Waterloo region reports record-high 112 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday

Region of Waterloo Public Health is reporting a new daily record of 112 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The previous record high was 100 cases reported on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Ontario also reported a new single-day record of 2,923 cases on Wednesday.

Active cases in the region went up by 25 totalling 543. The region has recorded 5,828 total cases since the start of the pandemic.

One more person is hospitalized with the infection. That means 38 people are in hospital with 11 in the intensive care unit, one down from the previous day. There are no new deaths.

31 outbreaks across region

There are 31 outbreaks in the region including one declared Tuesday at a food processing workplace, that involved 29 cases. Region of Waterloo Public Health has not named the workplace. 

"Disclosing the name of the facility is only necessary if we are unable to identify and provide direction to high risk contacts through case and contact management and the workplace," said Dr. Julie Emili, associate medical officer of health, in an emailed statement to CBC News.

Dr. Emili said all high risk contacts who are required to self-isolate are being contacted.

"With this workplace, a number of community-acquired positive cases were identified initially, without transmission identified in the workplace setting. With continued monitoring, more cases were identified where transmission in the workplace occurred and an outbreak was therefore declared," said Dr. Emili in the statement.

There are also new outbreaks at two manufacturing facilities with three cases each.

Schools

There is a new outbreak at Country Hills Public School in Kitchener with two cases.

The outbreak at Franklin Public School is ongoing with three cases, as well as St. Daniel's Catholic School with two cases. Outbreaks have been declared over at Stanley Park Public School and Lincoln Heights Public School.

Long-term care and retirement homes

There are 13 outbreaks at long-term care and retirement homes across Waterloo region.

New outbreaks have been declared at Clair Hills Retirement Home and Briarfield Retirement Residence with one case each.

Chartwell Westmount long-term care reported one new case each in a resident and staff member.

Village of Winston Park retirement home has been grappling with an ongoing outbreak declared earlier this month on Dec. 6. Public health reported four new cases in staff members. That means a total of 24 residents and 25 staff have tested positive for the virus. Three people have died.

Meanwhile, Cambridge Country Manor long-term care is still dealing with an outbreak, though numbers remain unchanged on Wednesday with 60 cases in residents, 63 in staff and 12 deaths.

Other outbreaks include:

• A trucking service with two cases.
• An office setting with two cases.
• A retail store with three cases.
• A dental office with two cases.
• A dental office with 13 cases.
• A restaurant with two cases.
• A gym with 10 cases.
• A manufacturing workplace with two cases.
• A congregate setting with nine cases.
• At Wilfrid Laurier University with two cases.
• At Grand River Hospital, medicine unit 5N.
• At St. Mary's General Hospital, 6th floor chest unit.

Vaccinations in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) public health said the region is set to receive its first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, when limited vaccinations will begin.

Vaccinations will ramp up the following day and be completed at the WDG public health office in Guelph. Vaccines will first be administered to staff at long-term care and retirement homes and essential caregivers. As more stock arrives, vaccinations will cover other high-risk healthcare providers.

"Receiving our first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine marks the beginning of the final phase of this pandemic, as we move toward providing a vaccine for everyone who wants it," said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health and CEO, in an emailed statement to CBC News.