Waterloo region reports 1,728 new COVID-19 cases over first 3 days of the year

In the first three days of 2022, Waterloo region has reported 1,728 new COVID-19 cases.

Broken down by day, there were:

• 662 cases reported on Saturday.
• 595 cases reported on Sunday.
• 471 cases reported on Monday.

The number of reported cases is likely lower than actual case numbers because not everyone with symptoms is able to get a PCR test to confirm their diagnosis.

On Friday, during a regional media briefing, associate medical officer of health Dr.Rabia Banasaid onlyvulnerable individuals "with significant medical issues" and residents and staff in high-risk settings, such as hospitals, long-term care and congregate living settings, will beeligible for PCR tests under a provincial directive.

"Most individuals with a positive result from a rapid antigen test will no longer be eligible for a PCR test and will not be required or encouraged to get a PCR confirmatory test," she said.

"If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and are not eligible for PCR test and do not have access to a rapid antigen test, you should assume you have COVID-19."

48 people in hospital

Public health said there were4,319 active cases of COVID-19 in the region as of Monday.

There were no new deaths reported on Monday. The number of COVID-related deaths in Waterloo region since March 2020 sits at 313.

There were 48 people in the region's three hospitals, infectious with the virus. There were also seven people in the intensive care unit. The region notes people in ICU may no longer be infectious with the virus, but require ongoing, specialized care.

12 outbreaks in long-term care homes

The region also reported 19 active outbreaks in the community, 12 of them at long-term care homes.

The long-term care home outbreaks were:

• Lanark Heights in Kitchener with 23 cases: 10 cases in staff and13 "non-staff" cases. There was one death associated with this outbreak.
• Golden Years in Cambridge with 23 cases: Six in staff and 17 "non-staff" cases.
• St. Andrew's Terrace in Cambridge with 16 cases: Seven in staff and nine "non-staff" cases.
• Sunnyside Home in Kitchener with 12 cases in staff members.
• The Village at University Gates in Waterloo with seven staff cases.
• Chartwell Elmira with four cases: Three in staff, one "non-staff" case.
• St. Luke's Place in Cambridge with four cases: One in a staff member and three "non-staff" cases.
• Trinity Village in Kitchener with four cases in staff members.
• Stirling Heights in Cambridge with four cases in staff.
• Chartwell Westmount in Kitchener with two cases: One in a staff member, one "non-staff" case.
• Victoria Place in Kitchener with two cases in staff.
• Seasons Retirement Communities in Cambridge with two cases in staff.

The remaining declared outbreaks were:

• Four in congregate settings: One with five cases, one with three cases and two with two cases each.
• Three at Grand River Hospital: One each in units 8B, 6 North/South and Freeport - UT2 North. The number of cases was not reported.

As of Dec. 22, the region stopped reporting new outbreaks at workplaces or facilities.

76% of people have two doses of vaccine

The region's vaccination dashboard showed 76.26 per cent of all residents have two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. It also shows 45 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received the first dose of the vaccine, which became available in late November.

The region doesn't report the overall percentage of people who have received a third dose of the vaccine, but does show the percentage based on age groups. The graph below shows, for example, 71 per cent of adults in the 80 years and older age group have received a third dose.