Vaccination bus, more mobile clinics launched as Waterloo region reports 22 new cases of COVID-19 Monday

A COVID-19 vaccination bus will be going to pockets within Waterloo region where there has been a high number of cases of the virus but low uptake on the vaccine.

The bus will begin rolling on Wednesday. Six people can be vaccinated at a time on the bus and appointments won't be necessary. The hours of operation will vary.

Fauzia Baig, equity and anti-racism advisor for the region, said in a release that local health officials are working with community leaders to get vaccines in arms.

"The mobile vaccination bus is one way we are working to reduce barriers that many residents experience in accessing the vaccine," Baig said.

As well, the region will host three drive-through vaccination clinics on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening this week. People seeking a first dose of the vaccine will not need an appointment. People who want to get a second dose will need to book ahead.

The clinics will run at Bingemans in Kitchener from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. those three nights.

The region reported on its vaccination dashboard that as of Monday, 80.57 per cent of all people eligible for the shot, which is people aged 12 and up, have received a first dose, while 58.88 per cent have a second dose.

All age groups except the 12 to 17 year olds have surpassed 75 per cent vaccinated. For 12 to 17 year olds, 67.4 per cent have the first dose and 33.7 per cent have both doses.

22 new cases

The region saw 22 new cases of COVID-19 reported Monday, part of a trend for more than the past week of cases in the 20s.

There were 192 active cases in the region. There were 27 people in the region's three hospital with 16 in the intensive care unit.

The region also reported 10 outbreaks, none of which were in long-term care or retirement homes. The outbreaks were:

• Workplaces: Four.
• Child care or summer camps: Three.
• Congregate settings: Two.
• Hospital: One.

Outbreak at Grand River Hospital

Not included in the list was an outbreak at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener in the ICUA.

"Three staff have been identified and are self-isolating. No patients have been impacted," the hospital said in a release Monday afternoon.

The hospital says there is no clear epidemiological link between the three cases, but they were "classifying this as an outbreak out of an abundance of caution."

The unit will not be closed to new admissions "to maintain our capacity to support the needs of critical care patients," the hospital said, although noted additional and enhanced precautions were being taken, including testing of staff.

10 cases at day camps

There were 10 cases at two summer day camps: Eight at the Rising Oaks Early Learning day camp and one at the University of Waterloo hockey day camp. Children aged 11 and under cannot currently be vaccinated against COVID-19.

During a media briefing on Friday, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, asked people to avoid going to work or summer camp when not feeling well.

"This is what we're seeing contributing to spread when people think, 'Oh, it's not a big deal' and then one case leads to 10," Wang said. "With delta, we have seen this spread faster than anything."

The delta variant, also known as B1617, was first detected in India. There were 905 cases of delta reported in Waterloo region as of Monday.

"This is why we still have cases today. It is largely due to people no longer taking those precautions or thinking it's OK, it shouldn't be a problem now," Wang said.

"We can't throw caution to the wind at all now. We have to continue with those public health measures," she added, noting those measures include wearing a mask, physical distancing and getting fully vaccinated as soon as possible.