87 cases of COVID-19 reported in Waterloo region as new variant detected

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 87 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the same day it was announced a variant of the virus has been reported in the region.

The new case numbers brought the total in January so far to 3,235 and since March 2020 to 9,311.

The region reported its first case of the COVID-19 variant that was first detected in the U.K. The local case was a woman in her 30s who has since recovered from the virus.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, said on Friday during a media briefing that the province has started further testing of samples taken in communities where there's a positive result for variants of the virus, but those results can take more than a week to come back.

"I expect more cases will be detected in Waterloo region as more testing for the variant is done by the provincial lab system in the days ahead," Wang said. "What this means for Waterloo region is we must not let up our guard with respect to public health measures."

601 active cases

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported Friday there are 601 active cases in the region with 42 people in hospital and nine of those individuals are in the intensive care unit.

There were no new deaths linked to the virus reported.

Ontario reported another 1,837 cases of COVID-19 on Friday and the deaths of 58 more people with the illness.

The number of cases reported by the province in the morning differs from those reported by the region in the afternoon because the province's morning report comes from numbers in the database the evening before. Region of Waterloo Public Health releases new numbers in the afternoon. 

Outbreak ends at Cambridge Country Manor

A large outbreak at Cambridge Country Manor has been declared over after the home went 14 days without a new infection, Cambridge Memorial Hospital said.

The home reported 60 cases of COVID-19 in people living there and 70 cases in staff. As well, 16 deaths of people at the home have been linked to the outbreak.

Jim Lavelle, president of Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes, offered his "deepest sympathies" to family, friends and staff who knew and worked with those who died. 

"Now is the time to begin the healing process as we continue to care for our residents," Lavelle said.

34 outbreaks

There are 34 active outbreaks in the region, 16 of which are at long-term care and retirement homes.

Other outbreaks include:

• Five in congregate settings: One with 36 cases, one with 10 cases, one with five cases, one with four cases and one with a single case.
• Three at hospitals: Two at St. Mary's General Hospital (7th floor and 4th floor), one at Grand River Hospital (children's unit 3D N).
• One at Conestoga Meats where the number of cases remained at 161.
• Two at offices: One with six cases, one with three cases.
• Two at Waterloo Region District School Board programs: One with three cases and one with two cases. The board has not named the schools involved.
• One at a manufacturing workplace with 33 cases.
• One at a trades workplace with five cases.
• One at a financial institution with four cases.
• One at a warehouse with three cases.
• One at a construction workplace with six cases.