'Better days are ahead' thanks to community efforts, says region's medical officer of health

Waterloo region is moving past the peak of the Omicron waveand local indicators are "moving in the right direction," region's medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-LiWang says.

"Better days are ahead due to so many in our community stepping up not only to protect themselves and their loved ones but also to protect others and help our community get through this,"Wang said during a regular media briefing on Friday.

New infections, COVID-19 outbreaks and hospitalizations have declined, she said. Wastewater testingalso shows the COVID-19 signalcontinues to decline at all three testingsites in the region.

"Hospitals continue to be under pressure though due to large numbers still in hospital recovering from COVID, but no longer part of the numbers because they are no longer infectious," Wang said Friday.

Public health reported there were 64 people with COVID-19 in the region's three hospitals as of Friday. There were also 15 people in the intensive care unit. People in the ICU may no longer be infectious with COVID-19, but do still require ongoing care.

There were three deaths of people with COVID-19 reported on Friday:a person of unknown genderin their 80s, a man in his 50sand a man in his 20s.

There were 24 active outbreaks in the region, with 10 at long-term care and retirement homes.

Wang recommends people gradually resume activities as the province lifts some COVID-19 rules, including increasing capacity of social gatherings and organized public events on Thursday. The province plans to lift its vaccine passport system on March 1.

"Omicron is continuing to circulate but we are coming down from the peak of the wave," she said. "Everyone will have a different comfort level with the removal of restrictions. I ask all of us to be respectful and considerate of the comfort levels of others at this time."

Less than 50% of residents have 3rd dose

The region's vaccine dashboard showed 83.6 per cent of all residents have one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 79.9 per centhave at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine while 45.7 per cent have three doses.

As of Friday, youth aged 12 to 17 were eligible to get a third dose of the vaccine.

In the five to 11-year-old age category, 54.4 per cent have one dose while 31.5 per cent have two doses.

The vaccine is not yet available to children four and younger.

Meanwhile, the region is winding down operations at its Cambridge Pinebush mass immunization clinic. Capacity will reduced by the end of March, said Vickie Murray, who had led the region's vaccine roll out.

She said the region will now focus on outreach vaccination efforts. That includesschool-based and pop-up clinics and, when the weather improves, the vaccine bus.

Wang recommends people get vaccinated, event if they havealready been infected with Omicron because it will also provide lasting protection from other variants.