With 658 cases so far, November is Waterloo region's worst month for COVID-19

There have been 658 new COVID-19 cases in Waterloo region so far in November, new numbers from public health show.

With 53 new cases reported Tuesday, and at mid-month, that makes November the month with the highest number of new cases reported. The previous record was in April with 633 cases.

Cases have surged this month after the region reported 432 new cases in October and 269 in September.

Region of Waterloo Public Health also reported 14 people are in hospital. Last Tuesday, there were five people in hospital.

There are 354 active cases and 23 active outbreaks. The number of people who have died from COVID-19 remained steady on Tuesday at 122.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's acting medical officer of health, has said she's in talks with provincial officials and she expects the region will move to the "red zone" later this week. She told media on Monday that the region wasn't able to move straight from yellow to red under the provincial framework.

Wang said she hopes the region can avoid going into lockdown.

Ontario reported another 1,249 cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths linked to the illness on Tuesday.

23 outbreaks

There are 23 active outbreaks in the region as of Tuesday. Three outbreaks at long-term care homes were declared over on Monday and three remain: two have a single case in a person who works at the homes while the third outbreak involves two people living at the home and one staff member who tested positive for the virus.

There are four outbreaks in congregate settings, like group homes. In one home, there are 14 cases.

An outbreak linked to Kitchener's Algarve Restaurant has risen to 29 cases. Public health is advising anyone who may have gone to the restaurant, located at 248 Stirling Avenue S., between Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Other outbreaks include:

• There are nine cases at an outbreak at a manufacturing facility.
• There are 13 cases linked to a sports and fitness facility. The region does not name businesses unless there is a risk to the general public.
• There are three outbreaks at office settings.
• There are two outbreaks at "trades and related services" businesses.
• There are three outbreaks on construction sites: one with two cases, one with three cases and one with six cases.
• There's one outbreak at a food and beverage service workplace.
• There's one outbreak at a food processing workplace.
• There's one outbreak at a second manufacturing facility with three cases.
• There's one outbreak linked to the University of Waterloo with four cases.
• There's an outbreak at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Wing B, Level 4, the Medicine B Unit.

An outbreak linked to a wedding in the region has been declared over. There were 24 cases associated with that outbreak, although public health said the majority of the people live outside the region.

There are currently no elementary or public schools or child care centres with an outbreak.