UPDATE: Region of Waterloo will delay moving to Step 2 of the Provincial Reopening Framework

Waterloo Region – Due to high case rates and high hospitalization rates driven by the prevalence of the Delta variant, the Region of Waterloo is delaying the move to Step 2 of the Provincial framework.

 The Region is seeing increased cases as a result of the variant, including in workplaces, through social gatherings and through congregate setting. There are currently 17 outbreaks in the Region of Waterloo, nine of which are related to workplace outbreaks.

Today, 61 people are hospitalized in Waterloo Region as a result of COVID-19 and 24 of those are in ICU.

“This is the right decision for our health system in Waterloo Region,” said Lee Fairclough, President of St. Mary’s General Hospital. “Hospitals are starting to send patients outside of our region due to a lack of capacity locally and this is a precarious position. We want to protect our health system, resume much needed care that has been delayed and protect the health of our residents. Delaying a move to Step 2 allows us the best opportunity to do that.”

“We are in a race against time and a race against the Delta variant,” said Karen Redman, Regional Chair. “The Province has provided additional vaccines and we need the coming weeks to not just get first and second doses into the arms’ of residents, but to use this time to build immunity. These coming weeks are critical in the fight against COVID-19.”

“While Waterloo Region remains under Step 1, all Waterloo Region residents are advised to limit all non-essential travel to communities outside of Waterloo Region,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health. “We also ask residents to limit all close contact to only your household members or one other household, exclusively.”

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