27 new COVID-19 cases reported in Waterloo region Monday

Region of Waterloo Public Health is reporting 27more people have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Meanwhile the number of people who have died (222), the number of active outbreaks (22)andthe number of people hospitalized from the novel coronavirus (18) all held steady from Sunday.

Public health said Monday the number of active cases rose by three, to 313 people.

Monday's update brings the total number of cases in February to 953.

Since the pandemic began last March,10,388people have fallen ill with the virus.Of those,9,847have been marked as resolved.

Province-wide, Ontario recorded 1,058cases of COVID-19 Monday morning, asYork moved into the redzoneof Ontario's reopening framework, ending that region's stay-at-home order.

Only three public health units remain under a stay-at-home order:Toronto, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound.

Variants of concern

Meanwhile, Region of Waterloo Public Health said the number of local variant cases continues to grow, with a total of 32 reported cases. Four have been identified as the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the U.K.,while other cases have not yet been assessed.

Public health said a staff member who works in one of the region's congregate settings tested positive for a variant of concern over the weekend. The setting, which has not been identified publicly due to privacy concerns, is dealing with an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

A staff member at Pre-Ren-de-Galine Catholic High School in Cambridge has tested positive for a variant of concern. Public health said affected students and staff have been dismissed and the school is undegoing case and contact management.

"This is not unexpected given the growth of variants in Ontario but underscores the imperative for Waterloo region residents to continue practicing with upmost vigilance the recommended public health measures," public health officials said in a statement Monday.

Public health said it is treating every positive case as a potential variant of concern to help limit the spread of the virus. It's conducting enhanced case and contact tracing including using a lower threshold to identify high risk exposure.

22 active outbreaks

There are 22 active outbreaks in Waterloo region, 10at long-term care and retirement homes.

Other outbreaks include:

• Three at congregate settings: One with 111 cases (over multiple locations), one with 29 cases andone with 21 cases.
• Threein hospitals: One at Grand River Hospital and two at St. Mary's General Hospital.
• One at an independent living facility, involving two staff and two non-staff.
• One at a food processing facility with five cases.
• One at a warehouse with two cases.
• One at a manufacturing and industrial workplace with four cases.
• One at a construction site with three cases.
• One at a warehouse with three cases.