Waterloo region reports 68 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday

Region of Waterloo Public Health is reporting 68new cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, a drop from Wednesday, when the region saw one of its largest daily increases.

There are 38people in the hospital with the virus with 10 of those people in the intensive care unit.

There are no new reported COVID-related deaths in the region. The number of people who have died remains at 139.

There are 478 active cases, down by nine from Wednesday.

Since March, there hasbeen a total of 4,739cases in the region.

Meanwhile the province is reporting a record high of 2,432 new caseson Thursday.

29 outbreaks

There are 29 active outbreaks in the region.

Of the new reported cases, 12 are in staff at the Cambridge Country Manor, which continues to grapple with a growing outbreak. There is a total of 34 cases in residents and 36 in staff.

There are six other active outbreaks at long term care settings including Village of Winston Park with 19 residents and nine staff infected. One person has died there.

All threehospitals in the region have outbreaks with one at Grand River Hospital, two at St. Mary's General Hospital and one at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

Public health said outbreaks have endedat KidsAbility and BrightPath Childcare Centre.

Other outbreaks include:

• Two at independent living facilities.
• Three in congregate settings.
• Nine in workplace and business settings.
• One at the University of Waterloo.
• Three in schools across the region including Hillcrest Public School, Franklin Public School and Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School.

Lockdown looms

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Waterloo region's top public health official, warned people on Wednesday to prepare for the possibility of a lockdown.

Wang said local case rates continue "to be high and unstable, potentially tipping at any moment into further growth."

Ontario hospitals are calling for new 28-day lockdowns in all regions in the province's red tier, including Waterloo region.