Waterloo Region surpasses COVID-19 deaths projection

WATERLOO REGION — COVID-19 deaths in Waterloo Region have just surpassed the number projected to be reached locally by the end of April.

“I have to admit I was hoping we wouldn’t even be close,” said acting medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang. “Sadly, we are relatively in line with what was projected in terms of deaths.”

One more death was reported by Tuesday evening for a total of 67. The projection of 66 made earlier this month was based on provincial models if public health measures are closely followed.

“We had very low numbers at the time, but it significantly grew in the last three weeks since then and the majority have been in long-term care homes and retirement homes because of the outbreaks there,” Wang said.

Wang said she was “quite sad” to see the region approaching and then passing that rough number, which was intended to give an idea of the potential magnitude.

“I think it just illustrates that we are still in the thick of it when it comes to long-term care home and retirement home impacts,” Wang said.

The province will continue to update their modelling, which will be used to extrapolate the region’s numbers when the local public health department receives them. There’s no timeline on when that’s expected, Wang said.

The Wednesday update by public health is an additional 22 confirmed cases on Tuesday’s to reach 731.

Of the current local cases, 285 are resolved and 34 are hospitalized.

Outbreaks are declared at 12 long-term care and retirement homes across the region — up from nine on Tuesday.

The latest outbreaks are at the Village at University Gates in

Waterloo, Sunbeam Lodge in Kitchener, both declared on Tuesday, and Stirling Heights in Cambridge and Chartwell Elmira, both declared on Monday.

Chartwell Elmira has one case in a resident and the other three each have one case in a staff member.

“We continue to work closely with facilities in outbreak,” Wang said.

This is the second outbreak

declared at the Village at University Gates, and Wang said it was a good sign to see the new case in an employee detected because it highlights a “robust monitoring system.” Sunbeam Lodge is both a long-term care home and group home, with its residents including children.

Wang said all types of congregate settings with vulnerable populations are being supported and managed the same way in the region, even though provincial directives only apply to long-term and retirement homes.

“We will be doing extensive testing at this home,” she said.

Chief administrative officer Mike Murray provided an update at Wednesday’s briefing about monitoring and compliance in the region.

To date, there have been 1,061 involving education or warnings issued, 479 site visits where no action was required, 687 phone calls that were resolved on the phone, and six charges laid. The newest one was related to people gathering at a Cambridge home.

Total compliance and monitoring activity reached 2,242 contacts by phone or in person.

Regional Chair Karen Redman said it’s hard to believe this is Week 7 of practising physical distancing and while there are promising signs, the virus is still circulating in the community.

The province released this week its framework for reopening of businesses, services and public spaces, although Redman stressed “there are no specific timelines for these plans as we’re not at the point yet where it’s safe to implement them.”

With the weather warming and celebrations approaching including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Victoria Day, she said remaining isolated will become increasingly difficult for everyone.

“These isolation measures are a marathon we’re running as a group and we must all cross the finish line together,” Redman said. “If any of us stop running and cheat on isolation, it will send all of us back to the starting line and as a community we can’t let that happen.”

She said a little more sacrifice now will bring everyone back together sooner.

“Hang in there. I know it’s tough, but it is important. Don’t undo all the work we’ve already done. It’s working.”