Region reports 121 cases, new COVID-related death Thursday

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 121 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, three of those added to previous daily totals.

It marks the highest single day increase since April. There have been 21,755 cases in Waterloo Region since March, 2020.

For a third straight day, health officials are also reporting another COVID-related death. It raises the local death toll to 312.

Hospitalizations remain at 12 — with four people in intensive care (Hospital data is current to Dec. 13, ICU data current to Dec. 14).

The active caseload has increased to 582.

79.78 per cent of residents five and over in Waterloo Region are now fully vaccinated. Over 992,000 doses have been administered to local residents.

36.10 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: 

• 7,450 cases have screened positive for variants of concern – 3,127 are the Alpha variant – 21 are linked to the Beta variant – 3,933 are linked to the Delta strain – 98 are linked to the Gamma variant – 9 are the Omicron variant – 262 cases where a mutation has been detected 
• 20,856 resolved cases (97 per cent)
• Over 665,000 tests have been done

There are 21 outbreaks in the region:

• NEW Manufacturing/industrial 46 (3 cases)
• NEW Sports and fitness – hockey related 5 (4 cases)
• NEW St. Paul Catholic Elementary School (2 cases)
• St. Augustine CES (4 cases)
• St. Mary's High School (2 cases)
• NEW Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School (2 cases)
• Sales/service automotive (4 cases)
• Cambridge Roadrunners Girls Hockey Association (26 cases)
• Hespeler Minor Hockey Association (16 cases)
• General office setting 18 (2 cases)
• St. Teresa of Avila CES (2 cases)
• St. Louis Adult Learning Centre (2 cases)
• Lanark Heights LTC (four cases in staff, five in residents, one death)
• General office setting 17 (3 cases)
• Construction 21 (4 cases)
• Glencairn Public School (3 cases)
• Sir Adam Beck Public school (7 cases)
• Saint John Paul II Catholic Elementary School (5 cases)
• St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School (9 cases)
• Southridge Public School (16 cases)
• Retail 18 (4 cases)

Meanwhile, the province reported 2,421 new cases Thursday — 686 were unvaccinated.

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

• 81 per cent of those 5 and over have been fully vaccinated
• 639,341 total cases
• 615,174 resolved cases
• In hospital due to COVID – 124 unvaccinated – 7 partially vaccinated – 72 fully vaccinated. ICU data – 69 unvaccinated – 5 partially vaccinated – 24 fully vaccinated
• 10,102 deaths (9 new)
• 54,724 tests completed Wednesday — Over 20.32 million since January 15, 2020