Background
Region of Waterloo Public Health continues to work closely with local hospitals, health care partners, the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and many community partners to respond to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Waterloo Region.
Cases in Waterloo Region
The COVID-19 data results presented below represent a snapshot of the cumulative totals at the time of reporting. The results will differ each day as new case information is available and the situation continues to change. We expect to update case information daily at 1:30 p.m. with data that are current as of 11:59 p.m. the previous day. Data on test counts are refreshed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
For mobile devices, view the Waterloo Region COVID-19 summary dashboard on Tableau
View the Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Summary
School disclosures
Outbreaks in school settings will be reported on our dashboard. For disclosure of positive cases in school settings, visit:
- Cases in schools and child care centres in Ontario
- Waterloo Region District School Board
- Waterloo Catholic District School Board
- Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (Roman Catholic separate, French-language school board)
- Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French-language public school board
Notes
Epi-Curves
- There are two date options for the epidemiological curve also known as an "epi-curve" graphs:
- By episode date: The epi-curve by ‘episode date’ shows a more accurate picture of the progression of the epidemic over time. Caution is needed when interpreting the most recent results, because there is a one to two week lag from when individuals get sick, to when cases are reported to Public Health.
- By case reported date: The epi-curve by ‘case reported date’ shows the number of cases over time as they were reported to Public Health.
- Outbreak-related cases are those associated with an outbreak in a congregate living setting such as a long term care home, retirement home or group home, as well as outbreaks in other settings such as hospitals, workplaces, schools, colleges/universities and child care settings.
- Non-outbreak related cases are those not associated with a specific outbreak. The transmission type may be close contact with another case, from travel, or an unknown source.
Municipal and neighbourhood data
- Cases and rates by municipality and neighbourhood are based on home residence of positive cases (usually the address found on an individual’s health card or their normal place of residence) and does not necessarily reflect where exposure occurred.
- Rates are calculated as the number of positive cases per 100,000 population.
- Population denominators are based on 2019 year-end estimates, adjusted for 2020 mid-year growth and post-secondary attendance as a result of COVID-19.
- Neighbourhoods refer to a custom level of geography developed by Region of Waterloo staff in coordination with area municipalities, and local service providers and community members which is often used for service planning.
- There are 45 neighbourhoods in Waterloo Region. These neighbourhoods do not necessarily represent neighbourhood association boundaries.
- Cases are assigned to neighbourhoods based on the full residential address if available.
- Cases with missing or invalid addresses are excluded from the neighbourhood mapping because they cannot be assigned to a neighbourhood.
- NR = 'not reportable'; neighbourhoods with counts less than or equal to five cases have been suppressed to protect personal health information.
- The number of positive cases in each municipality and neighbourhood is skewed based on testing guidance that prioritizes groups and settings at greater risk, including long-term care and retirement homes.
- There is broad circulation of COVID-19 in our community. It should be assumed that you could get COVID-19 anywhere in Waterloo Region.
Outbreak data
- As of April 8, 2021 long-term care/retirement home outbreaks are defined as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in residents and/or staff (or other visitors) with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the facility. Examples of reasonably having acquired infection in a home include:
- No obvious source of infection outside of the facility; OR
- Known exposure in the facility.
- Staff cases may include some staff who reside outside of Waterloo Region.
- Prior to April 8, 2021 a facility outbreak was defined as one or more positive cases in resident(s) or staff (anyone conducting activities in the facility, including but not limited to, health care workers).
- Congregate setting outbreaks are defined as one or more positive cases in group homes and disability-specific congregate settings. (This does not include correctional facilities). Congregate setting data is aggregated to protect the privacy of individuals, as many facilities have a small number of residents and staff.
- Workplace outbreaks are defined as those with two or more confirmed cases where the most likely source of exposure was associated with the workplace. Workplace outbreaks are aggregated by category to protect the privacy of individuals.
- College/University outbreaks are defined as two or more confirmed cases in a school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school.
- School outbreaks are defined as two or more confirmed cases in a school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school (including transportation and before/after school care).
- An outbreak in a licensed child care setting is defined as two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases in children, staff/providers or other visitors with an epidemiological link (e.g., cases in the same room, cases that are part of the same before/after school care cohort), within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably gotten their infection in the child care setting.
- Hospital outbreaks are declared by area hospitals, in consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health.
For more detailed technical notes, please refer to the Waterloo Region COVID-19 Summary Technical Notes.
Additional resources
For additional data sets please visit Public Health Ontario or the Ministry of Health.
Accessible formats of the Waterloo Region COVID-19 Summary are available upon request. Please contact Public Health to request an accessible format.
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