Region reports record number of new COVID-19 cases in a month as vaccine arrives

Waterloo region reported 96 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total for December to 1,517.

That makes the month with the highest number of new cases reported for the community, surpassing November which had 1,432 cases.

There were 577 active cases on Monday with 31 people in hospital and 12 of those in the intensive care unit.

The number of people who have died after being diagnosed with the virus rose to 143. There were also two deaths over the weekend.

The region's medical officer of health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, said the deaths were "a female in her 70s, a male in his 70s and a male in his 80s. The individuals had underlying conditions and were hospitalized. I wish to express my deep condolences to their families and loved ones."

There were also 31 active outbreaks in the region on Monday including in long-term care homes, workplaces and schools.

Ontario reported 2,123 cases of COVID-19 Monday morning, the seventh straight day of more than 2,000 cases in the province.

Lockdown starts Dec. 26

Premier Doug Ford announced a new 28-day lockdown for southern Ontario starting Dec. 26 at 12:01 a.m.

Earlier in the day during an interview on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition, regional Chair Karen Redman said she welcomed the move.

"I really do think we have to sort of press the pause button," she said, noting the region had advocated for the 28 day lockdown.

It will mean closures of businesses to only those that are essential. Schools will also be closed for an extra week, with students who are normally in the classroom doing online learning from Jan. 4 to 8, but they're scheduled to return to the classroom on Jan. 11.

Redman noted for people, guidance from public health won't change beyond what officials have been saying for months.

"Sometimes when we use the word 'guidance,' whether it's from the province or Dr. Wang, people think it's sort of a 'nice to do.' The reality is, these are laws," she said.

Vaccine arrives in region

Early doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Waterloo region a few days earlier than anticipated. On Friday, officials said the vaccine was expected on Wednesday, but the first shipment arrived at Grand River Hospital on Monday.

Scheduled vaccination clinics are scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

The early doses have been earmarked for specific people, including staff in long-term care homes and hospitals. 

31 active outbreaks

There were 31 active outbreaks in Waterloo region on Monday, including nine at long-term care and retirement homes.

At five of the homes, there was a single case in a person who works there. In one case, three staff members tested positive, but no one living at the home had.

One home had a single case in each a person living at the home as well as a staff member.

There were two larger outbreaks. The Village of Winston Park retirement home had 20 cases in people living there and 15 in staff. One death had also been linked to the outbreak. The Cambridge Country Manor had 56 cases in people living there and 49 people who work at the facility have tested positive. There were two deaths linked to the outbreak.

Other outbreaks include:

• One at an independent living facility where there is one case and one death.
• Four at congregate settings: One with four cases, one with three cases and two with a single case each.
• One at Wilfrid Laurier University with two cases.
• Four at manufacturing workplaces: Two with eight cases and two with four cases each.
• One at a warehouse with 10 cases.
• One at a dental office with eight cases.
• Two at a trades business: One with eight cases, one with three cases.
• One at a construction workplace with two cases.
• One at a food processing workplace with three cases.

There were four outbreaks in schools in the region: There were two cases each at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School, Franklin Public School, Hillcrest Public School and Lincoln Heights Public School.

There were also outbreaks at all three hospitals in the region: Grand River Hospital, St. Mary's General Hospital and Cambridge Memorial Hospital.