Outbreaks rise, but hospitalizations drop in latest COVID-19 numbers for Waterloo region

The number of people with COVID-19 in Waterloo region's hospitals dropped by half in a week, new numbers from Region of Waterloo Public Health show.

Last Friday, there were 50 people reported to be in hospital with the virus. This Friday, that number sits at 24. One person is listed as being in the intensive care unit.

There were two more COVID-related deaths reported in the region, bringing the total since March 2020 to 476.

There were 16 active outbreaks in the region, a rise of three from the previous week. The outbreaks were:

• 13 in long-term care and retirement homes.
• Two in congregate settings.
• One at Grand River Hospital.

Earlier this week, the region's medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said it's expected to be a busy fall and winter for cold and flu seasonWaterloo region reported its first two lab-confirmed cases of the flu this week and COVID is expected to continue to circulate in the community.

Wang said the region is currently in the seventh wave and as people move indoors to socialize, "COVID will likely increase in terms of circulation."

To help people in the region, local hospitals have set up a COVID care centre in Cambridge to provide testing, medication and vaccines.