18 active outbreaks reported, as Waterloo region prepares to offer walk-in vaccine appointments

Waterloo region will begin to offer walk-in first doses of the COVID-19 vaccination on Wednesday as the region's medical officer of health says case are expected to remain "elevated" for the next few days.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang told regional councillors during a committee of the whole meeting Tuesday morning that along with high local case numbers, there are a number of people in hospitals and the number of outbreaks isincreasing.

"Our case rates are not continuing to accelerate, but our situation remains extremely fragile," Wang said.

The region reported 50 new cases on Tuesday afternoon. There were 522 active cases. As well, there were 57 people in the region's hospital, unchanged from Monday, with 21 people in intensive care, a drop of one case.

The number of active outbreaks rose by seven from Monday to 18.

There were no new deaths reported Tuesday.

Delta variant impacts unimmunized

Wang reiterated the delta variant, also known as B1617 and which was first detected in India, is "widely circulating" in the region and is impacting people who are "mostly unimmunized."

She said close contact is the most common way the virus is being spread in the region.

"You can spread COVID-19 before you know you have it," she said.

Wang said people who are waiting to get immunized should rethink that idea.

"Vaccines are our most powerful tool and are very effective against severe illness and hospitalization," Wang said.

The province reported 296 cases of COVID-19on Tuesday. Due to a data review by Toronto Public Health, about 80 cases in the count were from 2020.

Without the cases from 2020, Toronto had 63 cases reported Tuesday, followed by Waterloo region with61, York region with 37 and Peel region with 20.

Region of Waterloo Public Health is expected to release its updated numbers at 1:30 p.m.

Walk-ins and self-serve appointments

Starting Wednesday, three clinics in the region will offer walk-in appointments for people who still need a first dose of the vaccine.

Waterloo regional police deputy chief Shirley Hilton, who is also head of the region's vaccine task force, said in a release that the move is necessary to help protect people aged 12 and up from the delta variant.

"No one who wants the vaccine will be left behind these walk-in spots are available to make it easier for anyone who still needs to get a first dose," she said.

The clinics are:

• Health Sciences Campus Vaccination Clinic at 10 Victoria St. S. in Kitchener.
• The Boardwalk Vaccination Clinic at 435 The Boardwalk, Medical Centre 2 in Waterloo.
• Waterloo Region Public Health, 99 Regina St. S in Waterloo.

The hours for each clinic vary and the times can be found on the region's website.

Also on Wednesday, the region is launching a new vaccination booking system that will allow people to book their own appointments or make changes if necessary.

Wang said as the province ships more vaccine doses to the region, the plan is also to ramp up getting doses in arms.

"We have gotten out the vaccine as quickly as we've gotten it in, so we've had our clinics booked and what the additional vaccine from the province will allow us to do is to open more slots, expand hours of operation and add some options for walk-in as well, because we're going to get more doses to be able to expand," Wang said.

The province still plans to sendtwo mobile vaccination teams tothe region, although Wang said those details are still being finalized.

18 active outbreaks

The region reported 18 active outbreaks on Tuesday.

There were 11 in workplaces:

• Three at trades and related services: One with four cases and two withtwo cases each.
• Two at retail stores: One with five cases, one with two cases.
• One at an office with eight cases.
• One at a food processor with five cases.
• One at a food and beverage service business with four cases.
• One at an automobile sales and service business with two cases.
• One at a construction workplace with two cases.
• One at a chiropody office with two cases.

The other outbreaks were:

• One at a congregate setting for people who are homeless over multiple locations with 104 cases.
• Two additional outbreaks at congregate settings with a single case at each.
• One at The Village at Winston Park long-term care home with 10 cases: six in people who live at the home, four in staff. There is one death associated with this outbreak.
• One at a home child-care centre with three cases.
• One at Grand River Hospital. The number of cases was not released.