COVID-19 variant 1st detected in India reported in Waterloo region

Four cases of the B1617 variant first detected in India have been confirmed in the community, Region of Waterloo Public Health reported Wednesday.

The variant were confirmed in B.C., Quebec, Alberta and Ontario in April. It was also the variant connected to an outbreak in Newfoundland this week.

Three of the four cases have been linked to travel, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Waterloo region's medical officer of health, said during a meeting of the region's board of health Wednesday. The fourth case had an "unknown source of acquisition," Wang said. 

All four cases have now been resolved. 

"These are previous cases, the change today reflects a change in reporting, not an increase in cases," Wang said. 

In Waterloo region, 3,084 cases have been identified as mutations or variants of concern. Of the variant cases:

• 2,729 were the B117 variant first detected in the U.K.
• 26 were the P1 variant first detected in Brazil.
• Five were the B1351 variant first detected in South Africa.
• Four were the B1617 variant first detected in India.
• 320 had a mutation detected, but required further testing.

32 new cases

There were 32 new COVID-19 cases reported by Waterloo region's public health unit Wednesday.

It brought the total number of cases this month to 1,540, and since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 to 15,741, of which 15,088 cases have been marked as resolved.

The number of active cases dropped from 430 on Wednesday to 381.

Hospitalizations also dropped from 31 to 28. The number of people in the region's intensive-care units dropped by one to 23.

There were no new deaths reported Wednesday.

Ontario reported 1,095 cases of COVID-19 along with 23 more deaths.

7 active outbreaks

There were seven active outbreaks in Waterloo region on Wednesday. 

Five of the outbreaks were at workplaces, including:

• One at a manufacturer with 28 cases.
• One at a retail store with six cases.
• One at a food and beverage service business with six cases.
• One at a farm with five cases.
• One at a health services workplace with four cases.

The other outbreaks included:

• One at Forest Heights Revera long-term care home, where there are six cases: Four in staff members, two in people who live at the home.
• One in a congregate setting with one case.