Chartwell Westmount outbreak declared over as region reports 32 new COVID-19 cases Thursday

The outbreak at Chartwell Westmount long-term care home in Kitchener has been declared over after more than two months.

The outbreak, which was declared Dec. 27, 2020, saw 74 people living at the home and 71 staff members contract the virus. There were 19 deaths linked to the outbreak, which was officially declared over on Wednesday.

On Thursday there werefive outbreaks at local long-term care and retirement homes. In all five, the cases are in staff members and the number of cases ranges from one to three.

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 32 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. That brings the total in March to 456 and since the pandemic started to 11,158. Of that, 10,585 have been marked as resolved.

There were 179 cases that have screened positive for a variant of concern with 15 confirmed as the B117 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom.

There were no new deaths reported Thursday.

Active cases rose by two to 324, while the number of people in hospital rose by three to 34 with eight peoplein the intensive care unit.

Ontario reported another 1,092 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

21 active outbreaks

There were 21 active outbreaks in the region including five at long-term care and retirement homes.

There were two outbreaks in schools:

• Sunnyside Public School in Kitchener with two cases.
• Courtland Avenue Public School with two cases.

The other outbreaks were:

• Five in congregate settings including: One with 127 cases over multiple locations, one with 36 cases and one death, one with 11 cases, one with four cases and one with a single case.
• Four in hospitals: Two at Grand River Hospital, one at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and one at St. Mary's General Hospital.
• One at Court at Laurelwood Retirement Residence with 15 cases in people living there, three cases in staff and three deaths.
• EduKids Childcare Centre with 10 cases.
• Two at manufacturing workplaces with two cases at each.
• One related to a wedding at a place of worship with 11 cases.