49 new COVID-19 cases reported in Waterloo Region for total rise to 20,963

Waterloo Public Health reported another 49 positive tests for coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the region to 20,963.

This brings the seven-day average daily new cases to 28.7.

Another 42 people have also been cleared of the virus, bringing the total number of cases resolved in the region to 20,416.

It has been almost a week since a new COVID-19 related death was reported in the region, as the death toll remained at 307 including 4 victims in November.

This leaves the region with 238 active COVID-19 cases, up seven from Tuesday and six from a week ago.

There are still 11 people in hospitals in the area as a result of COVID-19, unchanged from Tuesday. Six of the patients are in intensive care.

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There are also still 10 active COVID-19 outbreaks, although new outbreaks have been announced at Cedar Creek Public Schools in Ayr, Ont., and at an unnamed construction site during the outbreaks. Another hockey-related outbreak and the deal is over.

On the other hand, Waterloo Public Health said that there are now 929,621 COVID-19 vaccinations done in the region, 1,795 more than reported on Tuesday.

Only 221 of those people were given the second dose as 454,276 residents of the Waterloo Region have now received two doses of the vaccine.

This means that 75.06% of the population is now fully immunized, including 13.53% of all children aged five to 11.

Elsewhere, Ontario reported 780 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, as numbers continue to grow weekly. The total number of provincial cases is now 619,270.

For comparison, last Wednesday saw 591 new cases and the previous Wednesday 512. All three Wednesdays had similar testing volumes in the 30,000 range.

Of the 780 new cases recorded, the figures show 369 unvaccinated, 24 partially vaccinated, 336 fully vaccinated, and 51 with unknown vaccination status.

According to Wednesday’s report, 96 cases were recorded in Toronto, 88 in Windsor-Essex, 64 in Simcoe Muskoka, 56 in Sudbury, 44 in Ottawa and 43 in Waterloo. All other local public health units reported fewer than 40 new cases in the provincial report.

The death toll in the province has risen to 10,005 as five more deaths have been reported.

– with files from Global News ‘Gabby Rodrigues

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