54 new cases of COVID-19 reported this weekend in Waterloo region

Region of Waterloo Public health reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and 35 on Sunday.

The total of active cases decreased by 22 over the weekend, with the current number sitting at 275.

Twenty people are hospitalized with the infection, with nine in the intensive case unit. There were no new deaths reported over the weekend.

The region reported a total of 290 variant cases with 22 confirmed to be the B117 variant first detected in the UK.

Ontario logged 1,791 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday and 18 more deaths.

Meanwhile, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will be moving from red to the orange level of the province's COVID-19 response framework on Monday. This will have an impact on rules including gathering limits. For example, indoor private gatherings can include 10 people and outdoor can be up to 25 people. A full list can be found here.

18 active outbreaks in Waterloo region

There are 18 active COVID-19 outbreaks in the region with four in long-term care homes.

There's an outbreak at Riverbend Place long-term care with one case in a staff member, St. Luke's Place long-term care with one case in a staff member, St. Andrews Terrace long-term care with three cases in staff and Forest Heights long-term care with four cases in staff.

Five are in schools including:

• Vista Hills Public School with two cases.
• Crestview Public School with four cases across multiple cohorts.
• Highland Public School with six cases.
• Wilfrid Laurier University with three cases.
• University of Waterloo with two cases.

Others include:

• One at Home Childcare Centre with a total of five cases.
• Two in congregate settings: One with four cases and another with 36.
• Two in hospitals: One at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and one at Grand River Hospital.
• One at an independent living facility with one case in a staff member.
• One at a laboratory service with three cases.
• One at an automobile sales setting with four cases.
• One at a retail store with three cases.