Waterloo region logs 146 new COVID-19 infections over weekend

Region of Waterloo Public Health is reporting 146 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. There were 63 new cases reported on Saturday and 83 logged on Sunday.

There was one COVID-related death reported on Saturday.

The region's total variant of concern cases is sitting at 1,149 as of Sunday, an increase of more than 60 from the previous day.

There have been three mutations identified: 40 cases of the B117 UK variant and a single case each of the B1351 South African variant and P1 Brazil variant.

Thirty-three people are hospitalized with the infection, 13 of which are in the intensive care unit. The region's network of hospitals are receiving patients from across the province to help with capacity.

There are 584 active infections in Waterloo region.

Meanwhile, Ontario is reporting 4,250 new infections and 18 more deaths across the province on Sunday.

The Ford government announced new restrictions on Friday to help address the third COVID-19 wave. Some measures include increased capacity limits, outdoor recreational facility closure and the extension of the province's stay-at-home order by two weeks until at least May 20.

20 outbreaks

There are 20 outbreaks in the region including six in schools:

• St. John's Kilmarnock School with two cases.
• St. Bernadette Catholic School in Kitchener with two cases.
• Queensmount Public School with two cases.
• St. Anne Catholic Elementary School with three cases.
• Highland Public School with three cases.
• Sunnyside Public School with two cases.

Other outbreaks include:

• YMCA Brigadoon with six cases.
• Two in congregate settings: One with a single case and another with four cases.
• St. Mary's General Hospital, fourth floor.
• Doon Village Retirement Residence with two cases in staff.
• One at a construction site with four cases.
• Two at trades and related services: One with three cases and another with two.
• One at a retail workplace with five cases.
• One at an automobile sales workplace with two cases.
• One at a trucking workplace with two cases.
• One at an office with two cases.
• One at a food and beverage service with three cases.
• One at a food processing workplace with three cases.
• One at a manufacturing workplace with seven cases.

Vaccine update

More than 20 per cent of the region's population has received at least one dose of a vaccine as of Friday, when the public health unit last updated its vaccine distribution dashboard.

As of April 14, the region has received 141,560 doses of vaccine and administered roughly 126,878 doses. A total of 7,154 doses have been administered at pharmacies.

About 89.5 per cent of the 80+ population and 77 per cent of 70+ population has received one dose.

About 32 per cent of the 60+ population has received one dose as of Friday.