46 new cases of COVID-19 in Waterloo region Wednesday as vaccination clinic set to open

There were 46 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the community by Region of Waterloo Public Health on Wednesday.

That brings the three-day total for March to 134 and since March 2020 to 10,836 cases. Of those, 10,188 have been marked as resolved.

There were no new COVID-related deaths reported on Wednesday.

The region reported 408 active cases with 42 people in hospital and six people in the intensive care unit.

There are now 118 people with COVID-19 in Waterloo region who have been diagnosed with a variant of the virus.Ten of those cases have been confirmed to be the B117 variant, which was first detected in the U.K., while the other 108 require further testing.

Ontario reported another 958 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, as the number of deaths linked to the illness in the province topped 7,000.

Vaccination clinic opens Thursday

On Thursday, the vaccination clinic at 435 The Boardwalk, in Waterloo, will open to vaccinate adults 80 years of age and older. People must have an appointment and be part of the Phase One group of people eligible for the shot. People can register to book an appointment through the region's website or by calling 519-575-4400.

The region notes pre-registration is only for people who are eligible to receive the vaccine right now under Phase One of the rollout. Everyone else will need to wait to pre-register for an appointment.

A second largeclinic is expected toopenat the former RONA building on Pinebush Road in Cambridgenext week.

29 active outbreaks

There are 29 active outbreaks in the region including seven at long-term care and retirement homes.

There are four outbreaks in schools. They include:

• 12 cases at St. John Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener.
• Six cases at St. Agnes Catholic Elementary School in Waterloo.
• Four cases at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge.
• Two cases at Howard Robertson Public School in Kitchener.

The other outbreaks include:

• Eight in congregate settings: One with 123cases over multiple locations, one with 36 cases, one with 21 cases, one with 10 cases, one with two cases and threewith a single case each.
• Two in hospitals: One at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and one at Grand River Hospital.
• One at Court at Laurelwood Retirement Residence with 13 cases in people living there, three in staff members and two deaths.
• One at EduKids Childcare Centre with four cases.
• One at a place of worship with 12 cases.
• Three at manufacturing workplaces: One with three cases, two with two cases each.
• One at a food processor with five cases.
• One at a food and beverage services business with two cases.