8 people have now died from COVID-19 in Waterloo region

Eight people have now died from COVID-19 in Waterloo region, new numbers released Thursday show.

The eighth death was a resident at Highview Residences in Kitchener. Staff say the 92-year-old woman fell on April 1 and was taken to hospital. 

"The hospital tested her and determined that she was positive for COVID-19. Her rapid decline was for a variety of reasons, and she died peacefully in hospital" on Wednesday, said Highview Residences chief operator officer Joy Birch in a release on Thursday.

The home has seen 10 cases in residents, including three who have died, and three cases in staff.

"We're obviously very concerned that the virus has spread, but our focus continues to be on the health and safety of our residents and staff," Birch said.

237 cases in region

There are also now 237 confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Waterloo region.

The new numbers reported by Region of Waterloo Public Health on Thursday showed:

• There have been 2,708 tests done.
• 1,998 tests have come back negative.
• 423 people are awaiting test results.
• 73 cases have been marked as resolved.
• 30 people are in hospital.
• 70 cases (30 per cent) of people infected with COVID-19 are health care workers.

The region is not currently testing everyone with symptoms for COVID-19. Public health has said there are certain groups who are prioritized for testing including healthcare workers, hospital patients and people living and working in long-term care homes.

Long-term care home outbreaks

There are also 11 outbreaks at long-term care homes in Waterloo region. They are:

• Highview Residences in Kitchener where 10 residents and 3 staff member tested positive. Three people have died at the home.
• Sunnyside Home in Kitchener where four staff members have tested positive.
• Forest Heights Revera in Kitchener where 18 residents and six staff members have tested positive.
• St. Luke's Place in Cambridge where one staff member has tested positive.
• The Village at University Gates in Waterloo where one resident and one staff member has tested positive.
• Chartwell Westmount LTC in Kitchener where one staff member has tested positive.
• Millwood Manor in Kitchener where one resident has tested positive.
• Lanark Heights LTC in Kitchener where one resident has tested positive.
• St. Andrew's Terrace LTC in Cambridge where one staff member has tested positive.
• Chartwell Clair Hills Retirement Home in Waterloo has one staff member who has tested positive.
• Granite Landing Retirement Home in Cambridge has one staff member who has tested positive.

Public health officials said an outbreak is declared once a single case tests positive in a long-term care facility.

Increased cases in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health reports 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday morning. The health unit is not reporting presumptive cases.

The numbers show eight people are in hospital, five in isolation. As well, 21 cases have been marked as resolved.

The Grand Valley Institution for Women also reported one more positive case among its inmates. Now eight women at the federal prison have tested positive for COVID-19, with 27 women testing negative. 

Outbreak over, Guelph General Hospital says

Guelph General Hospital says an outbreak of COVID-19 in a ward on the fourth floor is over.

In a news release the hospital said it's been 14 days since "the last hospital-acquired, COVID-positive patient was put in isolation with droplet contact precautions."

Hospital president and CEO Marianne Walker said it was good news, but also said staff members cannot let their guard down.

"Full credit goes to the expertise and teamwork of hundreds of staff to bring this outbreak to a close," Walker said in the release.

"It's only by us continuing to do everything we can to maintain best practices in infection control along with the combined efforts of the community at large that we will keep our patients and our staff safe and protected."

Outbreaks continue at long-term care homes in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health's coverage area. The public health unit lists the following places as having an outbreak:

• Dufferin Oaks in Shelburne has three residents and four staff members who have tested positive.
• Shelburne Residence has three residents who have tested positive.
• Homewood Health Centre has nine residents and three staff members who have tested positive.
• Norfolk Manor in Guelph has 17 residents and two staff members who have tested positive.
• St. Joseph's in Guelph has one patient and three staff members who have tested positive.
• Wellington Terrace in Fergus has one staff member who has tested positive.

Public health also list two hospitals as having positive cases:

• Guelph General Hospital has six patients and 16 staff members who have tested positive.
• Headwaters Health Centre in Orangeville has two patients and 16 staff members who have tested positive.

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