Region reports two new COVID-related deaths

***Editor's note: The health department points out that due to changes in testing availability, case counts on its dashboard are an underestimate of the true number of individuals with COVID-19 in Waterloo Region. Vaccine data is updated on Thursdays***

Region of Waterloo Public Health is reporting two new COVID-19-related deaths today: one man in his 80s and one in his 70s. 

This brings the local death toll to 414.

There are 53 new cases, raising the overall total to 45,975. The resolved case rates is 97.7 per cent.

Hospitalizations due to COVID increased to 50 Friday, according to the latest data posted on the region's summary dashboard. Seven patients remain in intensive care.

The active caseload is down to 508.

In terms of variants of concern, the region's dashboard shows 376 of those cases (97.4 per cent) have been linked to the Omicron variant since April 10.

86.1 per cent of residents five and over in Waterloo Region are now fully vaccinated. Over 1.33 million doses have been administered to local residents, including over 300,000 third doses. 56.2 per cent of those 12 and over have received a third dose.

54.4 per cent of children between 5 and 11 have received at least one dose; 40.7 are fully vaccinated.

There are 24 outbreaks in the region. You can find the complete list of outbreaks on the region's dashboard.

Meanwhile, the province reported 1,969 new cases Friday.

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

• 87 per cent of those 5 and over have been fully vaccinated
• 1,453 people are hospitalized with COVID. 168 patients are in intensive care units with COVID-related illnesses
• 1,283,329 total cases
• 1,249,820 resolved cases
• 13,052 deaths (18 new)