More people can access 2nd doses

On Thursday, the province announced it is moving up appointments for second doses of COVID-19 vaccines for a number of people in the coming weeks, and by June 28 all adults will be eligible for their second shots. 

Anyone who got a first shot of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer of Moderna) between April 19 and May 9 should be able to book for a follow-up appointment as of June 21.

Then, on June 23, spots will open for residents who received a first dose of mRNA vaccine on or before May 30 in 10 health units identified as hot spots for the delta variant of concern, including Waterloo region and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph.