Region's COVID-19 cases top 3,000 in January

There were 67 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Waterloo region Tuesday, part of a trend of lower daily case numbers seen over the past week.

But the new cases also brought the total in January to 3,018, meaning 33 per cent of all the region's cases have been recorded this month.

It also brought the total number of cases reported in the region since March 2020 to 9,094. Of those, 8,212 have been marked as resolved.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, said daily case numbers are moving in the right direction.

"But we must stay committed to public health measures because our numbers are still comparatively high to what we have previously seen in the spring and early fall," Wangsaid in an emailed statement.

"I am appreciative of all the efforts Waterloo region residents have taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and with our continued commitment I hope to see further improvements."

One death was reported Tuesday, a man in his 90s. That brings the total number of deathssince last March to 192.

There are 686active cases, a significant drop of 55 cases from Monday. Forty-sevenpeople are in hospital, an increase of seven people from Monday, while 10 of those individuals are in the intensive care unit, unchanged from Monday.

The province reported another 1,740 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday the fewest on a single day since mid-December. There were 63 more deaths of people with the illness province-wide.

39 active outbreaks

There are 39 active outbreaks in Waterlooregion including 17 in long-term care and retirement homes.

Other outbreaks include:

• One at food processor Conestoga Meats with 161 cases.
• Five in congregate settings: One with 34 cases, one with 10 cases, two with four cases andone with three cases.
• Three at hospitals: Two at St. Mary's General Hospital and one at Grand River Hospital.
• Three at manufacturing workplaces: One with 28 cases, one with five cases and one with two cases.
• Two in offices: One with six cases, one with three cases.
• Two in Waterloo Region District School Board programs: One with three cases, one with two cases. The board has not named the schools where these outbreaks have taken place.
• One at a child care centre with nine cases.
• One at a retail store with four cases.
• One at a financial institution with four cases.
• One at a trades workplace with fivecases.
• One in a warehouse with three cases.
• One at a construction workplace with three cases.