Region reports 49 new COVID cases Wednesday

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 49 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, but just 48 were added to the overall total due to data clean up.

There have been 21,225 local cases since March, 2020.

Hospitalizations are up to 14 — with three people in intensive care (Hospital data is current to Dec. 6).

The active caseload has increased to 316.

79.50 per cent of residents five and over in Waterloo Region are now fully vaccinated. Over 966,000 doses have been administered to local residents.

28.38 per cent of children between 5 and 11 have received at least one dose.

Here are some other updates from the region's COVID summary dashboard: 

• 7,291 cases have screened positive for variants of concern – 3,128 are the Alpha variant – 21 are linked to the Beta variant – 3,783 are linked to the Delta strain – 98 are linked to the Gamma variant – 262 cases where a mutation has been detected 
• The local death toll remains at 309. No new deaths were reported Wednesday
• 20,598 resolved cases (97 per cent)
• Over 657,000 tests have been done

There are 16 outbreaks in the region:

• NEW Grand River Hospital – 5N Stroke Unit
• NEW Construction 21 (4 cases)
• Sports and fitness – ringette-related 1 (2 cases)
• Glencairn Public School (3 cases)
• Mary Johnston Public School (2 cases)
• Sir Adam Beck Public school (2 cases)
• Saint John Paul II Catholic Elementary School (4 cases)
• Sales/service – automobile 10 (2 cases)
• Forest Glen Public School (2 cases)
• St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School (4 cases)
• Lester B. Pearson Public School (3 cases)
• Southridge Public School (10 cases)
• Cedar Creek Public School – cohort (3 cases)
• Construction 16 (3 cases)
• Retail 18 (4 cases)
• Transportation 4 (3 cases)

Meanwhile, the province reported 1,009 new cases Wednesday — 443 are not fully vaccinated.

The rest of the provincial COVID-19 totals are posted below:

• 81 per cent of those 5 and over have been fully vaccinated
• 626,321 total cases
• 607,926 resolved cases
• In hospital due to COVID – 99 unvaccinated – 22 partially vaccinated – 75 fully vaccinated. ICU data – 69 unvaccinated – 15 partially vaccinated – 24 fully vaccinated
• 10,044 deaths (8 new)
• 38,502 tests completed Tuesday — Over 20.01 million since January 15, 2020