Ten more deaths locally due to virus

Almost half of region’s COVID-19 deaths so far were at Forest Heights Revera Long-Term Care Home in Kitchener

WATERLOO REGION — Ten more people died of COVID-19 over Friday and Saturday, bringing the total number of deaths related to the coronavirus to 55.

Of the ten latest deaths, nine were in long-term care homes in Waterloo Region.

The homes have become the epicentre of deaths in the area. Of the 55 deaths, 44 of them have been in facilities for the elderly. That is 80 per cent of all deaths.

Acting medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said she expects the deaths in people over the age of 70 to continue. Wang said more widespread testing is planned for longterm care homes, especially those homes that have outbreaks. There are nine homes with outbreaks.

Dr. Rhonda Collins, chief medical officer at Revera, said in a statement that staff are working “tirelessly and fearlessly” to care for residents during the pandemic outbreak.

“Our energy and resources are focused on containing the spread of this outbreak and protecting our residents and staff. We know this is a very challenging time for anyone who has a family member living at Forest Heights,” Collins said.

The epidemic is strengthening its grip on long-term care homes, which now account for 60 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in this region, counting infected residents and staff.

But Saturday also saw a few more cases reported among the general population.

The latest nine deaths in long-term care homes include four at Forest

Heights Revera, two at Trinity Village, and one each at A.R. Goudie, Highview Residences and Lanark Heights.

The outbreak at Forest Heights Revera accounts for more than a quarter of all COVID-19 cases in the region and half of all deaths. Forest Heights Revera has seen 27 deaths so far.

A total of 677 cases are confirmed in the region. That is up by 73 from Friday.