2 more people at Kitchener long-term care home die from COVID-19 bringing total to 11
What you need to know about COVID-19 in Waterloo region on April 20
Two more people have died in Waterloo region from the novel coronavirus, bringing the total to 27.
Both the deaths were at Forest Heights Revera in Kitchener. The long-term care home has had a total of 11 deaths due to COVID-19.
The home has 101 residents and 40 staff members who have tested positive for the virus.
Those numbers are expected to rise, said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the acting medical officer of health for the Region of Waterloo.
"We expect to receive additional results this week for tests previously conducted and testing will continue to occur going forward as appropriate," Wang said Monday during a regular media briefing.
Over the weekend, Wang said a response team put together by Ontario Health "actively worked with" Forest Heights and the home's parent company, Revera, to come up with a plan to provide further support.
"Strong outbreak measures have been put in place," Wang said.
Wang said she expects more cases also in other long-term care and retirement home this week because of expanded testing.
Of the 27 deaths in Waterloo region, 19 have been people who lived at long-term care or retirement homes because of increased testing.
Wang also expressed her condolences to family and friends of those who have died.
"Each person who has passed was someone's loved one. Each person will be greatly missed," she said.
503 cases in region
There are now 503 confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Waterloo region, new numbers from Region of Waterloo Public Health released Monday morning show. That's up from 487 on Sunday.
There are also now 169 resolved cases in the region, up 10 from 159 resolved cases reported on Sunday.
The numbers also showed:
- 4,166 tests have been done.
- 25 people are in hospital.
- 159 confirmed or presumptive cases are healthcare workers, making up 32 per cent of all cases.
- There are outbreaks at 14 long-term care facilities.
The numbers reported by public health each morning are accurate as of 7 p.m. the night before.
Testing limited
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 health-care workers, essential workers, hospital patients and people living and working in long-term care homes.
The region says negative test results are also no longer being reported on its website because the province is no longer sending the negative results.
- COVID-19 | Coverage from CBC Kitchener-Waterloo
- COVID-19 | By the numbers, coronavirus tracker for Waterloo region
- COVID-19 | Cancellations, closures and changes in Waterloo region
Outbreaks at region's long-term care homes
There are 14 active outbreaks at long-term care homes in Waterloo region, although there are cases in 17 homes.
An outbreak is declared when there is just one case either in a resident or a staff member.
Outbreaks have been declared over at Sunnyside Home in Kitchener and Chartwell Westmount in Kitchener (both as of Friday) and at Chartwell Clair Hills in Waterloo (as of Saturday).
Changes to transit
Waterloo region's chief administrative officer Mike Murray says Grand River Transit bus service has been reduced by 25 per cent as of Monday. No routes have been cut, he said, but buses won't be stopping as frequently.
As well, drivers will monitor the number of riders to make sure passengers can maintain a physical distance from each other. Once a bus is more than half full, the driver will radio the supervisor for another bus to start on the route and won't pick up any new riders until other passengers leave the bus.
More daycare spots set to open
Murray said the region is also getting set to open more child care spaces for essential and critical workers. On Friday night the region received a new list of eligible workers and it includes people who work in shelters, residential services and developmental services.
Murray said they've seen an increase in demand. In total, they've received 210 applications for 342 children. Of those, 94 children have been placed in care, 20 families are still in the process of being placed and 65 are waiting for a space. The rest of the applicants either withdrew or were not eligible, he said.
The region needs approval from the province to open the new spaces in two community operated childcare centres and through a home child care agency, Murray said.
"Once approved by the province, those will be opened up very quickly," he said.
88 cases in Guelph
There are now 88 cases of COVID-19 in Guelph where five people have died from the virus, numbers released by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health on Monday show. Seven people are in hospital and two people are in the intensive care unit.
The number of cases in the city rose by two from Sunday.
There are also 25 cases marked as resolved in Guelph, which is the same number as Sunday.
In Wellington County, there are 29 cases with two people in intensive care. Two people have died in the county from the virus.
Public health also lists the following long-term care facilities as having outbreaks of COVID-19:
- Homewood Health Centre in Guelph.
- Norfolk Manor in Guelph.
- Caressant Care in Fergus.
- Wellington Terrace in Fergus.
- Dufferin Oaks in Shelburne.
- Shelburne Residence in Shelburne.
- Headwaters Health Centre in Orangeville.
An outbreak in the apple blossom unit at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph has been declared over as of April 14.
3 deaths in Stratford
Three people in Stratford have died due to COVID-19, new numbers from Huron-Perth Public Health show.
There are a total of 21 cases in Stratford, and one person has recovered.
There are also six residents and five staff members who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at Greenwood Court in Stratford.
Read more from today: