Local COVID-19 trends remain stable, but cases may rise in Waterloo region

Waterloo region's medical officer of health is warning against complacency, even though COVID-19 case numbers have remained "relatively stable."

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang spoke about COVID-19 trends in the region during a media briefing on Friday. 

"Our local trends have remained relatively stable to date, although we can expect our case rates may rise and we'll need to remain vigilant," Wang said.

"As of yesterday our case rate continues to sit at approximately 22 cases per 100,000 per week. Since then, however, we have started to see a higher number of case reports coming in, so our numbers may be starting to trend higher."

According to Wang, case and contact investigations are showing "greater social interactions among residents," and higher case numbers would therefore not be unexpected.

25 new cases of COVID-19

On Friday, public health reported 25 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 50 in two days.

Active cases now stand at 160.

There were 21 variant of concern cases on Friday for a total of 5,013 thus far.

Over the course of the pandemic, Waterloo region has recorded a total of 18,874 cases of COVID-19. Of this number, 18,422 are marked as resolved.

There were no new deaths linked to the virus, keeping the total number of COVID-related deaths at 288.

Hospitalizations, outbreaks also stable

Meanwhile, Wang said hospitalizations and outbreaks in the region also remain relatively stable.

There are eight people infectious with COVID-19 in the region's three hospitals, a decrease of two in the last 24 hours. There are six people in the intensive care unit. People in the ICU may not be infectious with COVID-19 anymore, but they do still require specialized care.

Meanwhile, there are four active outbreaks in the region as follows:

• One at a food processor with 10 cases.

• One at Conestoga Lodge retirement home with eight cases: One in a staff member, seven in non-staff members.

• One at a congregate setting with one case.

• One at Mooregate, an Independent Living Centre, with one staff member case.

'We need higher immunization rates'

Wang also warned that the delta variant, which "can spread rapidly," continues to circulate in the community, and people should get vaccinated.

"Delta is the most formidable variant we have experienced. We've seen that locally here. We're not seeing that in other areas of the province and country," she said.

Earlier this week, Ontario's chief medical officer of health said that people who are unvaccinated are eight times more likely to get COVID-19 than people who are vaccinated. And that people who are unvaccinated are 29 times more likely to be in hospital and 48 times more likely to be a patient in the intensive care unit because of COVID-19 infection, compared to people who are vaccinated. Dr. Wang reiterated those numbers Friday.

"For long term control of COVID-19, given the higher transmissibility of delta, we need higher immunization rates," Wang said.

"That is why we need to keep up with our public health precautions, while we continue to build our community immunization rates."