47 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death reported in Waterloo region Wednesday

There were 47 new COVID-19 cases in Waterloo region Wednesday, the fifth day in a row of new case numbers below 70.

The new cases brought the total so far in May to 1,210 and since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 to 15,411, of which 14,699 have been marked as resolved.

There was one new death reported, a man with the virus in his 80s.

In a statement, the region's medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said, "I wish to express my deep sympathy to the family and loved ones of the individual."

His death brings the number of COVID-related deaths in the region to 255.

The number of active cases dropped by 26 to 476.

The number of people in the region's hospitals also dropped by two to 41 while the number of people in the intensive care unit rose from 28 on Tuesday to 31 on Wednesday.

Ontario reported 1,588 cases of COVID-19 this morning, the fewest in eight weeks. The news means the province has told hospitals they canresume non-emergency surgeries depending on local capacity.

56 new variant cases

There were 2,835 cases in Waterloo region that have been identified as a mutation or variant of concern. That was a rise of 56 from Tuesday.

Of the variant cases:

• 2,501 were the B117 variant first detected in the U.K.
• 18were the P1 variant first detected in Brazil.
• Three were the B1351 variant first detected in South Africa.
• 313had a mutation detected but required further testing.

12 active outbreaks

There were 12 active outbreaks in the region including two at long-term care and retirement homes.

There were six workplace outbreaks. They included:

• Two at manufacturing workplaces: One with 25 cases, one with four.
• One at an automobile sales and service business with six cases.
• One at a medical officer with six cases.
• One at a food and beverage services business with five cases.
• One at a retail store with three cases.

The other outbreaks were:

• One at Coronation Early Learning Child Care with five cases.
• Two at congregate settings with a single case at each.
• One at St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener. The number of cases was not released.