Waterloo region to delay entering step 2 of provincial reopening

Waterloo region will not be moving into step two of Ontario's reopening plan next week with the rest of the province, officials announced Thursday.

The move comes after the region has seen elevated COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant circulating widely in the community. The delta variant, also known as B1617, is the variant first detected in India. Waterloo region reported 67 cases on Wednesday, the highest in the province.

The Ontario government announced Thursday it will proceed into step two of its "Roadmap to Reopen" plan on June 30, two days before it was originally slated to do so.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, says the move to hold back on entering step two is to give people more time to get vaccinated.

"This approach gives us the best chance to hold onto the gains we have made," Wang said in a release Thursday morning. "I anticipate the Region of Waterloo will be able to move into step two in mid-July."

Wang added people need to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the delta variant.

"Maximizing the number of our residents who get a first and then second dose is our way out, and I urge all residents to get their first and second doses as soon as they are available to them," Wang said.

Regional Chair Karen Redman said she knows the decision to hold off on entering step two will not be welcome news to many businesses and individuals.

"We are in one of the most critical phases of the pandemic locally and this decision is made with the health and safety of all of our community at heart," she said.

Patients being moved out of region

There were 61 people in hospital on Thursday with 24 people in the intensive care unit. Lee Fairclough, president of St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, has said previously that hospital workers have felt like they ever left the third wave.

She said the decision to stay in step one is necessary.

"Hospitals are starting to send patients outside of our region due to a lack of capacity locally and this is a precarious position," Fairclough said in a release from the region Thursday afternoon.

"We want to protect our health system, resume much needed care that has been delayed and protect the health of our residents. Delaying a move to step two allows us the best opportunity to do that."

Pop-up provincial clinic opens

A pop-up vaccination clinic sponsored by the province and run by Canadian Red Cross opened at 99 Regina St. S., in Waterloo on Thursday.

Regional officials say the clinic will offer 500 doses each day and the doses are by appointment. All appointments for the clinic, which will run to Saturday, have been booked.

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris said the region has received 18,000 additional vaccines from the province's strategic allocation reserve, over and above its existing, population-based allocation.

In a statement, Premier Doug Ford said the "province is doing everything possible to support" the region and that Ontario has allocated more than 44,000 additional vaccines to the region.

"We will continue to be there for the people of Kitchener-Waterloo, and will provide the local public health unit with additional vaccines and resources should they need them," Ford said.

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's incoming chief medical officer, said during a press conference Thursday that the province is working with Waterloo region officials to deal with the elevated cases of delta variant.

"I do believe a slow and cautious approach is warranted," Moore said, noting two doses of the vaccine offer the best defence against COVID-19.

"We're watching Waterloo and Porcupine and North Bay and now Grey-Bruce and activity levels in those regions," he said.

"We don't ever want to have to go back. We're only moving forward for Ontario."

Follow all public health guidelines

Neighbouring health unit Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health reported six cases on Thursday, up from a single case on Wednesday.

Danny Williamson, a spokesperson for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, said while case numbers have been low in the communities the health unit serves, the delta variant is still present and that means people "shouldn't let their guard down."

When asked if there were concerns about people from Waterloo region visiting Guelph, Wellington County and Dufferin County, Williamson said people need to listen to public health.

"We want to do everything we can to protect our region, and avoid another surge in cases. It is vital that people get both their first and second dose as soon as they can," WIlliamson said in an email.

"People should continue to follow all public health guidelines as they enjoy the places and businesses that are re-opening."

Wang also urged people not to leave the region for haircuts, to eat on patios or for other reasons.

"Residents are advised to limit all non-essential travel to communities outside of Waterloo region," Wang said. "We also ask residents to limit all close contact to only your household members or one of other household, exclusively."